MI week 13

Tuesday (13a)

African American Islamic music - hip hop

Consider: what are the differences between North American localizations of Islam between two diverse but also very different communities: voluntary Muslim immigrants (the largest number of which come from south Asia - Pakistan and India - as well as the Middle East) and converts (often drawn to Sufism, or mainstream Islam), vs. the descendants of involuntary immigrants - black slaves brought from Africa to provide free labor to whites, facing severe discrimination and systematic poverty for many generations ? If the former group--rooted in the middle classes-- seems to catalyze new directions in various mainstream "white" genres, such as punk (e.g. Taqwacore), or rock, folk, and metal (with some implications also for Islamic belief and practice), the latter refashions Islam completely, including the Islamic dimension of hip hop.

Michael Muhammad Knight was inspired by Malcolm X's autobiography; by examining this powerful and fascinating figure we learn so much about this history. For this week, rather than read, I think a more powerful learning experience emerges by watching documentary video about Nation and Islam and Malcolm X. Likewise for the Five Percenters, or Nation of Gods and Earths.

I've selected two videos, one more "etic", the other more "emic":

• NOI and Malcolm X: as portrayed from an outsider (etic) documentary perspective (PBS). Watch Eyes on the Prize—America’s Civil Rights Movement 1954–1985 from 6:01 to 33:30 (You can start here and when this segment finishes click play to continue to 33:30.)
• NGE: from an insider (emic) perspective: Lord Jamar, of Brand Nubian:
  • Part 1
  • Part 2

...and optionally (only if you have time), here are a couple other interesting videos, about Islam in New York City:

• Muslim experimentation
• African American Islam

Due

No new assignment; just complete what was assigned for last Thursday - submit the assignment on eClass 12b if you haven't already.

Read Islam in the Mix: Lessons of the Five Percent, by anthropologist Ted Swedenburg (University of Arkansas) [Note: unfortunately many of his links are broken, but you can google to get the same or similar information]. Locate two examples of Islamic hip hop online. Explain how each conveys an Islamic orientation, based on lyrics or images or other features, and how they contrast. (You may locate examples from Swedenburg's article if you wish, or may broaden the search to hip hop worldwide.) 1 page total. Submit via eClass under (12b).

Some links related to Swedenburg's article, mainly pertaining to NGE:

• Allah U Akbar, Brand Nubian. [1]
• It was written: The Message, Nas [2]
• Fu-Gee-La, The Fugees [3]
• gods earths and 85ers, Poor Righteous Teachers [4]
• In The Ghetto, Eric B. & Rakim [5]
• Party for Your Right to Fight, Public Enemy [6]
• Ain't No Mystery, Brand Nubian (with lyrics) [7]
• True Fresh MC, The Genius [8]
• On and on, Erykah Badu [9]
• Dog It, Digable Planets [10]

Note: A broader sampling of Islamic hip hop (including Nation of Islam, NGE, and Sunni - along with nashid and Islamic pop generally) can be located here: Muslim Hip Hop

Class

You'll present your examples.

Note: starting Thursday 13b we'll have presentations during the last three classes. Please be sure to attend to hear the results of your colleagues researches, and offer them feedback!