But what a African American or Black American may not know is they themselves may be a descendant of Muslims. African Americans who doubt and look askance at the religion called Islam, may unknowingly mocking their own forefathers and great great grandfathers and grandmothers. Their ancestors may well have been great defenders of the said faith of Islam until slavery, lack of religion freedom and access to religious knowledge and gatherings made them gradually loose or give up their religion and embrace the religion of their conquerors and masters......
Many of the slaves brought to colonial America from Africa were Muslims. By 1800, some 500,000 Africans arrived in what became the United States. Historians estimate that between 15 to 30 percent of all enslaved African men, and less than 15 percent of the enslaved African women, were Muslims. These enslaved Muslims stood out from their compatriots because of their “resistance, determination and education” [31]
It is estimated that over 50% of the slaves imported to North America came from areas where Islam was followed by at least a minority population. Thus, no less than 200,000 came from regions influenced by Islam. Substantial numbers originated from Senegambia, a region with an established community of Muslim inhabitants extending to the 11th century.[32]
Michael A. Gomez speculated that Muslim slaves may have accounted for “thousands, if not tens of thousands,” but does not offer a precise estimate. He also suggests many non-Muslim slaves were acquainted with some tenets of Islam, due to Muslim trading and proselytizing activities.[33] Historical records indicate many enslaved Muslims conversed in the Arabic language. Some even composed literature (such as autobiographies) and commentaries on the Quran.[34]