Anna, your post effectively highlights how Orientalist perceptions of Islam influenced the experiences of Black Muslim enslaved people, creating unexpected hierarchies within the dehumanizing system of slavery. The idea that African Muslims were seen as "half-civilized," while other Africans were viewed as uncivilized, underscores the complexities of colonial attitudes toward religion and culture. This perception, despite Islam’s association with "debauchery," allowed some enslaved Muslims to gain relative advantages, such as improved treatment or opportunities for freedom. The example of Job Ben Salomon, who assisted British commerce and ultimately secured his freedom, exemplifies how some individuals strategically navigated these hierarchies to their benefit. This agency, even under extreme oppression, reveals the resilience and resourcefulness of African Muslims in leveraging their status to challenge their circumstances.
The concept of "de-Islamization" as both a tool of oppression and a strategy for survival adds another layer to this analysis. While white Anglo-Americans used it to strip enslaved Muslims of their identity and integrate them into Christian frameworks, many complied outwardly while maintaining their faith or using their roles to secure freedom. This mirrors strategies like taqiyya (check out my previous reply to shouzab in the "Out of Andalus" discussion post), showcasing how religious dissimulation served as a means of resistance. Additionally, the commodification of religion, where African Muslims were valued for their utility in trade and Christianization efforts, highlights the intersection of economic exploitation and cultural dehumanization. This nuanced discussion underscores how enslaved African Muslims used resilience and adaptability to navigate a brutal system, leaving a legacy of resistance within a profoundly oppressive context.
