The Nation of Islam (NOI), or black Muslims, was a religion created by African Americans to counter white supremacy. Initially Malcolm Little (later known as Malcolm X) advocated NOI’s racist ideology, but after a spiritual quest in 1964, he promoted integration which influenced civil rights movements throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s (Jenkins 16).
The Nation of Islam was founded by a con-man and convicted drug dealer W.D. Fard during the Depression Era; Elijah Muhammad, originally known as Elijah Poole, was his successor for decades after Fard’s disappearance (Palmer 1).
Though this religion was, in part, inspired by the Qu’ran, it is not an orthodox Muslim religion; this African American version advocated black supremacy whereas “Islam maintains universal brotherhood,” furthermore, Islam’s last prophet was more than 1400 years ago, whereas the black Muslims regarded Elijah Muhammad as their latest prophet (Palmer 1).
“Elijah claimed that they (the whites) would run the world for 6,000 years and then be destroyed at the ‘end of their time’ by the blacks. He said that ‘Judgment means that at the ‘end of time’ Gods (i.e., blacks) would destroy the entire white race (devils) and establish a paradise (nation) on this earth ruled forever by blacks (i.e., gods),” (Palmer 2).
The organizations that inspired this religion was the UNIA (United Negro Improvement Association), founded by activist Marcus Garvey who promoted black pride, and the Moorish Science Temple of America, (Palmer 1), which combined Eastern Philosophy with Black Nationalism (Jenkins 69).
Malcom X was doing time in a Massachusetts prison in 1947 for burglary when he heard of the Nation of Islam from his siblings. He joined NOI after his release in 1952 and became Muhammad’s protégé and national spokesperson (Jenkins 13-14).
Membership grew in the ‘50s due to Malcolm’s charisma, but tension between him and Muhammad increased. After twelve years of his service to this religion, Malcolm was ousted by the spiritual leader, Muhammad, because of a speech he made about JFK’s assassination. During this time Malcolm took a trip to Mecca which turned his philosophy around. He also converted to Sunni Islam. When he came back to the states he advocated civil rights and assimilation among races (Waldman 3).
On March 12, 1964 Malcolm initiated his own religious organization that had political agendas: Muslim Mosque, Inc., which addressed civil rights issues, especially within the black community, and whites would be able to cooperate in this plight, but could not join (Jenkins 409).
“Writing from Africa and Mecca in 1964, Malcolm stated that his holy trip, or Hajj, would officially establish the religious connection of the MMI with the 750 million Muslims of the world. The Muslim world would be forced to address the human rights plight of African Americans,” (Jenkins 409).
But Malcolm’s “short-lived signature organization” was the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU). This organization was similar to MMI, but with clearer goals and strategies for assimilation (Jenkins 161).
One of Malcom’s most influential teachings was the importance of knowing the history of blacks; knowing their contributions to American society instead of only learning their role as slaves. Even though Garvey advocated this philosophy decades before he did, it was Malcolm who influenced a movement for black studies in the ‘60s and ‘70s (Jenkins 50).
“Malcolm X delivered over twenty-six public orations that included his position as the national spokesman for the Nation of Islam (NOI) founder of the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) and the Muslim Mosque, Inc. (MMI),” (Jenkins 25).
Regardless of what Malcolm was advocating, he had the ability to attract followers. On February 14, 1965 Malcolm X was assassinated in the Manhattan’s Audobon Ballroom. He was shot 15 times by members of NOI. (Biography 3).
Jenkins L., Robert and Mfanya Donald Tryman. The Malcolm X Encyclopedia.
Westport, CN: Greenwood Press, 2002.
Palmer A., Idris. “The ‘Nation of Islam’ Exposed.” Malcolm-X.
http://www.malcolm-x.org/docs/abt_noix.htm.
Waldman, Joby. “Misunderstanding Malcolm X.” BBC News, UK Edition.
Feb. 2005 <
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4277833.stm>.
“Biography.” The Official Web Site Of Malcolm X. Estate of Malcolm c/o CMG
Worldwide.
http://www.cmgww.com/historic/malcolm/about/bio.htm.