Some scholars estimate that 10-20 percent of the slaves brought
over from Africa were Muslims. The film "Amistad" alluded to
this fact, portraying Muslims aboard this slave vessel trying to
perform their prayers, while chained together on deck as they
crossed the Atlantic. Personal narratives and histories are
harder to find, but some stories have been passed on from
reliable sources: - Omar Ibn Said (ca. 1770-1864) was born in
the Muslim state of Futa Toro in Western Africa, in present-day
Senegal. He was a Muslim scholar and trader who was captured and
enslaved. He arrived in South Carolina in 1807, and was sold to
James Owen of North Carolina. - Sali-Bul Ali was a slave on a
plantation. His owner James Cooper wrote: "He is a strict
Mahometan (sic); abstains from spirituous liquors, and keeps
various fasts, particularly that of the Ramadan..." - Lamen Kebe
was a slave who used to be a school teacher in Africa. He shared
information about the texts and teaching methods used in the
Islamic schools of his coun