African American Muslims | The Great Muslim American Road Trip

The American Muslim community is the single most diverse ethnic and racial faith community, and African American Muslims trace their roots to the trans-Atlantic slave trade. This clip introduces the history of African American Muslims and spotlights some of the most well-known African American Muslims, including Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali. The clip concludes with a close look at a thriving African American Muslim community in Las Vegas.

Additional background information in the support materials describes the history of enslaved African Muslims in the Antebellum era. A Google Earth story provides additional context about Black Muslims featured in the film.

Lesson Objectives:

Students will aim to…

• Understand and describe the history of Muslims in American, spanning back to African enslaved people during the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
• Identify the motivations of Black Muslim Americans in Las Vegas who serve their communities, focusing on how their racial and faith practices overlap in their commitments to serve.
• Engage with a Google Earth story to gain a stronger understanding of the stories of Black Muslims.