Summary of How the autobiography of a Muslim slave is challenging an American narrative
00:00:00The Library of Congress recently acquired and digitized a unique Arabic-language autobiography written by Omar Ibn Said, a Muslim American slave who was kidnapped from West Africa in the 1800s. Despite being a slave, Ibn Said was literate and highly educated, challenging the common narrative that slaves were not culturally capable. His autobiography, written in Arabic, tells his story of being sold into slavery, escaping, and ultimately converting to Christianity. Ibn Said's manuscript provides an unfiltered account of his life, untainted by the influences of his masters or abolitionists.
00:02:60Around 20% of African slaves in America were Muslim, with Ibn Said starting his autobiography with a Quranic verse asserting God's ownership over humanity. His narrative challenges stereotypes of uneducated, uncultured slaves and emphasizes the importance of his beliefs. Preserved by the Library of Congress, the manuscript sheds light on Ibn Said's life and has been used by abolitionists to fight against slavery. The manuscript is now available online, allowing a new generation to read his story.