African American Males From Christianity to Islam

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African American Males From Christianity to Islam

• Team Islam
• Philip Mangis, Michael Ramsdail, Raphael Gang

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Statistical Data

• African American Muslims make up 30 of the
  American Muslim Population. (Glenmary
  Research Center Atlanta GA)
• It is estimated that there are between 2.5 and 8
  million Muslims living in America. (Christian
  Science Monitor 2002)

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U.S. Mosques population by background

• African Americans represent 30 of U.S. Mosque
  attendees (Dept. of State April 2001)

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Main Question

• Why do African American Males Convert from
  Christianity to Islam?

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Method

• Collect Oral Histories
• Questionnaires (none were returned)
• Textual research on Conversion

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Thesis

• The discipline, sense of community, and the
  fulfillment of a personal need was the impetus
  for some Midwest African American males
  conversion to the Islamic faith from
  Christianity.

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Major Themes from Textual Studies

• Simplicity
• Clarity of Quran
• No abstract concepts of God (Trinity Doctrine)
• Brotherhood of Man
• Provides discipline within a closer community
• Promotes Social Justice Racial equality
• Direct Connection
• No intermediaries

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ORAL HISTORIES

• Shaheed Bilal Saleem age 26
• Elliott Saafir age 54
• Frederic Burns-Gahni age 50
• Ronald Shaheed age 55
• Muhsin-Abdullah age 55
• Ahmad R. Shamsid-deen
• Sherrick Anderson

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Thoughts from The Black Church

• Sherrick Anderson Pastor (Lighthouse Fellowship
  Church)
• Islam gave protection (NOI)
• Found Islam in prison
• Converted only B/C there was not a strong
  foundation in Christianity

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Major Themes from Oral Histories

• Islam Met a personal need
• Islam was like the mother I never had
• I joined Islam and It saved my life. . .
• . . .The lack of a priesthood was appealing to
  them. . . (Poston)

Frederick Burns-Gahni
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Major Themes from Oral Histories

• Islam Provides a sense of Community
• Islam made me comfortable as an African
  Americanit made me feel valued as a person.
• We celebrate life, not death
• . . .The concept of human brotherhood is much
  stressed in Islam. (Poston)

Elliott Saafir
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Major Themes in Oral Histories

• Islam Provided discipline
• A religion Islam that promotes equality puts
  the Black man in his right role. . . He cant
  deny that.
• . . .Id want a ritual component, a daily
  routine to sharpen the senses and discipline my
  mind. . . (Smith)

Muhsin Abdullah
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Surprising Discoveries

• Islam was attractive because
• Direct connection with faith through Quran
• Lack of strong Christian influence in life
• Context of civil rights era

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Conclusions

• A combination of events contributed to our
  subjects conversion. . .
• Lack of Influence of former religion
• Perceived Accessibility of Islam
• Met a personal need
• Provided a Sense of Community
• Provided discipline
• Context of era
• Textual Research Supported oral history findings.
  

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TEAM ISLAM!