The recent controversy around a proposed Muslim community center in Lower Manhattan is a reminder of the still unsettled place of Muslims in the American body politic. While the question of Muslim belonging remains in question politically, historically American Muslims have been active participants in American society for many years. This lecture traces the history of American Muslim community and institution building in the past three decades to demonstrate the shortcoming of the contemporary political discourse on American Muslims, which has focused on the nature of Islam and its relation to American interests at the expense of Muslims' historical experiences in the United States.
Kambiz GhaneaBassiri is an Associate Professor of Religion and Humanities at Reed College. He was selected as a Carnegie Scholar in 2006 for his recent book, A History of Islam in America: From the New World to the New World Order. In addition to his work on Islam in America, Dr. GhaneaBassiri specializes in classical and modern Islamic intellectual and social history in the Middle East.
Sponsors are: The Center for Religion, Law & Democracy, Religious Studies, Anthropology and American Ethnic Studies.
For more information contact Reyna Meyers with the Center for Religion, Law & Democracy at 503-370-6046 or rmeyers@willamette.edu.