Ieasha Prime – Cultural Muslim Icons and Islam in the Lyrics Islam and the Black American

			Those three men would have a great
influence, not only on African
		

			Americans, but on people and of
different religions, nationality
		

			and creed all over the world. I
		

			You will find books testimonies
testifying to their greatness of
		

			their life and the truth of their
legacy. You will find countless
		

			accounts related about Muhammad
Ali and his philanthropy and how
		

			he affected and encouraged so many
people. You will find even studies
		

			and books that are just dedicated
to the life of El Hajj, Malik
		

			Shabazz and, of course, the works
of Imam worth Deen Mohammed, who
		

			would lead the movement of masjid,
Muhammad, to have masajid all over
		

			the country, not only were these
men responsible for ushering in a
		

			new understanding of Islam as a
normative movement, but they would
		

			also be responsible for ushering
in a certain culture that would
		

			begin to affect Muslims and non
Muslims alike. And now we get into
		

			the section of how African
American Muslims and their take on
		

			Islam had a powerful impact on
American society. It affected such
		

			cultural icons that went from
jazz, as we mentioned, from Yusuf
		

			Islam, even Dizzy Gillespie, all
the way into hip hop icons,
		

			whether that be most Deaf known as
Yaseen Bey or Eric B and Rakim,
		

			you will find the 80s, the 90s and
into the 2000s
		

			riddled with references to Islam
and Muslims. As a matter of fact,
		

			one of the most famous women in
hip hop lines has several
		

			reference to Islam, and that's
Lauren Hill, and several of hers
		

			and her lyrics, she says, Don't
forget about the deen the Surat al
		

			most giving references, even Jill
Scott gives references to Quran
		

			and several of her lyrics. Why is
this? How is it that we have come
		

			so far? How is it that we have
come from some from a people who
		

			were originally enslaved, who were
originally so oppressed and
		

			considered to be some of the low
of society having some of the most
		

			powerful, long, lasting effects on
pop and current culture. You would
		

			find it even in the dress
throughout 1990s you would find
		

			the koofy being something that was
normative wear. You would find
		

			well into our current day, men
beginning to rock the beard as a
		

			fashion statement. You would find
in multiple cases, women wrapping
		

			their hair as African American
Muslim women did, whether it was
		

			in a gala style that was also
significant to West Africa, or
		

			whether you will find pictures of
even Queen Latifah with the scarf
		

			wrapped over her shoulder,
covering her neck. You find the
		

			references in lyrics. You found it
in dress, you found in almost
		

			every aspect of culture. It's
amazing how Islam had such a
		

			powerful effect on this society.
It's amazing how Islam had such an
		

			influence on those who were Muslim
and non Muslim alike.