Islam in North America: An Introduction

Students are encouraged to think beyond simple identifiers of “Muslim,” “American,” “Canadian,” or “Mexican”, and to consider how these identifiers exist in conversation with one another, and with others such as gender, class, race, sexuality, and ability. The overview chapter provides students with an introductory grounding in the field. Chapters take a multidisciplinary approach, and focus on the expressions of Islam in its diverse forms. The book is illustrated throughout with over 75 images and each chapter contains suggested further reading. A glossary of key terms and concepts is included. Case studies include Islam in Cuba, Islam and the Black experience, and the Hijab. Topics covered include Muslims and Politics in the US, Islamophobia as/and racism, Muslims in American popular media, the Latinx Muslim experience, and religious diversity in Canada. From tracing street names, such as Malcom X Boulevard in Harlem, to exploring how Islam has been constructed as a normatively male religion, this book provides a much-needed resource for students and instructors that acknowledges that Muslims navigate their identities in a world where Orientalist ideas continue to dominate politics, policy, and public imagination.