Black Mecca The African Muslims of Harlem

by Abdullah, Zain

• ISBN13: 9780195314250
• ISBN10: 0195314255
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-09-30
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The changes to U.S. immigration law that were instituted in 1965 have led to an influx of West African immigrants to New York, creating an enclave Harlem residents now call ''Little Africa.'' These immigrants are immediately recognizable as African in their wide-sleeved robes and tasseled hats, but most native-born members of the community are unaware of the crucial role Islam plays in immigrants' lives. Zain Abdullah takes us inside the lives of these new immigrants and shows how they deal with being a double minority in a country where both blacks and Muslims are stigmatized. Dealing with this dual identity, Abdullah discovers, is extraordinarily complex. Some longtime residents embrace these immigrants and see their arrival as an opportunity to reclaim their African heritage, while others see the immigrants as scornful invaders. In turn, African immigrants often take a particularly harsh view of their new neighbors, buying into the worst stereotypes about American-born blacks being lazy and incorrigible. And while there has long been a large Muslim presence in Harlem, and residents often see Islam as a force for social good, African-born Muslims see their Islamic identity disregarded by most of their neighbors. Abdullah weaves together the stories of these African Muslims to paint a fascinating portrait of a community's efforts to carve out space for itself in a new country.

Author Biography

Zain Abdullah holds a doctorate in cultural anthropology. He is Assistant Professor in the Department of Religion and an associate faculty member in the Department of Geography and Urban Studies at Temple University. He works in film and photography, and serves on the Religion and Migration Consultation committee for the American Academy of Religion.

Table of Contents

Prologue: A New Blues People	p. 3
America Dreaming	p. 15
The Black Encounter	p. 47
The Language of Heaven	p. 81
A Sacred City	p. 107
Harlem Jihads	p. 143
Doing Allah's Work	p. 171
Family Matters	p. 199
Epilogue: In Pursuit of Hope	p. 231
Glossary	p. 241
Notes	p. 247
Bibliography	p. 275
Index	p. 284
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.