Roots of Islam in America

Always wanted to learn more about Islam and Muslims? Join John Emery from the Islamic Resource Group(link is external) for this three part series, which will help provide a better understanding of what Islam teaches and what Muslims practice. 

On Saturday, April 7 the series concludes with "Roots of Islam in America." The presentation describes the earliest Muslims in this country, namely enslaved West Africans. It features stories and experiences of individual enslaved Muslims, including “Prince”, who is featured in a PBS documentary called “Prince Among Slaves” which was aired in 2007. It also chronicles the development of conversion movements in the African American community, and the impact of West African Muslim culture on the U.S. The presentation also traces the presence of Arab and other immigrant Muslims from pre-Columbus times.

Other classes in this series:

Saturday, March 24 at 2:00 PM: What You Always Wanted to Know About Islam and Muslims
Saturday, March 31 at 2:00 PM: Women in Islam

Speaker Bio: John Emery completed intensive study of the Arabic language in the US Army. He served as a translator and interrogator for nine years, including service in the United States, North Africa, the Persian Gulf, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After nine years in the US Army, John complete his B.A. in Global Studies at the University of Minnesota. As an American convert to Islam, John is is concerned with common misconceptions about Muslims and Islam in the United States. John is passionate about dispelling misunderstandings and shedding light on the values shared by believers of all faith traditions. John lives in Chaska, MN. He works as a Community Liaison for the Islamic Resource Group, focusing on community outreach and building relationships with law enforcement organizations. When he is not busy with family, John is a beekeeper and a bicyclist.

About the IRG: The Islamic Resource Group's mission is to build bridges of understanding between Muslims in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin and the broader community through education. Their speakers represent various professional, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds, and work to educate the public about the religion of Islam and its 1.5 billion adherents. Their presentations follow the First Amendment freedoms, while answering questions about this important topic. In today's world, people of all faiths are sensing the need to come together, learn more about each other, and share our commonalities while understanding our differences.