Muslims in America: Race, Politics, and Community Building

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MUSLIMS IN AMERICA Race, Politics, and Community Building By Mbaye Lo In an engaging style, Mbaya Lo provides us with a fascinating historical account of the growth of Islam in America. He reveals the different factors and figures that interacted to shape the evolution and growth of the American Muslim communities in the wider contexts of race, identity and politics. Mabye takes the mosque as his paradigm to analyze and synthesize the growth of Muslim communities in Cleveland: how their mosques developed over time, the challenges they faced, in moving to mainstream Islam and developing a multi-ethnic community. An added feature of the book is a survey to answer questions about what motivated converts to Islam, who introduced them to Islam and how Muslims are distributed across different ethnic groups and mosques. I know of no other work that deals with the Islamic community in Cleveland with the depth and thoroughness of Mr. Los study. It fills a gap in the historical literature on Cleveland. Tom Hartshorne, Professor of History, Cleveland State University Mbaye Los book is fascinating and valuable. It examines relationship between America and Africa through the adoption of the Islamic faith by Americans of African origin-recently or long ago-displaying broad knowledge of Islam and examining diverse source materials. The studys unique aspect is on Islam in Cleveland, Ohio, and is the first study of Islam in that city, with detailed information, both from local documentary material, and much from personal observations. An attractive study for those who work on Islam or on American society. Professor John Hunwick, Director-General, Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa Northwestern University. Mbaye Lo has provided us with not only a welcomed addition to a building field but a truly insightful work on the Muslim communities in Cleveland. This work is definitely a template for future local studies that will enlighten all who want to know about American r