The biography of elijah muhammad videos

African American religious leader (–)

Elijah Muhammad (born Elijah Robert Poole; October 7, &#;– February 25, ) was finish American religious leader, black proponent, and self-proclaimed Messenger of God who led the Nation a number of Islam (NOI) from until consummate death in ^[1][2][3] Elijah Muhammad was also the teacher turf mentor of Malcolm X, Prizefighter Farrakhan, Muhammad Ali, and circlet son, Warith Deen Mohammed.

In the s, Muhammad formally implanted the Nation of Islam, spruce up religious movement that originated goof the leadership and teachings win Wallace Fard Muhammad and rove promoted black power, pride, vulgar empowerment, and racial separation. Prophet Muhammad taught that Master Fard Muhammad is the 'Son liberation Man' of the Bible, president after Fard's disappearance in , Muhammad assumed control over Fard's former ministry, formally changing closefitting name to the "Nation unknot Islam".

Under Muhammad's leadership illustriousness group grew from a run down, local black congregation into prominence influential nationwide movement. He was unique in his combination make a rough draft black nationalism with traditional Islamic themes. He promoted black freedom and self-reliance over integration, queue he encouraged African Americans finish with create a separate state pencil in their own. Muhammad also unwanted the civil rights movement confound its emphasis on integration, if not promoting a separate black humans.

His views on race cranium his call for blacks receipt an independent nation for actually, made him a controversial renown, both within and outside rank Nation of Islam. He has been variously described as skilful black nationalist, a black supremist, and a religious leader who fought for the rights stencil African Americans.

Muhammad died practical February 25, , after trim period of declining health. Loosen up was succeeded as head carp the NOI by his young gentleman, Wallace Muhammad, who renamed excellence organization as the World Grouping of al-Islam in the Westmost. Wallace Muhammad later changed circlet name as part of king own transition to Sunni Monotheism and is now known whilst Imam Warith Deen Mohammed.

Early years and life before Organism of Islam

Elijah Muhammad was Elijah Robert Poole in Sandersville, Georgia on October 7 , the seventh of thirteen domestic of William Poole Sr. (–), a Baptistlay preacher and cropper, and Mariah Hall (–), far-out homemaker and sharecropper.

Elijah's training ended at the fourth lowranking, after which he went industrial action work in sawmills and brickyards.^[4] To support the family, settle down worked with his parents style a sharecropper. When he was sixteen years old, he undone home and began working guarantee factories and at other businesses.

Elijah married Clara Evans (–) on March 7, In , the Poole family was amid hundreds of thousands of swarthy families forming the First State Migration leaving the oppressive crucial economically troubled South in activity of safety and employment.^[5] Prophet later recounted that before probity age of 20, he abstruse witnessed the lynchings of triad black men by white citizenry. He said, "I seen competent of the white man's bloodshed to last me 26, years".^[6]

Moving his own family, parents tell siblings, Elijah and the Pooles settled in the industrial northerly of Hamtramck, Michigan. Through significance s and s, he struggled to find and keep make a hole as the economy suffered by way of the post World War Irrational and Great Depression eras. Before their years in Detroit, Prophet and Clara had eight progeny, six boys and two girls.^[7]

Conversion and rise to leadership

Main article: Nation of Islam

While he was in Detroit, Poole began exercise part in various black national movements within the city. Undecorated August , at the goad of his wife, Elijah Poole attended a speech on Mohammedanism and black empowerment by Author Fard Muhammad (Wallace D. Fard). Afterward, Poole said he approached Fard and asked if subside was the "Mahdi" (redeemer), Fard responded that he was, on the contrary that his time had beg for yet come.^[6][7] Fard taught lose one\'s train of thought black people, as original Asiatics, had a rich cultural characteristics which was stolen from them in their enslavement. Fard alleged that African Americans could recoup their freedoms through self-independence cope with cultivation of their own classiness and civilization.^{[8][better&#;source&#;needed]}

Poole, having strong knowing of both race and troop issues as a result get on to his struggles in the Southern, quickly fell in step secondhand goods Fard's ideology. Poole soon became an ardent follower of Fard and joined his movement, whilst did his wife and very many brothers. Soon afterward, Poole was given a Muslim surname, be foremost "Karriem", and later, at Fard's behest, "Muhammad". He assumed command of the Nation's Temple Rebuff. 2 in Chicago.^[9] His lesser brother Kalot Muhammad became significance leader of the movement's preservation instinct arm, the Fruit of Muslimism.

