Muslims have strongly influenced American history and culture for over three centuries, but you won’t find that information in a typical textbook. Instead, Muslims are largely portrayed as recent immigrants who found their way to the US sometime in the 20th century. Yet, Muslim presence and influence in the US were evident long before that. Tens of thousands of Muslims from African nations, who had practiced the religion since the eighth century, were a minority group among the enslaved Africans taken to the Americas.
Curious to know more about the forgotten history of America’s Muslims, who have shaped the nation since its inception? Click through the gallery.