Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Barack Obama... Indeed, the status of African-Americans in the U.S. has improved over time. But in order to truly appreciate the progress of race relations in America, you have to know what it was like before. Siraj Wahhaj, a prominent imam from Brooklyn, reflects upon some of the darkest days of American history in this powerful lecture on the campus of the University of Florida. Looking at the era of slavery, the practice of lynchings and the civil rights struggles of the 50's and 60's, he asks the critical question of how and why people can be treated in such ways. What is the motivating rationale behind racism? What were, and are, the devastating effects of this racism? And how does the religion of Islam provide the solution? And given the climate of bigotry and unimaginable injustice, the imam reveals the modern-day miracle performed by W.D. Muhammad with his rejection of the "Nation of Islam", and his acceptance of the white race as part of the universal brotherhood of orthodox Islam. A great talk that surveys past and present conditions, but also looks toward the future in the context of a post-9/11 world where seemingly entire nations, and religions, are demonized. Some of the darkest days in American history are behind us, but have we really learned the lessons from them? Other topics discussed: finding a middle ground between extremes, breaking the cycle of having children out of wedlock, the number of Muslims in America, building a sense of community, should Americans really fear Muslims, and the problem of racism with the Muslim community. (Duration: 1 hour, 38 min)