Islam and the Black American
Cultural Muslim Icons and Islam in the Lyrics
Series Description:
This transcript was auto-generated using AI and may contain misspellings.
00:00 Those three men would have a great influence not only on African Americans, but on people and of different religions, nationality and creed all over the world.
00:14 You will find books, testimonies, testifying to their greatness of their life and the truth of their legacy.
00:33 You will find countless accounts related about Muhammad Ali and his philanthropy and how he affected and encouraged so many people.
00:43 You will find even studies and books that are just dedicated to the life of Al-Hajj Malik Shabazz and of course the works of Imam Warrith Deen Muhammad,
00:56 who would lead the movement of Masjid Muhammad to have masajid all over the country.
01:02 Not only were these men responsible for ushering in a new understanding of Islam as a normative movement,
01:12 but they would also be responsible for ushering in a certain culture that would begin to affect Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
01:23 And now we get into the section of how African American Muslims and their take on Islam had a powerful impact on American society.
01:33 It affected such cultural icons that went from jazz, as we mentioned, from Yusuf Islam, even Dizzy Gillespie,
01:43 all the way into hip hop icons, whether that be Mos Def, known as Yassin Bey or Eric B. and Rakim.
01:52 You will find the 80s, the 90s and into the 2000s riddled with references to Islam and Muslims.
02:03 As a matter of fact, one of the most famous women in hip hop lines has several reference to Islam, and that's Lauryn Hill.
02:11 In several of her lyrics, she says, don't forget about the deen, the surat al-mustaqim, giving references. Even Jill Scott gives references to Quran and several of her lyrics.
02:25 Why is this? How is it that we have come so far? How is it that we have come from some from a people who were originally enslaved,
02:36 who were originally so oppressed and considered to be some of the low of society,
02:43 having some of the most powerful, long lasting effects on pop and current culture? You would find it even in the dress throughout 1990s.
02:55 You would find the kufi being something that was normative wear. You would find well into our current day men beginning to rock the beard as a fashion statement.
03:07 You would find in multiple cases women wrapping their hair as African-American Muslim women did, whether it was in a gay life style that was also significant to West Africa,
03:19 or whether you will find pictures of even Queen Latifah with the scarf wrapped over her shoulder, covering her neck.
03:28 You find the references in lyrics, you found it in dress, you found it in almost every aspects of culture.
03:37 It's amazing how Islam had such a powerful effect on this society.
03:45 It's amazing how Islam had such an influence on those who were Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
