Islam in America: A Cultural History

This webinar, conducted by Ellen McLarney, Associate Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Duke University, will pose the question, “What does it mean to be a Muslim American?” by addressing local and global, national and transnational identities. Through an introduction of a brief history of Islam in America, teachers will gain foundational knowledge necessary for understanding the contemporary cultural life of Muslim Americans. The webinar will then examine civic and religious roles of Muslim Americans as they converge in shared spaces and various community institutions. This webinar will explore the diversity of the Muslim American community, differing concepts of gender roles, and emergent forms of cultural expression. Examining Durham, North Carolina as a case study will provide examples of the diverse spaces, practices, and ethnicities of one Muslim American community as it establishes its identity.