About Us
Muslim American Heritage Observance
“Muslim American Heritage” celebrates the contributions of Americans of Muslim heritage to the United States from its founding through the present.
The national observance in January honors the anniversary of the death of Yarrow Mamout, an African American Muslim former slave featured the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Captured in a West African slave raid, Mamout overcame great adversity, ultimately purchasing his own freedom and became a famous Washington financier. (The Philadelphia Art Museum has a portrait of Mamout by Charles Peale, who painted George Washington and Ben Franklin.)
Learning
Recovered Roots
Of the 10 million enslaved Africans brought to North America on cargo ships, scholars estimate that at least 10 percent were of Muslim origin.
Fledgling Communities
The hundreds of thousands of Muslims who arrived in America in bondage were not able to establish formal communities with congregations, mosques,
Cultural Icons
Of the 10 million enslaved Africans brought to North America on cargo ships, scholars estimate that at least 10 percent were of Muslim origin.
In December 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a proclamation that recognizes January as Muslim American Heritage Month in Illinois. The proclamation, which was lobbied and requested by Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA), highlights the contributions of Muslims to American society, commerce, culture, and scientific innovation, and acknowledges a number of Notable Muslim Americans including Fazlur Rahman Khan, Muhammad Ali, Naeem Khan, Anousheh Ansari, Jasmin Moghbeli, Farooq Kathwari, and many others.
Governor Pritzker’s proclamation encourages the observance of Muslim American Heritage Month through the celebrations of cultural arts, community discourse, and further public recognition of Muslim artists, teachers, entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders from all sectors. This proclamation characterizes Muslim American Heritage Month as an opportunity for residents to “take time to learn about and honor the history and contributions of Muslim communities in Illinois, the United States, and across the world.
Organizational Coalition
