Abstract
The purpose of this research was to examine why a vast number of incarcerated African-American males embrace the Islamic faith, and what makes the religion so compelling to them. The study also investigated the influence of the conversion on the subjects. A case study was utilized. Case study subjects for this research were twelve Black Muslims at a Midwest medium security correctional facility who volunteered for the study. The major research question was, “What makes the Islamic faith so compelling to a large number of incarcerated African-American males, and what effect does this religion have on individuals? This research revealed the following key points: (1) The benefits of embracing Islam were social, emotional, and intellectual; (2) the process of embracing Islam consisted of five phases—discovery, recognition, transformation, integration, and future plans; (3) the Black Muslim group provided emotional and social support for incarcerated African-American males; (4) the participants/inmates underwent perspective transformations in regard to self, the prison administration, and society; (5) self-directed learning was the primary method used for gaining knowledge and information about Islam; and (6) Islam has the potential to facilitate inmate institutional adjustment, help inmates assume personal responsibility, increase self-esteem, and provide for self-development. Recommendations for further research included: That longitudinal studies be conducted in order to assess the long-term impact that the Islamic conversions have on recidivism rates; and that research be conducted at several penal institutions in order to see whether or not Islamic conversion experiences for African-American males are consistent from one penal institution to another.