From left: Frankie Martin (speaking), Prof Akbar Ahmed, Dr Mehdi Heravi, Tehmina Khan, and John Milewski
Dr Harevi answering a question
America at the Crossroads: Race, Islam, and Leadership Launched in Washington
By Emma Vitale
Washington, DC
On Monday, November 3 at American University, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies and Distinguished Professor Akbar Ahmed and a distinguished panel discussed his new book America at the Crossroads (Beacon Books, London) and what its themes of peace, understanding, and bridge-building can teach us about American identity and what it means to be an American.
The distinguished panel included American University (AU) trustee Dr Mehdi Heravi, Tehmina Khan, John Milewski, and AU doctoral student Frankie Martin who was the senior researcher on Ahmed’s projects.
After School of International Service Interim Dean Rachel Sullivan Robinson presented her welcome message, Prof Akbar Ahmed showed a video excerpt from his 2004 documentary film "Journey Into America," since its corresponding book, Journey into America, of the same title was the inspiration for America at the Crossroads. Having visited 75 sites and 100 mosques across the United States and conducting dozens of interviews as ethnographic research, Ahmed presents in the book a groundbreaking framework for understanding American identity: the primordial, pluralist, and predator models. These three archetypes are reflected in leaders from Thomas Jefferson and Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump. These are not water- tight categories and individuals may sometimes reflect all three identities and even shift from one to the other over the course of their lifetime.
The new book derives from Journey into America which won the American Book Award, and was widely discussed in the media, including the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Ahmed and his distinguished panel discussed how the heart of American identity is religious pluralism, and how America needs to re-find its optimistic spirit that has always been present.
The event concluded with questions from the audience. It was a full house with students, professors, and several prominent guests which included Ali Imran the founder of Views News Now, Professor Hasan Abbas of the National Defense University, Anwar Iqbal of the Dawn newspaper, Zahid Husain of the Dunya newspaper, and Dr Wardella Doschek author and activist. It was a captivated audience, asking solid questions and aware that the discussion about American identity, the presence of Muslims and how to proceed into the future held great relevance on the eve of New York’s Mayoral election.
(Emma Vitale is Assistant Director of Research Promotion, School of International Service, American University, Washington DC)
