Muslim and Islam - Case Study Example

1 While there were many individuals who played a role in contributing to the development of Islam, there were three who influence is brought Muslims to the forefront of American culture. Estavanico of Azamor is believed to be the very first Muslim to enter the United States back in 1527. He was a Berber originally from North Africa and is responsible for guiding the first Spanish explorations of the United States Southwest. Amadou Mahtar M’Bow, the director of the UNESCO became a breakthrough figure when he revealed that in 1587 a group of Moriscos had come by boat and set up settlements in South Carolina and western Tennessee. This discovery was monumental because it revealed that Muslims had inhabited America from the beginning. The third contributor, Alexander Webb, is believed to be the first American to convert to Islam. This was recorded in 1888 and then five years later he was appointed as the first Muslim in British Parliament. 2 From the 1970s to the 1990s, the number of mosques established in America increased considerably, partly due to conversion for which the dominant number of converts are African-Americans, but also due to the influence of settlement patterns resulting from immigration. As Muslim families grew in size so did their needs for places to worship. There are now more than 1500 mosques, compared to 600 in 1980, 230 in 1960 and 19 in 1930. One of the major factors that helped the emergence of Muslim Ethnic Mosques was the article written soon after the race riots of 1967 and 1967 in Newark, NJ. The East Orange Record also reported that the East Orange Deputy Police Chief praised the Muslim population as a ‘stabilizing influence’ in the area, and noted ‘an almost zero percent crime rate within the Islamic community. While crime rates were lower in Muslim communities, many citizens still struggled with the cultural ignorance of most Americans. They fought to make their religion understandable and accepted by the mainstream society. 3 The initial introduction of Islam in Africa occurred in 639 A.D. when the Arabs began exploring North Africa. As the religion grew across the continent, many Africans were being brought to America. In America, for many African Americans their first exposure to Islam was because of their slave ancestry and history. Today, The African-American Muslim community is diverse and complex in its theological beliefs and the way in which Islam became a mainstay in the lives of many African Americans can be traced back to the Great Depression of the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, many African Americans migrated out of the southern states to the east in search of a better life. The eastern United States had the highest populations of Muslims at the time, and they reached out to help the African American travelers in their time of need. By recognizing African American’s poor housing and economic conditions, Islamic followers in the eastern United States fought to improve the lives of the African Americans and their influence was lasting, with many converting to the faith and passing it on to their future generations. 4 There are several different factors influencing the race relations between African Americans and the immigrant community. African Americans have struggled and have revealed that in their living experience of Islam, it is not always singularly a manifestation of culture. Often traditional Muslims are at odd with African-American Muslims who are not binded by a singular cultural expression or see that Islam is culture itself. Many believe that the tensions also arise because African-Americans are very aware of racism and discrimination. Many African Americans feel that traditional Muslims treat them as inferior due to the fact that they were not the original Muslim race. These tensions can be seen in acts of violence specifically n the San Francisco Bay area of California. Here a string of liquor store robberies have been aimed at stored owned by traditional Muslim citizens. It was soon discovered that the criminals were African American Muslims who has targeted these particular stores specifically. 5 Originally, COINTELPRO represented a series of FBI investigations in the 1960s and 1970s directed against civil rights movements in order to protect US security. Dr Hatem Bazian revealed his thoughts on the NEW COINTELPRO which is being directed solely on Muslims, Arabs and South Asians. He revealed the four methods the FBI uses to gain their information about these cultural groups. They use infiltration in the community where many FBI agents act as sleeper cells often turning members of a community against each other as they search for information. They use psychological warfare, harassment through the legal system, and even use extra legal force through violence. 6 The LA-8 Case took place in 1987 as a result of the Reagan administration’s attempt to bar Khader Hamide and Michel Shehadeh and six others and to deport them from the US. The case was dropped once the federal court ruled that the anti-communist laws used against the LA-8 were unconstitutional. This case remains relevant as it represented for many Muslims the USs hostility towards Islamic Immigrants. 7 Malcolm X played a large role in the history and development of the history of Islam in the US because he is one of its most prominent figures. Beginning with his release from prison, he changed his name to X and was appointed the assistant minister of the Nation of Islams Temple Number One. He expanded the religion over his lifetime, building one temple after another. From the time of his adoption of the Islamic religion in 1953 to his death he promoted the nations teachings. 