THE MULTIPLICITY OF CONSCIOUSNESS: CHALLENGES IN ATTAINING 'ARABIC LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY AMONG BLACK AND LATINO AMERICAN MUSLIM CONVERTS

Abstract

This article examines the complex challenges faced by Black and Latino American Muslim converts to Islām when learning 'Arabic as a second or additional language. Drawing on historical analyses of the slave trades, sociological perspectives on post-1965 'Arab-Black American relations, Critical Discourse Analysis, and Critical Race Theory, this paper contends that historical legacies and contemporary social dynamics converge to create unique pedagogical and psychological barriers for these learners. Based on the author's unpublished dissertation research, which employed a Transformative Mixed-Methods Phenomenological Approach, the synthesis of data sources reveals challenges such as psychological barriers stemming from historical trauma, strained intergroup relations, issues of identity and belonging within Muslim communities, potential biases in educational settings, and the complexities of 'Arabic diglossia. The article further explores the intricate navigation of intersecting racial, ethnic, and religious identities. The author describes these profound psychological barriers as a "Multiplicity of Consciousness," an expansion of W.E.B. Du Bois’s concept of double-consciousness. This research sheds light on this critical phenomenon, establishing its significance for future inquiry and suggesting avenues for fostering more inclusive, effective, and equitable 'Arabic language learning environments within Islāmic contexts.