From the early days of exploration, to immigration and slavery to independence to abolition, from the Civil Rights Movement to the current movement for Black Lives, Black Muslim history is defined by centuries of pioneering presence, resilience and struggle for racial, religious, and social justice. Black Muslims represent one-third of the American Muslim community, lead in rooting and growing Islam in America, and have borne the brunt of racial injustice and racism throughout our country’s history.
As a group, they experience a range of challenges due to anti-Black racism and Islamophobia. Muslims who identify as Black experience the same systemic racism that all Black Americans face in their day-to-day lives, in addition to the religious discrimination faced by many Americans who are Muslim. Muslims are often racialized as Arab or South Asian, rendering Black Muslims less visible, leaving them out of the conversation, and creating a dearth of information about their experiences. This collection of research and resources exists to highlight Black Muslim experiences that are too often ignored.
Black Muslim Experiences
Research and Resources on Americans who are Black and Muslim
From the early days of exploration, to immigration and slavery to independence to abolition, from the Civil Rights Movement to the current movement for Black Lives, Black Muslim history is defined by centuries of pioneering presence, resilience and struggle for racial, religious, and social justice. Black Muslims represent one-third of the American Muslim community, lead in rooting and growing Islam in America, and have borne the brunt of racial injustice and racism throughout our country’s history.
As a group, they experience a range of challenges due to anti-Black racism and Islamophobia. Muslims who identify as Black experience the same systemic racism that all Black Americans face in their day-to-day lives, in addition to the religious discrimination faced by many Americans who are Muslim. Muslims are often racialized as Arab or South Asian, rendering Black Muslims less visible, leaving them out of the conversation, and creating a dearth of information about their experiences. This collection of research and resources exists to highlight Black Muslim experiences that are too often ignored.
Quick Links
Racism and Muslim Experiences
Muslims who are Black experience the same systemic racism that all Black Americans face, in addition to the religious discrimination faced by many American Muslims. According to ISPU research, 66% of Black Muslims and 75% of Black Americans in the general public report experiencing racial discrimination.
Black Muslim Youth
Many Black Muslims—including youth—face ethnic and racial discrimination from within the American Muslim community. How can predominately South Asian and Arab American mosques create more inclusive environments for Black Muslim youth?
Community Racism Talk Toolkit
According to ISPU research, one third of Black Muslims have experienced racism from within their own faith community. This ISPU | Yaqeen toolkit uses ISPU data on discrimination to explore strategies for combating racism inside Muslim communities.
Muslim American Experience Bibliography
Learn more about Black Muslim experiences by reading a book from our Muslim American Experience Bibliography.
FEATURED BOOKS FROM OUR BIBLIOGRAPHY
Explore more books on Black Muslims in the U.S. in our Muslim American Experience Bibliography.
Dive into the Data
DEMOGRAPHICS
FAITH
DISPARITIES
SOCIAL JUSTICE + POLITICS
PHILANTHROPY
MARRIAGE
Videos
In this webinar from ISPU and the National Black Muslim COVID Coalition, a panel of experts discussed the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Black Muslim communities, the factors that contribute to the current crisis, and the holistic approach that is needed to move toward healing.
In this webinar, experts Imam Dawud Walid and Dr. Jamillah Karim discuss how to create inclusive environments for African American youth at South Asian- and Arab-majority mosques.
Precious Rasheeda Muhammad—author, award-winning speaker, and a presenter at ISPU’s media convenings—speaks movingly about Black Muslims and their centuries-long ties to the making of America in this presentation.
Watch Nicole Najmah Abraham’s story of breaking into the fashion design industry in New York City, despite not seeing Black Muslim women doing the work she wanted to be doing.
Explore Black Muslim Narratives
Explore personal narratives from ISPU’s Muslims for American Progress project, highlighting Black Muslims from Michigan and New York City.
Scholarly Sources
These ISPU Scholars research, write, and present on various aspects of race and ethnicity, including issue areas such as identity, health and social development, and organizational development.
