The Lives Behind Voices

Five years ago, the LACISA Newsletter launched with a scholar spotlight on Aliyah Khan, author of Far From Mecca: Globalizing the Muslim Caribbean. Last week, Dr. Khan and I were eating lunch together in Dearborn, Michigan, where we discussed how this newsletter -- and the community of over 200 people connected to it -- have helped establish the study of Islam and Muslim communities as a unique subfield within a range of wider disciplines, from anthropology to Islamic studies, American studies to history.

Reaching the five-year milestone of the LACISA Newsletter fills me with immense gratitude. Over this half-decade, we’ve published interviews with leading voices, examined new scholarship, revisited overlooked histories, and traced the evolving presence of Muslim communities across the region. My hope has always been to bring together researchers, journalists, and activists into a shared conversation that expands understanding and fosters connection throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

To that end, I believe this edition, which brings our fifth volume to a close, is a fitting celebration of the past, present, and future of those efforts.

First, we feature a letter from our Associate Editor, Rahma Maccarone, who reflects on what it means to serve on LACISA's editorial team. She then invites readers to join her in conversation with Paul Lovejoy about his latest publication, Muhammad Gardo Baquaqua, an Enslaved Muslim of the Black Atlantic (2025).

Also in this edition, we feature two calls for papers: First, a special call for papers from the International Journal of Latin American Religions (IJLAR), with a deadline in January 2026;

And second, a new call for entries in an updated version of the Springer Encyclopedia of Latin American Religions, with a deadline for proposals in March 2026.

There is also a round up of recent and relevant publications relevant to the field and, as always, news stories from around Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latinx Americas. We also share some opportunities, events, and other notes from members -- including a focus on linkages between Palestine and Latin America, Bad Bunny x Puerto Rican Muslims, philanthropy in Barbados, a new movie about the Malê revolt in Brazil, a walking tour in New York City, and more!

As we celebrate our first five years, and look ahead to what's to come in 2026 and beyond, I’m excited to deepen our collaborations, expand our storytelling, and continue amplifying voices that challenge assumptions about Islam and broaden understanding of Muslim communities in the Americas.

Thank you for journeying with us along the way. Here’s to the conversations, insights, and discoveries still to come.

Adelante,
Ken Chitwood
LACISA Senior Editor