African American Studies Commons^™

"Nothing But The Son Of A Black Woman": Anti-Blackness, Gender Dynamics, And Muslim Communities Of Memphis, Zari Muhammad

Senior Honors Papers / Undergraduate Theses

The Nation of Islam (NOI) is largely responsible for the growth of Islam in America during the 20th century. However, they are often isolated from their Muslim counterparts, being framed as an “inauthentic” Islamic school of thought by Sunni Muslim communities. This is due in part to the different practices of Islam, but also a result of American systemic anti-Blackness. Furthermore, Black Muslim women face numerous problems in the NOI , as the internal gender dynamics are based on white nuclear family systems that lead to further gendered ostracization within these same communities. This is exemplified in Memphis, Tennessee, where …