Why Latinos are converting to Islam (In America)

[JaDed]

Latinos are one of the fastest growing groups within Islam in America. VICE's Lee Adams travels to Houston Texas, the home of America's first Islam in Spanish center, to investigate what’s behind this phenomenon and how America’s current political climate might be related.

As a former gang leader, Jaime "Mujahid" Fletcher claims that Islam saved his life, inspiring him to found the Islam in Spanish center. He dedicated himself to translating Muslim texts for a Spanish-speaking audience.

We spoke to Jaime and other recent Latino Muslim converts to find out why two of America’s most discriminated groups are coming together.

 

[PakLFC]

Coz of a "coming home" feeling. The romanticism attached with Muslim Spain is in their genes. It is similar to how many Afro Americans convert to Islam.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Coz of a "coming home" feeling. The romanticism attached with Muslim Spain is in their genes. It is similar to how many Afro Americans convert to Islam.

I don't think that's it at all, Latinos and blacks are ravaged by drug culture, and as a result violence. The attraction of Islam is probably because it puts boundaries around family life, hedonism is not allowed. That has it's downsides obviously, but for those whose lives have been turned upside down by drugs, prostitution and gang warfare, it probably seems like a new way.

 

[Pakistanian]

I know quite a few Latino converts, one of my friends is Mexican Muslim. There's even a latino mosque in my state.

 

[Birdman]

Christianity in the US is seen as whiteman's religion and with recent spike in prejudice against the Hispanic is causing them to move away from Christianity. I am a Christian but I want to stay far away from most of the Evangelicals in the US. Christians in the US have moved away from teaching of Jesus and are getting more nationalistic. All they are worried about now is overturning Roe V Wade and forming a right wing legislation and judiciary.

 

[Rayyman]

Good stuff MashAllah.

 

[JaDed]

I don't think that's it at all, Latinos and blacks are ravaged by drug culture, and as a result violence. The attraction of Islam is probably because it puts boundaries around family life, hedonism is not allowed. That has it's downsides obviously, but for those whose lives have been turned upside down by drugs, prostitution and gang warfare, it probably seems like a new way.

Yes, at least that's what the video seems to communicate, also it being racial neutral and most diverse in world(as per video) is making them convert.

In the video it seems it helped the converts with depression as well..and I guess a sense of belonging and universal brotherhood helps, maybe faith in such proportions is good for humans after all.

Another Interesting point when the interviewer asks him why he converted he says because of direct connection between me and God(guess he means no broker in between).

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Yes, at least that's what the video seems to communicate, also it being racial neutral and most diverse in world(as per video) is making them convert.

In the video it seems it helped the converts with depression as well..and I guess a sense of belonging and universal brotherhood helps, maybe faith in such proportions is good for humans after all.

Another Interesting point when the interviewer asks him why he converted he says because of direct connection between me and God(guess he means no broker in between).

Latinos who are Christian also seem to be predominantly Catholic, so they can probably relate to Islam a bit more than those of the Anglican church which the white folk follow over here at least. The US is a bit more wild and woolly when it comes to religion, so there is probably all sorts of versions of Christianity as compared to Britain.

 

[JaDed]

Latinos who are Christian also seem to be predominantly Catholic, so they can probably relate to Islam a bit more than those of the Anglican church which the white folk follow over here at least. The US is a bit more wild and woolly when it comes to religion, so there is probably all sorts of versions of Christianity as compared to Britain.

Yes at least that's what I'm observing in Illinois, either not religious or different.
Even [MENTION=144361]Birdman[/MENTION] 's post seems to relate that.

Guess having one single version of the religion gives clarity too.

 

[troodon]

Even in Mexico, there are Converts to Islam. However, they are mostly ostracized by the majority who are Roman Catholics.

 

[King-Misbah]

Latinos who are Christian also seem to be predominantly Catholic, so they can probably relate to Islam a bit more than those of the Anglican church which the white folk follow over here at least. The US is a bit more wild and woolly when it comes to religion, so there is probably all sorts of versions of Christianity as compared to Britain.

In the UK, Christianity has very few followers. As in, it seems that people are more agnostic or atheist now.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Saw this last night, nobody would’ve ever expected that mother to revert too, woah.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Many Afro-Caribbeans also have a strong connection with sikhism in UK.

There are tensions between Pakistanis and Black community but latter is very strongly binded with sikhs.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Many Afro-Caribbeans also have a strong connection with sikhism in UK.

There are tensions between Pakistanis and Black community but latter is very strongly binded with sikhs.

I've never met an Afro Caribbean Sikh convert. Is this a London thing?

As for the OP, Nice to see people who are discrimanted finding peace in Islam.

 

[King-Misbah]

Many Afro-Caribbeans also have a strong connection with sikhism in UK.

There are tensions between Pakistanis and Black community but latter is very strongly binded with sikhs.

I live in the UK and there is no tension between black people and Pakistanis!

 

[JaDed]

Many Afro-Caribbeans also have a strong connection with sikhism in UK.

There are tensions between Pakistanis and Black community but latter is very strongly binded with sikhs.

I have seen the videos of few Black converts to Sikhism on YouTube but haven't seen any issue between blacks and Pakistanis..any article or videos?

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Many Afro-Caribbeans also have a strong connection with sikhism in UK.

There are tensions between Pakistanis and Black community but latter is very strongly binded with sikhs.

Tensions exist in Birmingham or have done, don’t really hear about them anywhere else
Somalians have kind of bridged the gap in Manchester

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Leeds, too.

In Bradford, the Black community has largely left

 

[imrankhannsu]

As we were waiting for a taxi in Grenada (Spain), a Mexican brother introduced he was Muslim to us as he saw my mother in law wearing a hijab.

I wanted to speak to him more about Mexican muslim but alas our taxi had already arrived!

 

[troodon]

I have seen the videos of few Black converts to Sikhism on YouTube but haven't seen any issue between blacks and Pakistanis..any article or videos?

Many American blacks I have seen are Muslims.

 

[JaDed]

Many American blacks I have seen are Muslims.

Yeah but Carribbean ones are diff..

 

[PakLFC]

As Islam outlaws things like alcohol and drugs that is another reason to convert.

 

[junoon]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_the_United_States

A 2017 study estimated that 3.45 million Muslims were living in the United States, about 1.1% of the total U.S. population. American Muslims come from various backgrounds and, according to a 2009 Gallup poll, are one of the most racially diverse religious groups in the United States.

Muslims are only 1.1% of US population. While in many countries across Europe that number is close to 5%

 

[sjahmed23]

Wow and I keep getting facebook ads to help fund their mosque