Black Mecca
The African Muslims of Harlem
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc
Published:6th Jun '13
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
The changes to U.S. immigration law that were instituted in 1965 have led to an influx of West African immigrants to New York, creating an enclave Harlem residents now call ''Little Africa.'' These immigrants are immediately recognizable as African in their wide-sleeved robes and tasseled hats, but most native-born members of the community are unaware of the crucial role Islam plays in immigrants' lives. Zain Abdullah takes us inside the lives of these new immigrants and shows how they deal with being a double minority in a country where both blacks and Muslims are stigmatized. Dealing with this dual identity, he discovers, is extraordinarily complex. Abdullah weaves together the stories of these African Muslims to paint a fascinating portrait of a community's efforts to carve out space for itself in a new country.
Black Mecca is a masterful example of thick ethnography... Combines great storytelling with deep insights... a must read for students of American Islam. * Islamic Africa *
Black Mecca is an immensely readable book that is a must for those with a keen interest in religion and culture. Zain Abdulllah's tenacity, tact, and knowledge of Islam open up the world and lives of individuals and communities who are creating a space for themselves in a new country. * Black Theology *
Brilliantly subtle.... does a masterful job humanizing these subjects and rendering their lives and thoughts in nuanced and memorable ways. * Sociology of Religion *
Compelling and readable. . . Abdullah is a skilled writer, and the reader moves from one inviting chapter to the next as if wandering through the city with a close friend, stopping to chat with passersby. . . . A thoughtful analysis of how African Muslims have become a vital part of Harlem social life. * American Anthropologist *
Intermingling ethnographic research with good storytelling and captivating interviews, Black Mecca is electrifying. Abdullah opens up the community and its individuals in ways I could not have imagined. We visit their homes, dine with them, and stay up late into the night at celebrations. We become intimate with longing, tragedy, uncertainty, loss, and triumph. This is a must-read for students of immigration, anthropology, religion, and culture. * Aminah Beverly McCloud, Director, Islamic World Studies, DePaul University *
ISBN: 9780199329281
Dimensions: 155mm x 231mm x 20mm
Weight: 440g
306 pages