AHC A Muslim US State

In terms of my personal thoughts on this, a combination of the US and USSR switching roles in the Middle East (as for how this happens it’s already been done to death over multiple threads so I won’t reiterate) triggering a wave of US-Arab business ties and immigration, through the 50s and 60s, and with actual Islamic thought being easily accessible during the beginning of the civil rights movement, you could see African-American conversions reaching a fever pitch (as you would avoid all the corruption and pitfalls of the otl Nation of Islam) and with several persuasive orators on hand (ie Malcolm X) that could easily be continued through the 70s and ingrain itself into hippy culture. Now throw in a moderately successful, but far more genocidal Israel causing a massive Palestinian influx, and a limited nuclear war on the subcontinent post Cold War resulting in Pakistani and Bangladeshi boat people, and it’s possible you could have at least one southern state (possibly Mississippi or South Carolina) a relatively empty midwestern state (perhaps Wyoming?) or Rhode Island with large Muslim communities, perhaps bordering on a majority
 
To address @GorillaTheater, the personal racism of a lot of arabs at the time will be an issue, but given that this scenario was always gonna be a huge Islamwank, we could have the first immigrants in the 50s be treated as black for the purposes of segregation laws in the south, tying them up into the current of the civil rights movement from the start
 
IOTL, the British Empire brought in a lot of laborers from South Asia to the Caribbean, especially Guyana, after slavery was ended there. In Guyana today, a plurality of the population is of Indian descent, and while most of them are Hindu, there are also a significant number of Muslims there.

To begin with, figure out a way to make it so that the majority of the South Asians sent to Guyana are from majority-Muslim areas rather than majority-Hindu areas. I don't have a specific POD in mind, but it seems doable. After that, you just need the United States to gain Guyana from Britain through war or purchase, have the territory gain statehood, and there you have it: a state with a Muslim majority.

And for a 20th century POD... this is stretching the bounds of plausibility, but it doesn't seem completely impossible to have the Nation of Islam somehow catch on more strongly among the African-American community, especially in Northern urban areas and especially if it moderates its stances significantly. Then have D.C. gain statehood at some point and cause a bit more white flight from the city, and I can just barely see it having a Muslim majority.
 
I have this idea, which may even be accurate, that they were more likely to have been enslaved by a Muslim in Africa than to have been a Muslim in Africa.

There certainly were Muslim slaves among enslaved African Americans, but they were a minority. Seems like quite a few blended into African American Christian denominations in the long term.
 
A black nationalist Muslim movement arises in the 1890s or early 1900s and gains much more success than the Moorish Science Temple, the Nation of Islam, or other similar groups did IOTL. Rather than remain divided around the country, the group's leadership decides on a bold move - emulating Brigham Young and Mormonism's success in establishing its own demographic and political dominance within a state, they undertake a political migration to a western state to achieve black self determination. By 1930, 100,000 followers migrate to Nevada, becoming the majority despite legal and violent resistance by white Nevadans, many of whom decide to flee the state. They quickly become the dominant voting block, electing officials vetted by the clerical leadership, a certain point of conflict with the federal government. Other African Americans are drawn to Nevada and many convert to Islam. Black rule, combined with the preferential treatment of black owned business interests as called for by the NOI, hardens the position of southern whites against any civil rights reform whatsoever and leads to efforts to expel blacks to Nevada, creating conflict with the federal government. Nevada becomes a place to escape to for southern blacks, causing a steady immigration to Nevada into the late 20th century. Race politics in the US is somehow even more of a nightmare.
 
Maybe something to do with Morocco? The Moroccans were some of the first to recognize the United States, IIRC
 
Personal Racism makes this extremely difficult. Americans hear the most about the Islamic World from the Ottoman Empire, and the Ottomans had been seen as uncivilized for almost all of American history to the average citizen. If the Americans weren't going to treat the Catholics fairly, they will never accept a large Muslim population at all. Adding a large Muslim population to the mix would probably further disturb the peace on the streets and in America. A sparatic Muslim population is one thing, but a concentrated one is something Americans living in that state WILL oppose, a lot through civilian violence. The Bulgarian Massacres of 1877 made Europe's jaw drop, and America will think exactly the same. Especially considering the Muslim Filipino resistance during the insurrection, with hundreds of Americans dying from Jihadist Moro Muslims.

There is also the problem of them finding the ability to get a stable life. Many Americans will likely view them as more people getting added on the street, and considering the small amount of modern police control, Muslim street gangs, most likely formed from discrimination would become what most gangs are now, crime syndicates bent on getting rich.

I severely doubt a majority Muslim state would exist.
 
So with a PoD closer around the Barbary wars, you could have an alliance be built with the ottomans as to their mutual interest in keeping the Barbary pirates down? This might result in a better relationship between the two long term
 
The US annexes the Philippines and turns it into a bunch of states. A state carved out of Mindanao would have a large Muslim population.

Alternatively, the US controls Sabah, and annexes it.
 
Alternatively, the US controls Sabah, and annexes it.

If North Borneo is controlled (typical PoD being the 1867 lease by Charles Moses), then North Borneo ("Ambong" then) would have taken a similar trajectory to Sarawak, and having a Christian majority, though a Muslim plurality will be near guaranteed.

Sabah's Muslim majority is a product of the past 60 years or so, so an earlier PoD with an annexation of Sabah shouldn't affect that.
 
That would require a POD in some majority Muslim country. American Immigration paterns came in waves usually from countries experiencing political or economic instability.
If the Ottoman Empire suffered a serious setback you could expect Muslim immigrants. The exact location of the state where the Muslim majority depends on which part of the American continent was being settled when they're instability occurred.
 
That would require a POD in some majority Muslim country. American Immigration paterns came in waves usually from countries experiencing political or economic instability.
If the Ottoman Empire suffered a serious setback you could expect Muslim immigrants. The exact location of the state where the Muslim majority depends on which part of the American continent was being settled when they're instability occurred.

The Ottomans experienced setbacks like that between 1877 and 1922. Yet people chose Ottoman lands rather than the USA even though I doubt 19th century US would be fond off Muslim immigration. The Muslims who did before 1945 were largely pretending to be Christian and for a short term.
 
What about a home grown and predominantly white Islamic sect?

Off the top of my head, say Joseph Smith decides to found his own islamic sect. Whilst I cant imagine it would do as well as OTL Mormonism, given the right time and location I reckon it could attract like minded people. He was certainly charismatic enough.
 
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