What factors allowed islam to spread to north and south america?

Please respond to these requests if possible to satisfy my curiosity. Are you asking for a class (school), or just out of curiosity? Thanks in advance!

I am making some educated guesses here, so check my facts. Islam was brought to Africa by Middle Eastern (pardon me for lumping all people in the region into one group. I understand the ethnic differences within the region.) slave traders taking slaves back to the M. E. I am not excusing slavery for anyone, but evidence suggests that this was happening in eastern Africa and "the Horn" of Africa hundreds of years before the Americas were even "discovered" by Columbus.

Islam also spread from ports in northern Africa to those in the western Africa for the purpose of trading (including slave trading). This is where I'm trying to connect the dots..not trying to offend. Islam was probably brought to South America in the slave trade. It may have been mixed with tribal religions to some extent, but every major religion has groupings based on belief (denominations). Only about 5% of the slaves traded to the "New World" actually came to the US. Nearly half in the Caribbean and half in South America. Islam hasn't really endured in Latin Aerica because of it's strong cultural ties to Catholocism. Many societies there are based on the Catholic family traditional model.

In North America, I only know that there was a cultural shift among black males during the time leading up to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's. I believe it was an effort to attempt to unite African-Americans in some way and provide solidarity amongst their people. To some degree, they were trying to regain some of their cultural heratige, as many slaves were converted to Christianity (Protestantism).

Please remember to answer my questions if it is possible. BT