PhD, Educational Psychology, Temple University
Assistant Professor, Klein College of Media and Communication, Temple University
PhD, Clinical Psychology, Farleigh Dickinson University
Executive Director, The Family and Youth Institute
PhD, Nursing Science, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Behavioral Health Clinician and Researcher
PhD, Near Eastern Studies, University of Michigan
Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, University of Kentucky
PhD, Religious Studies, Emory University
Director, Research and Advocacy Department, CAIR National
PhD, English and Comparative Literature, Columbia University
Professor of English, Brooklyn College, City University of New York
PhD, Philosophy and Islamic Studies, University of California–Berkeley
Co-founder and Professor of Islamic law and Theology, Zaytuna College
JD, UCLA School of Law
Professor of Law, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville School of Law
PhD, Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago
Assistant Professor, Silver School of Social Work, New York University
PhD, Clinical Psychology, Chestnut Hill College
Founder and President, Muslim Wellness Foundation
PhD, Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin
Associate Professor, Comparative Religion, Western Michigan University
PhD, American Studies and Ethnicity, University of Southern California
Assistant Professor, Department of History, Politics, and Social Justice, Winston-Salem State University
Scholarly Sources
These ISPU Scholars research, write, and present on various aspects of race and ethnicity, including issue areas such as identity, health and social development, and organizational development.
PhD, Educational Psychology, Temple University
Assistant Professor, Klein College of Media and Communication, Temple University
PhD, Clinical Psychology, Farleigh Dickinson University
Executive Director, The Family and Youth Institute
PhD, Nursing Science, Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
Behavioral Health Clinician and Researcher
PhD, Near Eastern Studies, University of Michigan
Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, University of Kentucky
PhD, Religious Studies, Emory University
Director, Research and Advocacy Department, CAIR National
PhD, English and Comparative Literature, Columbia University
Professor of English, Brooklyn College, City University of New York
PhD, Philosophy and Islamic Studies, University of California–Berkeley
Co-founder and Professor of Islamic law and Theology, Zaytuna College
JD, UCLA School of Law
Professor of Law, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville School of Law
PhD, Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago
Assistant Professor, Silver School of Social Work, New York University
PhD, Clinical Psychology, Chestnut Hill College
Founder and President, Muslim Wellness Foundation
PhD, Anthropology, University of Texas at Austin
Associate Professor, Comparative Religion, Western Michigan University
PhD, American Studies and Ethnicity, University of Southern California
Assistant Professor, Department of History, Politics, and Social Justice, Winston-Salem State University
Additional Resources
These resources may be helpful, though ISPU does not claim responsibility for the content.
The Black Islam Syllabus, developed and curated by Dr. Kayla Renée Wheeler, is an extensive list of scholarly research and writings, movies, poetry, TV shows, websites, essays, and hashtags that provides those interested in learning more about Islam with resources on Black Muslims.
The Dream Storytelling Project, also known as the Detroit Muslim Storytelling Project, is an oral history initiative launched in 2020 by the neighborhood revitalization association Dream of Detroit. ISPU Scholar Dr. Alisa Perkins serves as Project Manager and Research Director on the project. Dr. Perkins is also an advisor on At Their Feet: The Stories and Advice of American Muslim Elders, directed by Imam Abdullah El-Amin and guided by his daughter Zarinah El-Amin, which aims at capturing the stories of American Muslim elders in the Detroit and wider national Muslim community.
Other Useful Reading
Non-Black Muslims Will Need to Do More Than Post Hashtags and Attend Rallies to Combat Anti-Black Racism
The events of the past two weeks have highlighted
15 June, 2020
How American Minorities Responded to Hostility
Latino Americans in the general public and Muslims
18 December, 2017
Discrimination Across Intersections
Muslim Americans share common struggles with other
18 December, 2017
Confronting the New Southern Strategy of Anti-Black Racism and Islamophobia
American Election cycles normally have a polarizin
18 October, 2016
Full Report | Strength Through Diversity: Four Cases of Local and State Level Coalition Success
Since 9/11, the public spotlight on American Musli
01 January, 2015
Islam and the Problem of Black Suffering
In his controversial 1973 book, Is God a White Rac
01 March, 2014American History Incomplete without Muslims
This September, the First Cleveland Masjid in Ohio
04 September, 2012
Islam and the Blackamerican: Looking Toward the Third Resurrection
Sherman Jackson offers a trenchant examination of
14 April, 2005
