African-American and Arab American Muslim communities in the Detroit Ummah

This paper provides overview of the two larger Muslim communities in Detroit (African-American and Arab American), their differing views on theology, racism, and women's rights issues, as well as the places where they are united. It also focuses on the recent media and scholarly attention on the Arab American Muslim community in Detroit and how it marginalizes the African-American Muslim community. It looks at the reasons for diversity and then evaluates if it is feasible that Detroit Muslims will eventually develop a united ummah or if they will continue to construct distinctive but separate American Muslim identities and communities in the twenty-first century.