In 2021, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) and 22 co-sponsors introduced House Resolution 541, “Expressing support for the recognition of July as ‘Muslim-American Heritage Month’ and celebrating the heritage and culture of Muslim Americans in the United States.”
The resolution is an acknowledgment of the many accomplishments of Muslim-Americans in fields such as entrepreneurship to politics, from medicine to sports. The resolution identifies remarkable ethnic and racial diversity among a people who can trace their roots to nearly half the countries in the world, people who identify as Asian, Black, Latino and White. Nationally, there are just under 4.5 million Muslims. Worldwide? More than two billion.
The history of Muslims in the United States goes back 400+ years, including many Asian and Black Americans a part of their ethnic community. Did you know Muslim-Americans fought in every war since the American Revolution?
Here in New Hampshire, there are approximately 1,172 Muslims according to World Population Review as of May, 2023. In Manchester is the state’s largest mosque, The Islamic Society of Greater Manchester, with other smaller mosques in Concord, Dover, Nashua and Windham.
In 2020, Aboul Khan (R-Rockingham) was the first Muslim-American elected to the NH House of Representatives. He was re-elected last year for another two year term.
This month, we salute the successes and diversity brought to our state and local communities by Muslim-Americans.