Illinois State Rep.: Islam in America Did Not Begin in 1965 or in the 1800s, It’s Woven into the Fabric of This Nation

EXCERPT:

UNKNOWN FEMALE: “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. We turn to you in gratitude and remembrance. O Lord, remind us that the history of Islam in America is not a story that began in 1965, nor one that arrived upon distant shores in the 20th century. It is woven into the very tapestry of this nation. It is part of black American history. A story not only of bondage, but of spiritual emancipation, a freedom of the soul that existed long before its material counterpart was realized. Let us honor that truth with fortitude and clarity.”