Black History Month by Imam Zaid Shakir

So i know im a bit late as Black History Month has past us...ive been saving this one for the month but i got lazy so HERE it is after its done and maybe you can reflect on this month next year :)

1 of 5 Muslim slaves alone in Virginia & Carolina back then. Muslims were in North America before Columbus ever was. There was also 50-60% muslims in Jamaica at one point. Their history is our history.

Who was Ayub bin Sulaiman??
Lived in Eastern Senegal and was taken into slavery. He then landed in Maryland in 1731 and was sold to slavery. A few weeks later he ran away from his master. He was a son of a leader, his father was an Imam and a dignified person. As a slave, Ayub bin Sulaiman couldn't perform salah (prayers) and he ran away. He was then captured and beaten. When he was caught the master gave him a musallah to pray in but he still did not obey. He also learned english in 6 weeks on the boat while coming to America. He then wrote a letter and it went through England to Africa. It was then sent to a group called 'Okafor' (a slave free organization). They translated the letter and Okafor him self paid for his release out of his own money. This news had gotten the attention of the Queen of England and she had wanted to draw an art of him but he wanted to stick to his traditional clothing. But no one knew what his traditional clothing was. So he then said,"you don't know what Jesus looked like but you drew him".He was later sent back to Africa as a free man.

Umar bin Sayeed - Author on slavery in Arabic language. He had a level of scholarship in Africa and wanted to manifest Islam in other places. But he died out and wasn't able to build Muslim settings in Southern America because he had no one to marry.

Islam found Damascus, Baghdad, Spain (Cordoba), Asian and soon America. Must develop institutions where ever we settle.

Elijah Mohammad - movement to strenghten Islam within Africans and help made Malcolm X, Mohammad Ali, Martin Luther King (who became sunni after hajj).

First masjid in America in Cleveland and Upstate New York.

H Rap Brown was a rapper but later became muslim. He had cleaned the streets in Atlanta, West End. Made it a safe environment for the community and he started islamic institutions like ISNA & ICNA.