Saturday, March 10, 2007  Race Issues in Islam  Another good
read in the New York Times elucidating some of the race issues
that affect Islam in America. More specifically, by telling the
story of the relationship of an African-American Imam and an
Asian immigrant Imam and the dynamics that have taken place
since September 11 that have shaped their understandings and
dealings of each other.  African-American Muslims and immigrant
Muslims from Asian and Arab countries have not particularly
gelled in America. Apart from racial and cultural differences,
these two groups have found it difficult to unify in the face of
socio-economic disparities.  Also, while many African-American
Muslims are converts or trace their Islam back to their West
African forbears, and thus have a less continuous transmission
of Islamic practices and proficiency in Arabic language as their
immigrant counterparts.  Personally, I have witnessed the
tension between these groups of Muslims. The Black Muslims often
feel that the Asians and Ar