Islam in the U.S.

By annamalone

  • The Immigration Act of 1924 is passed.

    The Immigration Act of 1924 is passed.
    • Ended the wave of immigration from Middle Eastern countries that had been going on for the past 40 years.
    • Excluded the entrance of non-Europeans, including Arabs.

  • Nation of Islam is Founded

    Nation of Islam is Founded
    Wallace Fard Muhammad founds the Nation of Islam, which was known for its black separatist platform. -Popular in prisons; Malcolm X joined NOI but eventually split from them.

  • Elijah Muhammad takes charge of the NOI

    Elijah Muhammad takes charge of the NOI

  • Political Developments outside the U.S.

    Political Developments outside the U.S.
    • Creation of Israel triggers immigration of Palestinian Muslims to America.
    • Oppressive regimes in other (predominanlty Muslim) increase the amount of immigration to America.

  • Assassination of Malcolm X

    Assassination of Malcolm X
    • During his time in prison (1946-1952), he converted to Nation of Islam
    • After he was released, he gained fame and brought many to NOI.
    • Disillusioned and split with NOI, 1964
    • Pilgrimage to Mecca led him to preach to all races.
    • Assassinated by members of NOI.
    • Malcolm X was a key figure in American Islam; used Islamic principles to encourage social activism (dramatic understatement).

  • Immigration Legislation

    Immigration Legislation
    • McCaran-Walter Act is passed in 1952; Hart-Cellar act passed in 1965.
    • Both served to relax the earlier quota systems and restrictive immigration laws.
    • Immigrants came: both political refugees and those hoping for economic improvement.

  • Death of Elijah Muhammad

    Death of Elijah Muhammad
    • With Elijah Muhammad's death, NOI broke into factions.
    • EM's son, Warith Deen Muhammad, moved the community in a more orthodox direction. Became the American Society of Muslims.
    • NOI still exists (was reestablished by Louis Farrakhan in 1977).

  • American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)

    American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
    This organization is not exclusively Muslim; in fact, it was founded by a Lebanese Christian. However, its creation, and the subsequent resistance and persecution they faced, says a lot about the intolerant climate Arab-American faced in the late 1900s.

  • Oklahoma City Bombing

    Oklahoma City Bombing
    *The perpetrator, Timothy McVeigh was NOT a Muslim. However, this bombing led to an increase in anti-Muslim discrimination and hate crimes.

  • Destruction of the World Trade Center

    Destruction of the World Trade Center
    These terrorist attacks by Muslim extremists dramatically increased the suspicion against Muslims - especially Arab Muslims - in America.

  • US PATRIOT Act is Passed

    US PATRIOT Act is Passed
    • Suspicion of Muslim-Americans (specifically those of Arab descent) leads to racial profiling and attempts to link them to terrorist attacks.