Essay --

During the slavery period, Muslims were distinct in how they were dressed, even though there were restrictions to how slaves dressed. They did not wear as the western people did because physical appearance was dictated by their religious distinctiveness. Although their dress code was handed over by their holders, they still tried to maintain their traditional way of dressing. The 19th century drawings realized in Brazil showed Islamic headgear display: men with turbans or skull caps, women with veils, and others wore fabric that covered their heads as well as the shoulders in a Muslim fashion way. The importance of dress was also observed during the Bahia Muslim revolt in the year 1835. An eyewitness is recorded to have seen African groups with white skullcaps and smocks over the pants they were wearing. Another testified to have seen African groups with swords and white tunics. This dressing indicated their mission to be sacred and holy. They believed that they would go to heaven if they died in battle, and white was the symbolic color. Muslims recreated the exact accessories and clothes they had before they were deported. Their dressing was very different from their European fashion. Other slave did not attempt to preserve their traditional and distinct accessories and attire. This shows that Muslim of African descent symbol of faith was of a great importance. It showed their acculturation rejection and depiction of accomplishments in their religion. They sought to retain their dress code to be their recognition sign among them. Another challenge that proved to be a difficult task to the Muslim community, was the naming system provided by their holders. Names were giv... ...ns and them was religion and not their skin color. The culture of those who enslaved them did not appeal to them and may have made them despair. Muslims expressed views that were rooted to their religions on the conduct of Christians and Jews. These African Muslims experienced Christians at their worst times. They saw the Americans as Christians and not as whites as they did not have a class or race consciousness. Christians claimed that African Muslims were superior to the other slaves. They were taken to be superior as they were capable of writing and reading Arabic, which they owed to the influence of the Arabs. This superiority was perceived to be of foreign blood and not their genes. There is evidence showing that, African Muslims used their social and cultural background as a means of survival, and a way to cope with the new environment in America.