Muslims in America: A Short History (Religion in American Life)

"Muslims in America" is the "first single-author history of Muslims in America from colonial times to the present", which is what the back cover proclaims. I have no reason to doubt that this sad statement is true and for that reason this book is a welcome addition to the shelf of any serious student of American history. That being said, this book is not perfect. Since it tries to cover the entire spread of American history the first pages are about isolated Muslim individuals that were brought over as slaves, continued to follow their faith and were noted for doing so. It turns out that only a few people fit all those criteria so we end up with extended biographies of these people. This is not bad, per se, but it does make the last half of the book seemed rushed in comparison. The slow, extended style is put aside for a quicker, less detailed style. That less detailed style in the latter half of the book was frustrating for me. I am not a Muslim but I am fairly well read on the religion. I can speak intelligently on the main teachings of mainstream Islam, but I will not claim to be an expert on the topic. Groups like the Nation of Islam fascinate me precisely because some of their teachings have differed radically from any other teachings in the "mainstream" , especially with the Nation of Islam's heavy emphasis on race and different stories about how each racial group was formed. I would have appreciated more discussion of how Muslims outside of the Nation of Islam view the Nation of Islam and their teachings, and vice-versa. I would have also enjoyed a more robust discussion of the origins of these "non-traditional" Muslim groups - which Muslim traditions did they draw from, which did they modify, etc.? What the book does well is detail how Muslim slaves came into America (although actual numbers will have to remain guesswork) and tell how some completely maintained their faith while others saved just parts of it. Curtis also examines the multiple waves of Muslim immigration that have come into the United States. It is tempting to think that this is a relatively new phenomenon, but it is not. I was especially fascintated by the Muslim settlers in rural North Dakota. Can you imagine a place you would be less likely to find a mosque than in rural North Dakota in the 1880s? Of course 9/11 and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq need to be addressed and Curtis covers them well. He includes a fatwa against terrorism on pages 117-8. He also chronicles the challenges of being Muslim in America in a post-9/11 world and some data on Muslim Americans opinions. I give this book a four star rating, ignoring the preface, which I will comment on below: For me the entire book was marred by an unfortunate Preface that was intended to show the level of misunderstanding that the greater American public has about Islam. The controversy cited was the installation of footbaths at the new billion dollar Indianapolis International Airport. These baths cost about $2,000 and Curtis comments on those that protested against it. He notes one pastor was against it because it would forward "Islam's desired goal, which is to thrust the entire world under one single Islamic caliphate under sharia law." (p. x) I do not know about this pastor, but I did pay particular attention to these protests because I live near the airport and I live near the Halal markets and coffee houses these taxi drivers frequent on West Washington Street - their cabs are a constant part of the landscape of my neighborhood. It seemed to me that most of the protesters were upset that the government was paying to install foot baths to facilitate one religion's practices (although it was noted that anyone can use them, will they? What other group engages in ritual footbathing?). Indiana has gone through a whole round of lawsuits to prevent prayers at graduations and to remove 10 Commandment displays on public grounds that were installed at no public expense. To many, it seemed mighty two-faced to have a government entity (the Airport Authority) play favorites by accomodating the wishes of one religion while other branches of government frustrate the wishes of others. Curtis goes on to make comments about the pastor and how his deep prejudices would impair his ability to see his Muslim friends as people or even really knowing them - an ironic comment. Curtis shows his own prejudices in this snarky comment that is so unlike the rest of the book. This whole preface left a bad taste in my mouth. It really is a pretty good book, but I had to force myself to look past this unfortunate part of the introduction. Muslims are neither new nor foreign to the United States. They have been a vital presence in North America since the 16th century. Muslims in America unearths their history, documenting the lives of African, Middle Eastern, South Asian, European, black, white, Hispanic and other Americans who have been followers of Islam. The book begins with the tale of Job Ben Solomon, a 18th century African American Muslim slave, and goes on to chart the stories of sodbusters in North Dakota, African American converts to Islam in the 1920s, Muslim barkeepers in Toledo, the post-1965 wave of professional immigrants from Asia and Africa, and Muslim Americans after 9/11. The book reveals the richness of Sunni, Shi'a, Sufi and other forms of Islamic theology, ethics, and rituals in the United States by illustrating the way Islamic faith has been imagined and practiced in the everyday lives of individuals. Muslims in America recovers the place of Muslims in the larger American story, too. Showing how Muslim American men and women participated in each era of U.S. history, the book explores how they have both shaped and have been shaped by larger historical trends such as the abolition movement, Gilded Age immigration, the Great Migration of African Americans, urbanization, religious revivalism, the feminist movement, and the current war on terror. It also shows how, from the very beginning of American history, Muslim Americans have been at once a part of their local communities, their nation, and the worldwide community of Muslims. The first single-author history of Muslims in America from colonial times to the present, this book fills a huge gap and provides invaluable background on one of the most poorly understood groups in the United States. Religion in American Life explores the evolution, character, and dynamic of organized religion in America from 1500 to the present day. Written by distinguished historians of religion, these books weave together the varying stories that compose the religious fabric of the United