Islam has been part of the American religious fabric since the first colonial settlers arrived in North America, and African Muslims were an integral part of creating the United States, from mapping its borders to fighting against British rule.

In this video, Ayla Amon, scholar of Islam in the United States, offers a fascinating narrative of the history of African Muslims in early America. She tells the story of the amazing men, women, and children who tried to preserve their faith against all odds.

Ms Amon is a Curator of Social and Political History at the North Carolina Museum of History.

For more information, read Ms Amon’s African Muslims in Early America on the Smithsonian website.