From Olympic athlete Ibtihaj Muhammad and Democratic Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar to Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali, there are several prominent American Muslim public figures today. Indeed, Muslims have long been an embedded part of American culture since their forced arrival through the Transatlantic slave trade and later waves of immigration throughout the 18th to 21st centuries from various regions across the world. Yet, Muslim national belonging in the U.S. has continually been publicly contested throughout history up until our current political moment. In this course, we examine the notion of a religiously plural America and analyze Muslims’ place within it, considering the ways that American Muslims both shape and are shaped by U.S. society as both religious actors with autonomy and as a marginalized outgroup.
Tazeen M. AliAuthor
Washington University in St. LouisInstitution
Community College, Public College or University, Private College or University, Seminary Institution Type
Syllabus Resource Type
Intro, Undergraduate Course Class Type
2022 Date Published
Religious Studies, American Studies, History, Political Science Discipline
Islam Religous Tradition
Class/Power, Empire/Foreign Policy/Globalism, Family/Children/Reproduction, Gender/Women/ Sexuality, Immigration/Refugees, Politics/Law/Government, Pluralism/Secularism/Culture Wars, Nationalism/War/Civil Religion Topics