The Princess and the Prophet: The Secret History of Magic, Race, and Moorish Muslims in America
SKU: 51218036904

The Princess and the Prophet: The Secret History of Magic, Race, and Moorish Muslims in America

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The Princess and the Prophet: The Secret History of Magic, Race, and Moorish Muslims in AmericaThe just discovered story of how two enigmatic circus performers and the cultural ferment of the Gilded Age sparked the Black Muslim movement in America Delving into new archives and uncovering fascinating biographical narratives, secret rituals, and hidden identities, historian Jacob Dorman explains why thousands of Americans were enthralled by the Islamic Orient, and why some came to see Islam as a global antiracist movement uniquely suited to

The just-discovered story of how two enigmatic circus performers and the cultural ferment of the Gilded Age sparked the Black Muslim movement in America

Delving into new archives and uncovering fascinating biographical narratives, secret rituals, and hidden identities, historian Jacob Dorman explains why thousands of Americans were enthralled by the Islamic Orient, and why some came to see Islam as a global antiracist movement uniquely suited to people of African descent in an era of European imperialism, Jim Crow segregation, and officially sanctioned racism.

The Princess and the Prophet tells the story of the Black Broadway performer who, among the world of Arabian acrobats and equestrians, Muslim fakirs, and Wild West shows, discovered in Islam a greater measure of freedom and dignity, and a rebuttal to the racism and parochialism of white America. Overturning the received wisdom that the prophet was born on the East Coast, Dorman has discovered that Noble Drew Ali was born Walter Brister in Kentucky. With the help of his wife, a former lion tamer and "Hindoo" magician herself, Brister renamed himself Prophet Noble Drew Ali and founded the predecessor of the Nation of Islam, the Moorish Science Temple of America, in the 1920s.

With an array of profitable businesses, the "Moors" built a nationwide following of thousands of dues-paying members, swung Chicago elections, and embedded themselves in Chicago's dominant Republican political machine at the height of Prohibition racketeering, only to see their sect descend into infighting in 1929 that likely claimed the prophet's life. This fascinating untold story reveals that cultures grow as much from imagination as inheritance, and that breaking down the artificial silos around various racial and religious cultures helps to understand not only America's hidden past but also its polycultural present.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Beacon Press
Published: 03/03/2020
ISBN: 9780807067260
Pages: 304
Weight: 1.40lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.30w x 1.30d

Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 11/25/2019
Kirkus Reviews 12/15/2019
Library Journal 01/01/2020 pg. 78
Booklist 02/01/2020 pg. 4
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SKU: 51218036904

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Great toddler backpack!
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My daughter is in prek 3 and loves this backpack. Nice and small for her to carry. A full folder will fit with a little force, but if you’re looking for something to actually carry folders and books, maybe not the best.
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“Tiny Backpack, Big Personality!”
This little backpack is doing big kid things — and my toddler knows it. The second we strapped it on, he marched around like he was off to close a business deal with juice boxes in both hands. It’s the perfect size for tiny shoulders, and the chest buckle? GENIUS. No more slippy straps or bag-flinging tantrums. It stays put like a champ, even during epic playground sprints and spontaneous dance moves in the grocery store. The material is sturdy, the zippers glide like butter, and the reflective strip makes my toddler look like he’s ready for a baby night shift. The color combo is sleek — black and grey with just the right touch of “cool kid on campus” energy. Plenty of space for snacks, sippy cups, a favorite toy, and 14 mysterious pebbles he insisted on collecting “for science.” If your 2-4-year-old wants to carry their own stuff and look proud doing it — this is the backpack for them. Highly recommend (and yes, I already ordered another one for backup... because toddlers). 🎒
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priscilla
Chelsea, US
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Size: Small, Color: Pink Dino
My 2 year old loves this backpack. I love the snap in the front for additional support of the distribution of weight. It has a good size cup holders and the inside of the bag is very spacious.
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West Palm Beach, US
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A good buy especially for young kids
Our community is providing school supplies this year for an elementary school that we adopted. Backpacks are in big demand but, as you know if you’ve been shopping, pretty pricey. This backpack was a Prime-day find so I bought a couple of them but, even back to the regular price, it’s a good deal especially for very young kids. In person the backpack is cute and stylish with the vibrant range of colors you see in the product pictures. I bought the large backpack which, as you can see in the photo, is more than tall enough for a standard manila folder. The stitching seems sound and the straps work as you would expect; it also has two side pockets. If I had to pick a weak spot, I’d say it’s the zipper, especially the one on the front pouch. It’s not a problem at the moment but it’s nylon, not metal, and so I don’t expect it to last forever. But if it gets through one school year, I consider that good. I think it’s a pretty good buy if you’re on a budget.
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West Palm Beach, US
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Backpack Backpack
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Cute, definitely a perfect size for my tall 3 yr old. (3’7”) I did have to let it air out though. Has a weird smell.
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