Muslim Migration to USA Flashcards
1
Q
Job Ben Solomon
A
- Enslaved from Gambia River to be sold to tobacco farmers in Maryland. Escaped due to being mocked at but caught back. He was given a prayer room.
- He was well-educated (speak and write in Arabic).
- Letter to his father never received but received by British Parliament, James Oglethorpe who moved him to English sea voyage. During the voyage, people tried to convert him to Christianity but he never did.
- Never believed the idea of “Trinity” (God is three).
- Died upon his return to the land
2
Q
Abd al-Rahman Ibrahima
A
- Muslim noble and military leader from Futa Jalon. Son of Almamy (Muslim noble)
- Strong education and literary skills (speak and write in Arabic)
- Captured after coming from Military Mission. Sent to Mississippi and worked under an owner named “Prince”.
- Married African American Baptist named Isabella. John Cox, English man, tried to free him but wasn’t able to (knew his father)
- 1826: Ibrahima wrote a letter in Arabic as he wanted to be free. Read by President John Adams, and State Secretary Clay, they intervene and promise to free him by sending him back to Africa. However, he had to free his wife and sons as well so he had to collect money to free them. At the end, he collected $3400 to free Isabella after promising merchants that he will spread christianity and become an “Arab prince”. His speech about christians using thier religion for slavery also achieved this idea. After going to Liberia, he fell ill which caused his death in 1829
- In 1830, supporters freed four of his sons, with two rejoining their mom and the other two staying in the US. The other three remained enslaved.
3
Q
Omar ibn Sayyid
A
- Born in Futa Toro (Senegal). Learned and memorized the Quran and the Hadith. He was a warrior, trader, and teacher.
- Sold into slavery around 1807 to South Carolina. Escaped to North Carolina but was captured and jailed. However, he was sold again to Jim Owen (a kind owner per his description).
- He pretended to be a Christian as it was difficult for him or any other Muslim to criticize the religion. He wrote in his jail room all over the walls and in his writings, he asked forgiveness from God for whatever he has done.
4
Q
Bilali
A
- known as Ben Ali, became a strong leader who works under Thomas Spaulding to train many slaves to work in the war against British in the war of 1812 and evacuate them safely during 1824 hurricane.
- Bilali was married in Futa Jalon (Guinea) and then also married an English woman. He was able to keep 12 sons and 7 daughters together on Sapelo.
- Bilali was well-educated and memorized the Qur’an as many others at the time even mis-memorizing at the time.
Based on records from Savannah unit of Georgia Writers Project, Katie Brown (Belali’s great-granddaughter) recalled Belali’s son’s name and she was told how Belali was strict about how he prays and the time he prays. Use beads to remember God (dhikr -> sufi). - They celebrated sadaka, a celebration for ancestors. Grandmother Maragrat wore a hijab or some form of headscarf.
5
Q
Alexander Russel Webb
A
- Born in 1846 in Hudson (New York) to a middle-class family as a prostenant. He found the church to be boring. He didn’t believe in the Trinity.
- He moved to Chicago after the civil war to have a jewelry business. However, business lost during the great Chicago fire made him abandon religion and focus on reasons and science facts.
- He became interested in Islam after talks with Guhlam Ahmed (muslim reference in India).
- In 1887, he traveled to the Philippines to study the Muslims (as a newspaperman). Therefore, he converted to Islam and resigned as US. Council to work with the Indian businessman(Abdullah Arab) as a fundraising tour.
- 1893: Webb arrives in New York City and promotes Islam through books and bulding an office. However, he failed to convince s lot of people to convert as no financial support and also he was targeting middle class white Americans. However, those people still saw Islam as violent and dangerous despite Webb’s effort who was attacked and made fun of American Journalists.
6
Q
Mary Juma
A
- Immigrant from Syria who left her children and possessions to immigrate with husband (Hassin) to North Dakota. They sold their possessions and had loan to travel from Lebanon to France then to North Dakota.
- 1902: Filed a homestead to claim some acre of lands which they successfully did and owned it to start their plantation and raising animals. Had a son named Charles. Mary wasn’t educated.
- 1918: Husband dies and is buried in Islamic way. She and her household followed all Islamic traditions.
7
Q
Migrants to the US
A
- Started during Slavery (late 1700’s)
- Then, in the 1950’s, migrants started to arrive from Syria, South-Asia (Bangladesh, Pakistan)
- Bosnians, and Albanias
- 1964: No immigration law against immigrants
- Iowa: “Mother Mosque of America”. Bosnians building Muslim aid society in Chicago
