Contemporary Islam & Muslims in the United States

In this course, we will explore the 21st century formations and experience of Islam and Muslims in the United States. Using ethnographic studies and digital media content, we will also examine how the lived experience of American Muslims interacts with theoretical and normative conceptions of Islam, and whether these interactions eventually create a distinctive "American Islam." Topics covered will include: internal and external racial & gender dynamics, ideological debates, institutions, social media and culture wars, politics, and specific geographical communities as case studies. Together we will develop a critical perspective on the US Muslim experience, particularly as a case of how one diverse religious community negotiates religion in a complex sociopolitical setting.