American Imam: From Pop Stardom to Prison Abolition

by Taymullah Abdur-Rahman

Imam Taymullah Abdur-Rahman's incredible life story weaves the contemporary Black American experience with the Black Muslim American experience and emphasizes the role of interreligious dialogue in the fight for abolition and justice. By the time he was twelve, Taymullah Abdur-Rahman (born Tyrone Sutton) was a rising pop star, recruited as part of the R&B group Perfect Gentlemen, with a top-ten hit, national teen magazine covers, and an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. However, after his music career peaked, Abdur-Rahman found himself back home, with little to show for his success. He quickly became a teen father struggling to survive in Roxbury, MA. Seeing Islam as a way out of his hard-scrabble environment, he happily converted. Soon he was working in a maximum-security prison as a Muslim chaplain, where he became zealously focused on saving souls instead of understanding the outside forces that bring men to prison. Later, in his work as the first paid Muslim chaplain at Harvard, Abdur-Rahman began to seek counsel outside of Islam, engaging with Jewish and Christian mentors who opened his eyes to the gifts of interreligious dialogue and helped lead him to what he was truly enlightenment. With this new framework, he returned to working with prisoners and clearly saw the cyclical effects of systemic racism that keep Black and brown people locked up and without support in America today. A sweeping narrative, American Imam voices the contemporary concerns of Black Muslim Americans in the shadow of El Hajj Malik El Shabazz, in the aftermath of 9/11, and in light of the fights for social justice and prison abolition. Abdur-Rahman's story sounds an indelible rallying cry for understanding across race, religion, and cultural divides.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Religion, Islam

223 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 2024

Reviews

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as part of an Early Reviewer Program.
The beauty of reading is how it allows you to walk in someone else’s shoes. This ability to shadow another brings a new point of view. It brings us closer to cultural competence and encourages us to develop new empathy toward others.
Taymullah Abdur-Rahman has a lived experience completely opposite mine. I truly appreciated the educational experience he has provided me.
I learned about how Hip Hop brought Islamic reference to inner city kids.
Iman Abdur-Rahman taught me many Arabic/Islamic terms and gave me ideas to discuss with my Muslim friends, particularly those who are Black or Brown Americans.
I was given new food for thought about how religion is practiced in the prison setting, although I knew a little about this, pertaining to how Wicca is practiced behind bars. I disagree with his view on polytheism, but I understand Iman Abdur-Rahman’s point and feel the difference would bring about an interesting conversation if we ever met.
I work in Academia, this reminded me of the ‘new faculty’ perspective, which I can use to mentor others.
I created a ‘dictionary’ of sorts for myself long ago and add to it after each book. It currently has about 900 entries (vocabulary words, foreign language phrases, technical terms, interesting people, one page has pictures, etc.) I added a new page to my glossary just for American Imam, a rare occurrence. The new page will hold favorite quotes. Imam Abdur-Rahman has the distinction of holding the first 2 lines on the new page. One is, "You can't be both. Either you're a democracy or you're a right-wing regime that holds elections."
For someone not Black or Brown, not Muslim, who grew up differently, I feel honored to have read this book. I thank Imam Abdur-Rahman for sharing his life journey with me and recommend his book to others.

[Kirstin Kelley]

This book was a quick read that went through a lot of the history of Black Islam in the US and liberation theology. I particularly appreciated Abdur-Rahman's introspective and vulnerable approach that shared his learning journey. I disagree with some of his theological arguments based on my own scholarship and research, but appreciate how he's come to the place he is at time of writing and his openness with his mistakes and missteps through his life. I also found this book had a few timely reminders for how I endeavor to conduct my own life that come at just the time I need to think carefully about how to move forward with integrity to my own ethical framework.

[Claire Mistretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The throne of God will not shake because a human being has a question or two”

This book was everything I hoped it would be. I learned a ton, and the author talked about the intersection of faith and social justice in a very compelling way. I don’t know that I agree with everything in it, but I would be ignoring that author’s central idea of thinking critically to dismiss it because of that. I would recommend!

[Steve Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a raw and compelling memoir of redemption, purpose, and religious reform by a Black American imam who has worked in secondary schools, state prisons, and an elite university. Imam Taymullah's own story is fascinating and told with honesty, humility, and a kind of no-holds-barred freewheeling openness about the convictions and passions he has come to. Members of many institutions and faiths - including his own - can find cause for offense at various points. But if we can all take a breath and just listen, there's a lot of wisdom here. As a Christian pastor, I learned some things about ministry from the honest reflections Abdur-Rahman shares on his two prison chaplaincy stints. And the writing on System Affected Muslims, as Imam Taymullah calls the American Muslim survivors of trauma and oppression, is really interesting and gripping too.

[Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A hard-hitting, heartfelt, and eye-opening memoir that explores issues of race, religion, systemic injustice, and mass incarceration. Through the lived experiences of the author, readers are confronted with many of the realities of American society that too often go underaddressed or simply ignored. Written in an accessible way, this book provides a way into being educated about the issues facing Black Muslims in American society.

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest rating and review.]

[Robin Perkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

I went into this book expecting the story of his life, and while the book does cover some events from his life it is not an autobiography or memoir. It was a good read about Islam and did give me more of an understanding of this religion. Overall it felt a bit disconnected where we would jump from one thing to another without a bridge or connection. So it was jarring for me throughout, but was still an informative read.

[Doris Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have not received this book so I cannot read or review at this time. But I’m aware of how important reviews are.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5.