Besheer Mohamed is a senior researcher at Pew Research Center. He is an expert on the views, demographic profile and size of U.S. Muslim communities. He also has extensive experience with computational science, as well as developing best practices for quantitative data collection on small populations. Mohamed has appeared in numerous media outlets and regularly briefs policymakers, academics and other important stakeholders. He has also published in traditional academic publications through Oxford University Press and NYU Press, along with the American Sociological Association’s magazine, Contexts. He received his doctorate in sociology and master’s degree in Middle East Studies from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Cornell University.
Besheer Mohamed
Expertise:
Twitter: bmoham
Publications
10 new findings about faith among Black Americans
Black American religious life is diverse, encompassing a wide range of religious affiliations, worship practices and beliefs.
Faith Among Black Americans
Today, most Black adults say they rely on prayer to help make major decisions, and view opposing racism as essential to their religious faith.
Before protests, black Americans said religious sermons should address race relations
Six-in-ten black adults say it is important for houses of worship to address “political topics such as immigration and race relations.”
In the U.S. and Western Europe, people say they accept Muslims, but opinions are divided on Islam
Many across Western Europe and the U.S. would be willing to accept Muslims as family or as neighbors. Yet there is no consensus on whether Islam fits into these societies.
Black Muslims account for a fifth of all U.S. Muslims, and about half are converts to Islam
About half of black Muslims are converts to Islam, a relatively high conversion level. Black Muslims, like black Americans overall, have high levels of religious commitment.
Republicans account for a small but steady share of U.S. Muslims
Many more U.S. Muslims identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party than the GOP (66% vs. 13%), but the share who are Republican has held steady over the last 10 years, including after the election of President Donald Trump.
Black Millennials are more religious than other Millennials
Black Millennials are more likely than nonblack Millennials, for example, to say they pray at least daily and attend religious services at least weekly.
Most U.S. Muslims observe Ramadan by fasting during daylight hours
More Muslim adults say they fast during Ramadan than say they pray five times a day or attend mosque weekly.
Black Americans are more likely than overall public to be Christian, Protestant
Nearly eight-in-ten black Americans identify as Christian, compared with 70% of whites, 77% of Latinos and just 34% of Asian Americans.
The share of Americans who leave Islam is offset by those who become Muslim
About a quarter of adults who were raised Muslim no longer identify as members of the faith. But Islam gains about as many converts as it loses.
