 There is a prominent myth in American society that Muslims were Johnny-come-lately to the shores of America, arriving in America only in the latter half of the 20th century. This book dramatically illustrates that Muslims helped tame and settle the American Wild West, fought to preserve the Union in the American Civil War, stood armed and ready to defend America from British invasion in the War of 1812, fought to secure American independence from Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War, helped build the agricultural base of the American South even before there was a United States of America, explored the American continent with the Spanish conquistadors, and sailed with Columbus in 1492. In addition, although it may be somewhat controversial, Arabic records indicate that Muslims had repeatedly sailed to the Americas centuries before Columbus. For the second and third generations of Muslims in America who are struggling to establish their identities as both Muslims and Americans, this book provides a series of role models and a glorious heritage from the pages of American history, both of which should help make that identity formation an easier task. Topics covered are easily derived from the following chapter titles: The Forgotten Story, The Pre-Columbian Era, The “European” Explorers, The Slave Trade, Muslims and Native Americans, The Melungeons, Islamic Residuals in African-American Life, The Immigrants, The Converts, and Islam in Modern North America. As can be seen, this is a book that should be used to supplement American history textbooks in every Islamic middle school and high school in the country.
Muslims in American History--A Forgotten Legacy (Jerald F. Dirks, Amana Publications, 2006.
393pages. $18.00.
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