Proto Islamic Movements through Self Determination | Islam and the Black American

Dr. Sherman Jackson contends in his book, Islam and the Blackamerican, that Islam owes its momentum in America to the phenomenon of "Black Religion," a God-centered holy protest against anti-black racism. “Islam” became an expression of self determination through movements like the Moorish Science Temple and the Nation of Islam. Noble Drew Ali authored his own “Quran” and Fard Muhammad was declared to be “Allah” incarnate, with Elijah Muhammad as the “Messenger of Allah”. Yet eventually these expressions led to millions of people being ushered into normative Islam through luminaries like Imam Warith Deen Muhammad and Al Hajj Malik Al Shabazz Malcolm X.

Series Description: Two worlds that were and still are so frequently intertwined, are Islam and Black America. Yet often these two are looked at as either mutually exclusive, or limited to one historical period or transformative personality. In this series, Sr. Ieasha Prime gives a brief overview of the many ways in which these worlds interacted, and the many figures we owe that interaction to.

Visit for more videos and full access to all research publications.

Join the conversation on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @yaqeeninstitute!