What Do American Muslims Believe and Teach?

We've had a lot of programs here in our area after 9-11 about Islam as a religion. Several Christian Churches have had comparative religion studies that covered the Koran along with the Old and New Testaments. Most of the information I have found covers the world historical aspects of Islam. World information is good, but I keep asking: how active are the Muslims in the United States right now? Where? What are they teaching, and what do they say they believe?

About all I am hearing is that it is a peaceful religion. But here in Georgia this is being clouded by the upcoming trial of of H. Rap Brown, who converted to Islam 30 years ago and changed his name to Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin. He is now a Muslim cleric and dresses in mid-Eastern regalia. He is charged with murder and his brother, Ed Brown, asks a logical question: can a Muslim cleric dressed in traditional robes and kufi (whatever that is) get a fair trial in America after the 9-11 terrorist attack?

And yet, I am aware that in recent American history it was H. Rap Brown who gave us the famous quote: "Violence is as American as cherry pie." And the news tells us he is a Muslim cleric being tried for murder. So, I think it is fair to ask: what is the history of the Muslims in America? If anybody has a good, well documented article or book on the history of that subject, I would appreciate you leading me to it. I'd like to read it.

This is Gordon Sawyer, from a window on historic Green Street.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/3/197905