5:00-7:00P    M       WH108

Topic:  Muslim Identities in Africa and the Americas
A portion of the above section reserved for majors
Above section meets with HIST H695

As we enter the twenty-first century of the common era, Muslim
identities increasingly have become contested.  Debates about wearing
the hijab or imposing the sharia are merely two examples of a wider
discourse about identity and community in an increasingly
differentiated Muslim world.

In Africa, Muslim praxis builds on centuries of historical
experiences: colonial and postcolonial assertions challenge
long-standing understandings about unity and diversity within the
Muslim world.  In the Americas, the construction of Muslim identity
often is linked to the broader discourse about minority status and
cultural difference.  In this course, we read broadly in the
literature on Muslim identities in Africa and the Americas.  Emphasis
is placed on understanding identity as the expression of the
historical experiences of specific Muslim communities.  African
examples will be the primary focus, due in large measure to the
research expertise of the instructor.  Students are expected to
contribute vigorously to class discussions, write several review
essays, and produce a short paper on a topic related to the themes of
this course.  No prerequisites.