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ix Acknowledgments This book began as a doctoral dissertation, entitled “Toward an Historical Islam: Universalism and Particularism in African-American Islamic Thought,” completed at the University of South Africa in the Department of Religious Studies. Its completion was—truly—a pleasurable experience due to the able guidance of my joint supervisors, Professor G. J. A. Lubbe, of the University of South Africa, and Professor Ahmet Karamustafa, director of the Religious Studies program at Washington University in St. Louis. Because of their gentle and supportive approach to the advising process, I never felt alone during the writing of this work. Professor Lubbe was always able to challenge and reassure me at the same time; and I consider myself especially fortunate to have worked with a man whose intellectual and personal contributions to the anti-apartheid movement were so courageous and unique. Shaikh Ahmet has been my teacher and adviser for many years now, and though I suspect he knows how much I respect and like him, he cannot know how much his example both as an intellectual and as a human being has inspired me. I can never repay either of my advisers for their generosity. It is also a pleasure to thank those people who have influenced my interest in and approach to the study of religion, history, and the humanities in general. At Washington University, where I received my master’s degree in history, they include Engin Akarli (now at Brown), Iver Bernstein, Howard Brick, the late Nancy Grant, and Peter Heath (now Provost of the American University of Beirut). At Kenyon College, my alma mater, they include Michael Brint, Leonard Gordon, George McCarthy, Royal Rhodes, and Vernon Schubel, who first nurtured my interest in Islam. Some other especially important teachers have been Cassie Samaha Caffery , James Caffery, Ann Garrett, the late Dexter Porter, and Donald Dow. For reading and commenting on work related to this project, I am also grateful to Steve Angell, Henry Berger, Molly Bidwell, Alexandra Cornelius, Gerald Early, Amy Elefante, Tim Fox, Yvonne Haddad, Sylvester Johnson, Mark Kornbluh, Larry Mamiya, Sandy Martin, Maria Papacostaki, Sarah Pinnock, Mary Sawyer, Barbara von Schlegel, Ann Taves, Richard Walter, Judith Weisenfeld, and Mary Wiltenburg. I also feel lucky to have revised this manuscript in the supportive intellectual community created by my colleagues at Trinity University’s Department of Religion in San Antonio. They include Mackenzie Brown, Frank Garcia, Kris Lindbeck, Margaret Miksch, Randy Nadeau, Sarah Pinnock, Jeremy Rehwaldt-Alexander, Mary Ellen Ross, and Bill Walker. I also want to thank those persons in the St. Louis Muslim community who first inspired me to dig more deeply into the history of AfricanAmerican Islamic thought, including Imam Muhammad Nur Abdallah, Imam Samuel Ansari, Ahmed Ghani, Lorene Ghani, Khadijah Mahdi, Abdul Shabazz, Kareem Shabazz, and Abdul Shakir. Finally, I acknowledge my parents, Ed Earl III and Susie Saffa, and my sister, Cassie, for their support and love. And I thank my adopted family for the same, especially Regan, Gordon, and Steve. I dedicate this book with love and respect to Dr. Walt, who has been my steadfast friend since seventh grade. X Islam in Black America ...

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