8 Louis Castillo argues that the American Muslim communities are the most misunderstood institutions of today. His thesis argues against the popular American belief that Muslims schools marginalize youth into ethno-religious citizens. 9 The main distiction between Muslim Americans and American Muslims, is that American Muslims have the security in jnowing that they are Americans. Knowing that they were born into the United States as a United States citizens sents them apart form Muslims who have immigrated into the country. Many Muslim Americans have come to the understanding of the vulnerabilities of minorities and the importance of cicvil rights and democracy. This difference causes the two groups to feel largely separated from one another, with many refusing to interact with another. 10 Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 immigration process into the United States for middle eastern cultures has been a nightmare. In 2006 many groups protested in their demand for immigration reform which would allow many Muslim American families to be together. The US has restricted the number of immigrants allowed into the country since 9/11 and many Muslims have been treated as suspects for little to no reson at all. With the election od Barack Obama, the promise of immigration reform is in the neqar future as plans are being set to better handle the immigration procedures of Muslims into the country. 11 The Secret Evidence regulation or the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act was passed in 1996 and allows the US government to deport illegal aliens who are accussed of engaging in terrorsit activity. These directly affects Muslims because almost evey recent secret evidence case involves a Muslim or an Arab. What often happens, is that Muslims visa will expire while they are in jail awaiting their trial. Usually they are declared innocent after the trail, but they are then immeadiatly deported due to their expired visa. 12 Considering the importance of Islam in American and world affairs, it is critically important students be tought about the religion of Isalm and the Muslim culture. Susan Douglas argues that the complex nature of Islam should not deter educators from teaching about the vital role of Islam in world history and international affairs. Douglas argues that more and more teachers across American are realizing the importance of religion as part of a well rounded education. It is believed to be pivitol in the understanding of the American nation and in turn the world intself. 13 The outlines Douglas placed on teaching about religion in school include: approach religion academically not devotionally, make the students aware of religions but let them know they do not have to accept them, and to allways make sure that you are promoting only the study of religion and never the practice of it. 14 It has been noted that since the attacks of 9/11, the number of Muslim children enrolled in public school has decreased. Many parents do not want to subject their children to the backlash of some American attitudes towards Muslims. They prefer to inform their children themselves as to what is happening in their home country and to protect them from the current nagativity surrounding the Muslim nation. 15 Due to the fears of subjecting their children to the dangers of secularism and the compromising values of American culture, many Islamic parents choose to have their children attend special Isalmic schools. In an effort to sheild their children, and to have them taught about their nation in a positive light, the schools fight to protect Islamic values and culture. 16 Karen Keyworth sees Muslim schools just as she sees all other religious schools. She believes that Muslim schools are no different than any other common Catholic or Jewish school in America. The profile of a typical Muslim school is characterized by its desire to be seen as separate from puiblic schools in its desire to educate children about their religios and cultural traditions. 17 There are several authors of Muslim literature that Nadia Inji Khan mentions. Yahiya Emerick serves as a Muslim lecturer, educator and auther. He wrote many books that gave Islam a moderna and relevant face including his Complete Idiot’s Guides to different aspects of the Islamic religion. 18 Farid Senzai believes that during the latter part of the twentieth entury, American Muslims have established a formidable presence on the American Religious, social and political alndscape. He thinks that one of the biggest problems that they face, is the American culture’s misunderstanding of the Isalmic religion and the Muslim culture. He does support specialized Muslim schools and feels that the Muslim cunture needs to protected from the overarching neagtivity of the American public. 19 Mosques can serve many different functions and are not limited to places of worshipe. Often they represent the Islamic culture of an entire neighborhood or surrrounding area. Often they are used as political meeting places for those living in the area. They act as a kind of hub for all Islamic activity. Mosques often differ greatly from city to city and state to state due to the surrounding Muslims and the differing culture. 20 Media coverage often focuses on the differences between Muslims and typical Americans. For these reasons many American Muslims often feel isolated as those around them have no understanding of their religion or culture. The media tends to focus on the most radical examples of thir culture, always showing women with headresses and extreme scenes of violence and upheaval in their home country. These portrayals often create a Muslim stereotyp in the minds of the viewers. This is a very relevant problem, escpecially today where peace and understadning are so important to the well being of all nations. Read More