Since its inception, in the spirit of Carter G. Woodson, Sapelo Square has commemorated Black History Month with daily Black Muslim History facts. This year, Sapelo Square is exploring the Muslim collection at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). During Black History Month, we will display a different object each day from the collection, showing how the objects help tell the rich histories of Muslims of African descent in the United States. The selected objects — some explicitly sacred and others quite mundane — show the many ways Muslims have been integral to the religious, political, and cultural lives of Black America, and underscore how much Black Muslim histories are part of a legacy shared by us all.
We want to thank NMAAHC’s staff, especially Deborah Tulani Salahu-Din, Doug Remley, and Fleur Paysour, for their assistance in making this celebration possible. We encourage you to visit NMAAHC online and in person when possible; like all Smithsonian museums, NMAAHC is closed due to the pandemic.
If you would like to see more content like this at Sapelo Square, we welcome your generous support here.
Muslim Artifacts at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Portrait of Mohammah G. Baquaqua, 1854
Prophet Noble Drew Ali, Founder of Moorish Science Temple of America, 1925
Drumsticks used by Art Blakey, 1980s
Qur’an acquired by Elijah Muhammad during Umrah to Mecca in 1959
Fruit of Islam uniform ca. 1960
Lapel pin for the Muslim Girls Training-General Civilization Class, 1968-1975
Tape recorder used by Malcolm X at Mosque No. 7, 1960
Training robe worn by Muhammad Ali at the 5th Street Gym, 1964
Organization of Afro-American Unity Inc. Aims and Objectives, 1965
Egg carton from Muslim Farms, 1968
Diploma from the Muhammad University of Islam, February 21, 1969
Jersey for the Milwaukee Bucks worn and signed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1973-1975
Wooden prayer beads owned by Suliaman El-Hadi, late 20th century
Business sign for Nation of Islam International Trades Division, 1970s
Flier for speaking event by Minister Farrakhan, 1973
Qur’an stand, 1975
The Teachings of W. D. Muhammad Book 1, 1976
Poster advertising a Last Poets performance, 1970s
Nation of Islam Sister Clara Muhammad School uniform worn by Medina Rowell, 1978-1979
Pinback button which reads “Malcolm X Speaks For Me,” 1960-1970
Prayer rug used by Imam Derrick Amin, 1970s
Final Call, October 16, 1995
Public Enemy, October 16, 1995
Cordless microphone used by Rakim to record The 18th Letter, 1997
Hand-made fez worn by Imam W. D. Mohammed, 1990s
The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an, 2006