Why black immigrants (slaves), didn't bring Islam to America despite the big islamic influence in black Africa

Question

Muslims has been present in Central (black) Africa for centuries, after Arab invasions.

Black immigration to America (north and south) began with Europeans trafficking slaves from Africa. Why didn't them keep Muslim religion?

Answer 1

Your question is complex forgive me as I will answer complete as possible.

"Islam" indeed was a large influence in so-called black Africa. Timbuktu was a university there. The custodians were muslims.
Mandingos, Fullas and Moors are some of the forced to the New World.

Remember "Roots" by A. Haleys his grandfather a muslim, fasted & prayed for rain during a drought. Strange after all that research, He did not change his name or religion back to the original family name & religion!

The branch of Human Family from European continent enslaved the branch of the Human Family from African continent. Both family members had more than enough practise on their own continents.

Just as cultures of people enslaved vary with time, place, and circumstance, it is also tue for the enslavers.

Initially many of the Africans enslaved by the colonial pirates of(Netherlands {Dutch},Spain, Portugaul, France, England) & transported across the Atlantic Ocean were muslim. Many Africans spoke more than 5 languages, were artisians, physicians, theologians, poets, instrument makers,etc.

Central to Islam is the belief, "There is no god but,THE GOD." This is so serious that a muslim can only be a slave to The God, and willingly and gladly at that. Never to a Human. Word got around that muslims did not enslave easily. Muslims could bear through the hardships and seek Liberation if it meant loss of life of Human masters. For reasons of commercial expediancy, the muslims were at some point avoided as the commodity of choice. Another smaller monotheistc group Ancient Hebrews (Ibo) were possibly the next group that was avoided for the same reasons. The largest group victimized was possibly Animist.

Colonial Pirates whose aligience (Spain, Portugal,France.) was to the Vatican, practised enslavement differed from their British counterparts. Nothing is monolithic, there were of course exceptions, most of the religious connexion was left intact in places like the Carribean, South America, and Louisianna. The drum was allowed, and if the enslaver had offspring from his slave mistress the children in more than a few instances would not inherit slavery, sometimes if was true for the mother.

Interesting fact: Initially he British ship manifests list Humans as Christain (European) and pagan (African). It was much later that the designations of white for Europeans was used.

An amalgamation of religious beliefs took place. In some cases later there was an effort to convert the enslaved to Christian denomination of those enslaving pirates.

In the 13 colonies later to be called U.S.A. which was under British influence, the story and methodology was different with few exceptions. Children inheirited enslavement from the mother, No drum, No speaking native tongue, no religion from homeland, no time for self, no freedom in the land of the free, no spouse, no rites over ones own children. Africans were property to the extreme. The "unalienable rites for all men" that were in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution was null and void for Africans. Africans in most cases were "property, things, livestock, or machines. What religion is an item that you own?

How many generations does it take to lose language, customs and religion under duress? Without the duress of the slave experience, some imigrants today tend to lose these within 2 or 3 generations and that's with the families intact. If the physical traits are different than the dominant population, the drive to "fit in" may be stronger. Now imagine the duress of separation from anyone or anything familiar to you, maybe more than once in a lifetime.

Mental illnes, compels one group of Humans to assimilate another group of Humans assign them an inferior status while calling themselves superior. The impression today prevails in socety, that the impression given to students, is that most of the so-called whites had slaves. The slavers in fact were in the small minority, they were the minority of the minority.One can compare these to the nunber of people that can aford the expensive items outside the graspof 96% of todays population.

Mental illness is uncomfortable with fair play & justice for all. Mental illness is socially transmittable. No one "ethnic group" has a monopoly on good or bad behaviour. Only the vigilent remain free.

Influences: Some ritualistic prayer movements are present in some of the christian type churches. You will have to look closely to see them. Sayings like more guest, more water in the soup make enough for all.

Islamic influence has been in the christian communities; Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant since 750 C.E. Where do your think the dome on the Vatican chappel, Gregorian Chants, Rennaisance En;ightenment philosophies, Protestant Reformation, & existentialism draw. You see the Almighty works in ways mysterious. You miss it only if you are not open to see it. Even sayings like 'Lawd willin', 'Praise de Lawd', ask a muslim if this is not a common saying. Tis pretty to hear in any language. There are certain fraternal orders which draw much on the philosophical teachings of Islam .of various scholar. Remember, tall ,dark and handsome Moors were in Southern Spain for 700 years. Southern Spain was the safest kindest place for Jews, had night lighting on paved streets, barbers, guitars, air conditioned buildings, running water, sewer, the expert medicine of Jew and muslim physicians, etc. These were accomplishments of indiviudals who at their height practiced the principles of liberty. There everyone lived free from the ravages of the Inquistion. Knowledge was exchanged among the citizens.

The Spiritual "Old Time Religion," is possibly reference to Islam. "Old Time Religion," merely requires that one recognizes that the God controls all things, treat others as you expect to be treated, respect yourself.

Read the Quran, then read the nature of things external and internal to you. Watch the universal balance works.

Slavery and oppression is ALWAYS more about ETHICS and NOT ETHNICS. Self control is the path towards Peace of Mind.

I hope this is complete enough.

Answer 2

Islam didn't exist on the coast it was more idol god's and the religion of the ancient Hebrews were practice there.

PAGE 22 In the first place, many Hebrewism were discovered in the ASHANTI tribal customs. Then, several ASHANTI words were found to have a striking resemblance to those of equivalent Hebrew meaning. finally the supreme being of the ASHANTI gave a strong indication of being the "Yahweh" (YHWH) of the "old testament".

PAGE 23, It was indeed surprising how many HEBREWISM, either real or at least apparent, were to be found among the UNISLAMISED tribes.

from the book "Hebrewism of west Africa" beside no knowledge of any heritage of black survived because they were force to give those things up.

Answer 3

Because most of slaves were from west african and they weren't Muslim. And no matter what the religion they were not allowed to worship and were forced into christianity. Also they were not immigrants

Answer 4

I think a lot of the black slave traders were moslems. They were capturing the other nonmuslims in battles and selling them into slavery. Slavery still continues in some parts of africa today.

Answer 5

I believe when black were brought to America a lot of their hertiage was lat and they were not consider human and not even a man. with no right and given no respect.. they work in the big house or on the big field.

Answer 6

they didnt bring anything because they didnt bring themselves
only religion about slaves you hear are christianism .. european
im sure islam religion wasnt favorable to be brought up in history books written by someone who has no interest in islam

Answer 7

Not during the slave trade movement. Africa was getting colinized left and right.

Answer 8

Well, white American Christians killed off the strong black men & women who held to their beliefs..and they separated children from the black parents so the white slavemaster could brainwash their children with Christianity. Those children became Christian, and so on.

Answer 9

Very few tribes had converted to Islam-they mostly had a form of ancester worship.

Answer 10

simple answer is that the muslm faith did not penetrate as far south as the ghania reigon were most of the slaves came from.