Sudetenland Tales by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Sudetenland Tales

Page 517

believe that they are reverting to the faith of their enslaved ancestors and hence are adopting a proud native tradition that they can call their own," says Zambelis. In a sense, African Americans' conversion to Islam traditionally represents an ethnic and racial identity in a society they view as replete with discrimination, injustice and alienation. These aspects of Islam are appealing to Black Nationalists seeking racial separatism and sovereignty.

Mainstream followers of Islam, however, reject Black Nationalist assertions that they are "Muslim." This is primarily attributed to various unorthodox teachings found in Black Nationalism such as the notion of blacks being God's elect as well as declarations of black sovereignty. Of particular concern to law enforcement, some Black Nationalists have expressed support for al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. For example, on May 4, 2017, the FBI arrested Clark Calloway; who sympathized with ISIS and wanted to start a "race war," for unlawful possession of a machine gun, but nothing else. Calloway had also expressed hatred toward White people and wanted to attack law enforcement. Also, in July 2006, the FBI arrested seven members of a Black Nationalist religious cult in Liberty City, Florida, called the "Universal Divine Saviors" and charged them with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and