Over 100 students in Colleton County, South Carolina, recently participated in an unforgettable educational experience centered around the life of Omar Ibn Said, a prominent African Muslim scholar who was abducted and sold into slavery. His autobiographic and religious works, along with his poetry, have survived to this day. The event was made possible through the efforts of English teachers Prince Bonnah and Dr. Johnson, who facilitated the day-long visit with support from journalist Jennifer Berry Hawes.
Hawes, a reporter with ProPublica and formerly with the Post and Courier, shared her extensive investigative work on Omar’s history. Hawes was part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2015. She was also a 2019 Pulitzer finalist for feature writing. During the visit, students had the opportunity to study the Omar special report published by Hawes several years ago. The article served as a gateway to a series of reflective writing exercises where students responded to thought-provoking questions, followed by videos and a lecture delivered by Hawes herself.
In addition to discussing the history of Omar Ibn Said, who authored the only known autobiography of an enslaved African Muslim in America, Hawes shared details of her journey to Africa to research his story. Her firsthand experiences uncovered critical connections between Omar’s past and the broader African-American history, offering students a deeper understanding of the importance of preserving such narratives.
This immersive learning experience allowed students to explore history in a way that was both engaging and thought-provoking, blending written materials, reflective exercises, and live storytelling to bring the rich legacy of Omar Ibn Said to life.
