In depth Stories

Experience Their Stories

Our stories are carefully developed by our scholars, they reflect new and original scholarly research, and each is narrated by our scholars, in their voice.

Podcast
15 min
A colorful photograph of the album cover for "Drum Suite" from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. The cover has a vintage, mid-20th-century design style, matching the jazz era it represents. It features a variety of traditional African mask styles set against a bright red background.

The Origins of Muslim Jazz Music

Learn about the forgotten Muslim contributions to early jazz music featuring Dr. Nathan Lean, author of a forthcoming book on the history of Muslim jazz musicians.

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Podcast
53 min
A grainy black-and-white photo of Chicago's "Midway Plaisance" during the World Columbian Exposition of 1893. This exposition featured the world's first Ferris Wheel, which provided the photographer a striking aerial vantage point to capture the unique cityscape and dozens of fairgoers below.

America's First Mosque

Dr. Sally Howell, historian of Muslims in America at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, tells the story of the Ford Motor Plant and the unity of the Muslim workers and faith leaders that helped to build the first mosque in America.

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Podcast
22 min
A high-contrast, vibrant watercolor painting depicting 12 slaves of different ages and genders on a Coosaw River plantation. They are dancing and making music together. There is a curious interplay of seemingly contradictory cultural motifs - the slaves are dressed in the common attire of 18th century working-class America, playing banjo, and using European-style glass- and stoneware, while also utilizing traditional African gourd instruments, wearing headscarves, and forgoing footwear.

How Islam Influenced Blues Music

Dr. Sylviane Diouf, visiting scholar at the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University describes the Islamic connection to the blues.

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