Elisabeth Harnes

Re-defining the Black Self "The Muslim Way": Conversions from Christianity to Islam Among African-americans Elisabeth Harnes

Muslims in the U. S are often associated with Arab and South-Asian immigration. However, among U. S born Muslims slightly more than half are African-Americans. What is more, a high percentage of them are converts from Christianity. The book examines the question: "Why do African-Americans to such a big extent convert from Christianity to Islam?" By examining African-American men and women`s life stories the book seeks to understand the appeal and adaptability of religion with a special emphasis on Islam. In addition to a phenomenological approach several academic fields are presented with a special focus on Post-Colonial theories, Sociology of Religion and African-American History. The book offers a useful insight into an ethnic minority`s personal reflections upon the complexity of identity, ethnic dicrimination and "otherness" due to life experiences in a dominant cultural hegemony. The target group are students, academics and people working in the field of social work and integration.