[Petronski]

I don't see how 'black' is relevant in this situation. Muslim clearly is relevant, but I'm unclear why 'black' matters.

[goodnesswins]

YOU ARE Correct...."black" is NOT relevant. It was just part of the description. And, there are few (very few) white Muslims.)

[Radix]

I'm unclear why 'black' matters

Americans are all racists of course!

Fox News right now:

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

I don't see how 'black' is relevant in this situation. Muslim clearly is relevant, but I'm unclear why 'black' matters.

How many members of the NOI do you know of who are anything but black?

[rwfromkansas]

Have you heard of Ferrakan or however you spell his name?

[jackbill]

I don't see how 'black' is relevant in this situation. Muslim clearly is relevant, but I'm unclear why 'black' matters.

Perhaps because the American converts to Islam are about 99.9% black. Where have you been?

[Dog Gone]

I don't see how 'black' is relevant in this situation. Muslim clearly is relevant, but I'm unclear why 'black' matters.

It matters because it specifically describes a distinct movement in the US. It's like describing a white separatist. Why does "white" matter in that description?

It matters because it conveys specific useful information.

[briant]

A black muslim is not the same as someone who happens to be black who is a muslim. Look up Elija Muhammed if you want.

[SauronOfMordor]

I don't see how 'black' is relevant in this situation. Muslim clearly is relevant, but I'm unclear why 'black' matters.

It's because the "Black Muslim" groups in the US are extremely anti-American and anti-white.

[B Knotts]

I don't see how 'black' is relevant in this situation. Muslim clearly is relevant, but I'm unclear why 'black' matters.

"Black Muslim" is a lot different from "Muslim."

"Black Muslim" groups like Nation of Islam are not even considered to be Muslim by your garden-variety Muslims. They have fringe beliefs, such as considering their founder Elijah Mohammed a prophet.

So, that's why it matters. Now, there are bona fide Muslims who happen to be black, but the use of "Black Muslim" leads me to believe this is a member of one of these American fringe groups, who, I think, still make up the bulk of American Muslims.

[stripes1776]

I don't see how 'black' is relevant in this situation. Muslim clearly is relevant, but I'm unclear why 'black' matters.

If this was a "white supremicist", the word white would be in every headline. If this is in fact a black muslim, then black has everything to do with it because black muslims are black supremicists and racists. Why do you think Malcom X was assassinated? Because he saw that his black supremisist views were wrong and wanted to reach out to whites as equals. The black muslims killed him for this.

[Anamensis]

I don't see how 'black' is relevant in this situation. Muslim clearly is relevant, but I'm unclear why 'black' matters.

Because if they are Arab-American, they might not really be heartfelt Muslims. They might be simply raised Muslim and classified Muslim the way I am classified Christian even though I haven't been inside a church in 15 years. But if they are Black Muslims, they likely converted as an adult, and are approaching Islam with a whole different mindset, perhaps a fanatical mindset. That's why it matters.

[FITZ]

I don't see how 'black' is relevant in this situation. Muslim clearly is relevant, but I'm unclear why 'black' matters.

That's the way I feel ---how can having your mind filled with hate and bitterness make someone become black ---skin color isn't something that is chosen. I don't think anyone would have a problem with black Baptists or black Catholics in the army and if they did you'd have to wonder why on earth they would.