States, from Puritanism to alternative religious practices. Primary source material coupled with handsome illustrations and lucid text make these books essential in any exploration of America's diverse nature. Each book includes a chronology, suggestions for further reading, and an index. Muslims are neither new nor foreign to the United States. They have been a vital presence in North America since the 16th century. This book unearths their history, documenting the lives of African, Middle Eastern, South Asian, European, black, white, Hispanic and other Americans who have been followers of Islam. The book begins with the tale of Job Ben Solomon, a 18th century African American Muslim slave, and goes on to chart the stories of sodbusters in North Dakota, African American converts to Islam in the 1920s, Muslim barkeepers in Toledo, the post-1965 wave of professional immigrants from Asia and Africa, and Muslim Americans after 9/11. The book reveals the richness of Sunni, Shi'a, Sufi and other forms of Islamic theology, ethics, and rituals in the United States by illustrating the way Islamic faith has been imagined and practiced in the everyday lives of individuals. It recovers the place of Muslims in the larger American story, too. Showing how Muslim American men and women participated in each era of U.S. history, the book explores how they have both shaped and have been shaped by larger historical trends such as the abolition movement, Gilded Age immigration, the Great Migration of African Americans, urbanization, religious revivalism, the feminist movement, and the current war on terror. It also shows how, from the very beginning of American history, Muslim Americans have been at once a part of their local communities, their nation, and the worldwide community of Muslims. A first single author history of Muslims in America from colonial times to the present, this book fills a huge gap and provides invaluable background on one of the most poorly understood groups in the United States In the last 10 years, Muslims in the United States have largely been perceived as a foreign, "fifth column" community. For right-wing talk radio hosts, they are convenient cannon fodder. For the mainstream media and politicians, with some exceptions, they are largely the same, an inconvenient community to skirt around. What is largely unknown is that Muslims have deep roots in the United States. Starting from West African slaves brought here through the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the 1700s, to modern-day figures like Malcolm X and W.D. Mohammed, Curtis offers readers a brief, but eye-opening introduction to the history of Muslims in America. While this slim volume is meant to be, as its subtitle notes, a short history, it is a concise, well-written one. The book is factual, well-researched and presents an inside look at this religious community. By weaving facts with real stories of American Muslims of the past and present, Curtis successfully retains the reader's interest until the end. He also discusses how other movements have influenced the American Muslim community, ranging from the Ahmadiyya to the Druze and the Nation of Islam. However, this book should primarily be used as a starting point to learn more about American Muslims. It is not exhaustive or comprehensive. But it whets a reader's appetite enough to want to know more. Muslims in America: A Short History should be required reading for any "Islam 101" type class in high school or college. It should be on the bookshelf of every library in the United States and on the desk of every AM radio talk show host. Muslims are neither new nor foreign to the United States. They have been a vital presence in North America since the 16th century. This book unearths their history, documenting the lives of African, Middle Eastern, South Asian, European, black, white, Hispanic and other Americans who have been followers of Islam. It begins with the tale of Job Ben Solomon, a 18th century African American Muslim slave, and goes on to chart the stories of sodbusters in North Dakota, African American converts to Islam in the 1920s, Muslim barkeepers in Toledo, the post-1965 wave of professional immigrants from Asia and Africa, and Muslim Americans after 9/11. The book reveals the richness of Sunni, Shi'a, Sufi and other forms of Islamic theology, ethics, and rituals in the United States by illustrating the way Islamic faith has been imagined and practiced in the everyday lives of individuals. It recovers the place of Muslims in the larger American story, too. Showing how Muslim American men and women participated in each era of U.S. history, the book explores how they have both shaped and have been shaped by larger historical trends such as the abolition movement, Gilded Age immigration, the Great Migration of African Americans, urbanization, religious revivalism, the feminist movement, and the current war on terror. It also shows how, from the very beginning of American history, Muslim Americans have been at once a part of their local communities, their nation, and the worldwide community of Muslims Muslims Are Neither New Nor Foreign To The United States. They Have Been A Vital Presence In North America Since The 16th Century. Muslims In America Unearths Their History, Documenting The Lives Of African, Middle Eastern, South Asian, European, Black, White, Hispanic And Other Americans Who Have Been Followers Of Islam. The Book Begins With The Tale Of Job Ben Solomon, A 18th Century African American Muslim Slave, And Goes On To Chart The Stories Of Sodbusters In North Dakota, African American Converts To Islam In The 1920s, Muslim Barkeepers In Toledo, The Post-1965 Wave Of Professional Imm. Across The Black Atlantic : The First Muslims In North America -- The First American Converts To Islam -- Twentieth-century Muslim Immigrants : From The Melting Pot To The Cold War -- Religious Awakenings Of The Late Twentieth Century -- Muslim Americans After 9/11. Edward E. Curtis Iv. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. CONTENTS......Page 8 PREFACE......Page 10 CHAPTER ONE: Across the Black Atlantic: The First Muslims in North America......Page 16 CHAPTER TWO: The First American Converts to Islam......Page 40 CHAPTER THREE: Twentieth-Century Muslim Immigrants: From the Melting Pot to the Cold War......Page 62 CHAPTER FOUR: Religious Awakenings of the Late Twentieth Century......Page 87 CHAPTER FIVE: Muslim Americans after 9/11......Page 112 CHRONOLOGY......Page 134 FURTHER READING......Page 138 A......Page 144 B......Page 146 C......Page 147 F......Page 148 I......Page 149 L......Page 151 M......Page 152 N......Page 154 Q......Page 155 S......Page 156 U......Page 158 Y......Page 159