American Jihad: Islam After Malcolm X [Paperback]

Steven Barboza (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1995

American Jihad is the only popular book  available about the religious experience of Muslims,  both black and white, in America. With over one  billion faithful worldwide, and over six rnillion in  the United States alone, Islam is the world's  fastest-growing religion. In fact, the population of  American Muslims surpasses the membership of many  mainline Protestant denominations. However, the  media's depiction of Muslims in America often stops  short of any real examination and opts instead to  cover only the sensational, puzzling charisma of  Louis Farrakhan, who leads the Nation of Islam, or  the violence of some of the more extremist  Muslims. American Jihad dispels these  prominent but dangerously deceptive stereotypes  and is the first book to take a serious and  inclusive approach to exploring how the Muslim faith is  embraced and practiced in America. Like many  African-Americans of his generation, author Steven  Barboza was affected profoundly by Malcolm X and  converted from Catholicism after reading the  Autobiography. In American Jihad, he  features a myriad of faithful Muslims who come from  many different walks of life from a foreign policy  advisor of Richard M. Nixon's, to a blond Sufi, to  an AIDS activist, and so on. In  American Jihad, you'll hear from some of the  most famous American Muslims after Malcolm X,  including Louis Farrakhan, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Attallah  Shabazz (Malcolm X's daughter), and the former H.  Rap Brown. In American Jihad,  Steven Barboza does for Islam what Studs Terkel has  recently done for race relations.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Barboza, a black American journalist who converted to orthodox Islam after being inspired by Malcolm X, taps the rich diversity of the American Islamic experience in this collection of more than 50 brief interviews. While the interviews are not too deep, they do correct certain tabloid stereotypes of this rapidly growing religion. Some interviewees are famous: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar talks about how his conversion gave him credibility but not marketability, while Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin (the former H. Rap Brown) observes how Islam has enabled him to control his anger. A section on the separatist Nation of Islam fills out interesting history, but an interview with Louis Farrakhan doesn't challenge his inflammatory statements. Talking about prayer, family and pilgrimage, others interviewed remain intriguing: a McDonald's manager discusses how the company adapts to Islamic countries; a female college student recounts fighting sexism from fellow South Asians; a Muslim Marine tells of battling prejudice in the military. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Barboza, who converted to orthodox Islam in 1975, introduces 50 members of the growing American Muslim population. With gentle proselytizing, the narratives and interviews relate conversion memories, immigrant tales, and other anecdotes about the U.S. Islamic experiences. The era of El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) and the Nation of Islam are instant images of American Muslims. Barboza interviews many from that era, including the famous (Muhammad Ali, Louis Farrakhan, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar) and the unknown (prison converts and others influenced by Malcolm X), as well as some foreign-born and pre-Malcolm Muslims. Barboza conveys the impact of Malcolm X on Islam's rapid growth and the American Muslims' struggle for acceptance while trying to cultivate our understanding of the religion through conversations with diverse practitioners. Grouped in themes addressing a particular aspect of jihad (an effort or strife), the interviews are engaging reading for all audiences.
Kathleen E. Bethel, Northwestern Univ. Lib., Evanston, Ill.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Image; Reprint edition (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385476949
• ISBN-13: 978-0385476942
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,205,617 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars not what i expected at all, none the less very interesting, January 15, 2000

By 

Marvin Shwimmer (Manhattan NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Jihad: Islam After Malcolm X (Paperback)

Well with a title like American Jihad i thought i was getting something different, but I guess it was a better buy than i thought because it really changed what i thought about islam and muslims in general. I really don't know what to say about it other than it is worth getting if your open minded enough to gain something out of it. I very much suggest getting it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great look inside islam !!!, September 9, 2002

By 

"alwali" (San Bernardino, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: American Jihad: Islam After Malcolm X (Hardcover)

A great book about Islam & Muslims especially African-American muslims. I really enjoyed the interview format as well as the listing of 99 names & attributes of Allah in the back of the book.This book has great interviews from a diverse range of American muslims. From African -Americans to Native-americans and everything in between.Sunni,Shiah,Sufi and also a Ismali all are presented in this book.For those who know a little about the American Muslim community there is special treat!!! A interview with Shaykh Hamza Yusuf Hanson.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, June 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: American Jihad: Islam After Malcolm X (Paperback)

I know of no book that presents such a spectrum of people who call themselves Muslims. Very, very educational, at times gripping, and overall, seemingly very honest.