About Miracle in America

What is the Miracle in America Project?

Miracle in America: African-Americans, Islam and the First Experience is a multi-part documentary series and national oral history project in the making that will, insha'Allah, capture the stories of African American Muslims and our journey to Al-Islam. These stories will be told by us—African American Muslims—who have lived and practiced the religion in the U.S. and thus are part of Al-Islam’s living history in the West. Insha'Allah, through regional events that will be organized to help capture these stories, Miracle in America will culminate in a documentary series and national oral history database. The documentary will feature intriguing narratives by African American Muslims, contributing scholars, historians and community leaders. Insha'Allah, others will know—for generations to come—how Al-Islam and the guidance in Qur’an has transformed the lives of millions of Americans and has thus produced modern day miracles.

Why is This Project important?

Our stories must be told and Miracle in America gives us the self-defined and self-determined opportunity to tell our own stories about the growth and transformation our souls have gone through as a result of exposure to Qur'anic teachings and its practical application in our lives through Al‑Islam. Unlike previous notable films and documentaries such as the Ali movie, Spike Lee’s Malcolm X and others that told some of the African American Muslim experiences through the lives of famous people, Miracle in America will be a documentary told by African American Muslims themselves. It will give us an outlet to talk about our rich stories and dynamic experiences, and thus provide corroboration, validation, and honor to our significant and historical contributions.

I know what a documentary is, but, what is a "oral history" Project?

We all have stories to tell—stories we have lived from the inside out. We organize the memories of our lives into stories, and it is through oral history that these stories are told, captured and listened to. Oral history is the systematic collection of living people's testimony about their own experiences. Historians have finally recognized that the everyday memories of everyday people, not just the rich and famous, have historical importance. If we do not collect and preserve those memories, those stories, then one day they will disappear forever.

Oral history depends upon human memory and the spoken word. The means of collection can vary from taking notes by hand to elaborate electronic audio and video recordings. Oral history, well done, gives one a sense of accomplishment. In collecting oral history, we have a sense of catching and holding something valuable from the receding tide of the past.

The stories of African American Muslims are full of intriguing, unique and valuable experiences. It is time for the history of African American Muslims to be documented. Our stories must be told. It is an experience that—through struggle and triumph—has had a great affect on the African American community in particular, but also on America as a country. Indeed it has caused miraculous individual and collective transformation.

Where do you get your funding?

Miracle in America is privately-funded by its members. We are in the process of identifying other funding sources and writing proposals to gain additional funding for the project as it progresses.

Who are the members of Miracle in America?

The Miracle in America project is spearheaded by a husband and wife team, Nashid Abdul-Khaaliq and his wife Akanke Rasheed Abdul-Khaaliq, both African American Muslims. Akanke initiated the idea for Miracle in America in 1998 and has since held it close to her heart—seeing it as her "life's work", a mission assigned to her by Allah, Most High. They are excited that, with Allah's help, the great task of bringing the project to fruition is finally being implemented.

Akanke has a degree in Film and Television from Georgia State University with a minor in Anthropology. She accepted Al-Islam in 1992 after studying the Qur’an and being deeply moved by its clarity and the answers it provided. She took her shahadah at the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam, where Imam Plemon Al-Amin, a student of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, provides leadership. This historic community incubated Akanke's sustained development and growth over the years, and today she sees herself as an idealist—a student with many teachers who embraces the ideal of Muslim sister/brotherhood—united under "tawheed" and the guidance of Qur’an and Sunnah.

Since 1990, Akanke has been an independent television producer of progressive television projects, with a strong commitment to community-based programming. From 1991 to 1996 she produced the popular live talk shows, The Africentric Agenda and Creating Empowerment, which aired on local cable networks in Atlanta. In addition to her credits as a television producer she has hosted several television programs including Conversations, Inner Views, and Faith and Good Works. She has also appeared in short films, corporate videos, and has worked as on-screen and voice talent in television and radio. In 2004 she founded 7adinkras Creative Media, a network of women artists focused on documentary production.

Nashid has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He joined the Nation of Islam in 1973 and later made the transformation to Al-Islam following the leadership of Imam Warith Deen Mohammed. He has had extensive Information Technology experiences working for IBM, ARAMCO in Saudi Arabia and running his own computer-consulting firm, Computer Solutions Incorporated (CSI), in Houston. At IBM, one of his responsibilities was spearheading the development and implementation of a video and satellite education center. In that capacity he produced video training films for IBM.

Nashid is also a writer whose writings about Al-Islam, Middle East issues and 9/11 have been read by thousands on the Internet as well as published in numerous magazines and newspapers. He also co-produced “Nite Beat”, an Internet radio show hosted by LewisNews in Washington State reaching an audience of more than 400,000 people weekly. This 2-hour weekly program, which started in January 2006 and ran for more than one year, featured interviews with Muslim scholars and Imams whose aim was to dispel the demonization, misinformation and wrong portrayal of Al-Islam and Muslims. He also is the owner of Al-Amin radio station, an Islamic Internet radio station devoted to Dawah and correcting media misinformation that is expected to be broadcasting again in 2008.

There is also a core group of African American Muslims from all over the country who are working with us as a team to implement this project.

How can you participate in the Miracle in America Project?

Easy!!! First and foremost thank you for your duas. We are looking for Muslims who are willing to talk about their experiences in front of the camera, and others who can work with us behind the scene. Finally, please fill out our online preliminary survey.