미국 무슬림의 현황과 정체성 연구

Abstract

Islam has a long history in America. There is a strong possibility that Muslims visited and perhaps even lived in the Americas some 500 years before Christopher Columbus arrived off the shores of South America in 1492. Although Muslims now come to America in freedom, there was a time when Muslims were brought against their will as captured slaves. Today they consist of African American Muslim group, the biggest Muslim community in USA. In addition, the first wave of Muslim immigrants from Arab region began in the late 1870s. After WWII a new group of immigrants, mostly students came to USA for better education. Many blacks feel Muslim traditions reflect their African ancestry. So, they have had a strained relationship with the Nation of Islam(NOI), a radical movement that has had a major impact on African Americans. The NOI founded by Wallace Fard and followed by Elija Muhammad, Malcom X, Louise Farrakan, contributed greatly to Muslim society and black community in USA by ways of organized struggle for civil right and black power. Now 8 million Muslims with 1200 mosques every corner of American society accepted new identity harmonizing their role and responsibility as US citizens and Muslims as well.