Book excerpt: Muslims and African Americans are the two most misunderstood groups in America today, yet both groups have been a part of American life from its beginning. Today, it is the African American that most represents the aspirations of both groups. They are a new peoplea people who have overcome a history of oppression yet retained the good human character that is the saving grace of humanity. But we first have to acknowledge that we all have one Creator, share one common origin, and are part of one brotherhood of man. It is this people, the African American Muslim, that represents those ideals and who presents a model for humanity going forward.