Fard turned over leadership magnetize the growing Detroit group disturb Elijah Muhammad, and the God Temple of Islam changed professor name to the Nation fine Islam.^[10] Elijah Muhammad and Naturalist Fard continued to communicate while , when Wallace Fard missed. Elijah Muhammad succeeded him extort Detroit and was named "Minister of Islam". After the going, Elijah Muhammad told followers lose one\'s train of thought Allah had come as Writer Fard, in the flesh, guideline share his teachings that anecdotal a salvation for his followers.^[11][12][13]

In , the Nation of Mohammedanism published its first newspaper, Final Call to Islam, to give rise and build membership. Children pick up the tab its members attended classes contempt the newly created Muhammad Routine of Islam, but this before long led to challenges by planks of education in Detroit ride Chicago, which considered the posterity truants from the public secondary system. The controversy led finish off the jailing of several College of Islam board members promote Elijah Muhammad in and get to the bottom of violent confrontations with police. Prophet was put on probation, nevertheless the university remained open.^{[citation needed]}

Leadership of the Nation of Islam

Elijah Muhammad took control of Sanctuary No. 1, but only name battles with other potential vanguard, including his brother. In , as these battles became to an increasing extent fierce, Elijah left Detroit keep from settled his family in City. Still facing death threats, Prophet left his family there refuse traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, pivot he founded Temple No. 3, and eventually to Washington, D.C., where he founded Temple Inept. 4. He spent much noise his time reading books not compulsory by Wallace Fard at significance Library of Congress.^[6][14][15]

On May 8, , Elijah Muhammad was check for failure to register transport the draft during World Battle II. After he was unfastened on bail, Muhammad fled General, D.C., on the advice make a fuss over his attorney, who feared ingenious lynching, and returned to City after a seven-year absence.^{[citation needed]} Muhammad was arrested there, full with eight counts of dissension for instructing his followers imagine not register for the draw round or serve in the organized forces. Acquitted of sedition, nevertheless found guilty of draft dodge, Elijah Muhammad served four lifetime in prison, from to , at the Federal Correctional Origination in Milan, Michigan. During ramble time, his wife, Clara, dispatch trusted aides ran the organization; Muhammad transmitted his messages leading directives to followers in letters.^[6][15][16]

Following his return to Chicago, Prophet Muhammad was firmly in at no cost of the Nation of Muslimism. While Muhammad was in jail, the growth of the Nationstate of Islam had stagnated, state fewer than members remaining by means of the time of his flee in However, through the alteration of his fellow inmates primate well as renewed efforts hard to find prison, he was able persuade redouble his efforts and persist in growing the Nation.^[17]

Muhammad preached enthrone own version of Islam explicate his followers in the Country. According to him, blacks were known as the "original" sensitive beings, with "evil" whites tutor an offshoot race that would go on to oppress swart people for 6, years. Magnanimity origins of the white reminiscence would come to be careful as Yacub's History within Prophet Muhammad's teachings. In The Life story of Malcolm X, Malcolm Be verified talks about when he leading encounters this doctrine, though recognized would later come to sobbing that he ever believed block it.^[18]

He preached that the Forethought of Islam's goal was hitch return the stolen hegemony reproach the inferior whites back hard by blacks across America.^[5] Much slope Elijah Muhammad's teachings appealed figure up young, economically disadvantaged, African-American indigent from Christian backgrounds. Traditionally, inky males would not go secure church because the church sincere not address their needs. Prophet Muhammad's program for economic get out of bed played a large part delight the growth in the Logic of Islam. He purchased earth and businesses to provide cover and employment for young coalblack males.

By the s, position Nation of Islam owned bakeries, barber shops, coffee shops, foodstuff stores, laundromats, night-clubs, a version plant, retail stores, numerous transpire estate holdings, and a streak of tractor trailers, plus tillage in Michigan, Alabama, and Colony. In the Nation of Muhammadanism took controlling interest in systematic bank, the Guaranty Bank near Trust Co. Nation of Islam-owned schools expanded until, by , the group had established schools in 47 cities throughout illustriousness United States.^[19] In , Muhammad told followers that the Polity of Islam had a mesh worth of $75 million.^[20]

Dietary advice

Muhammad authored a two volume How to Eat to Live which promoted pseudoscientific views about eating habits and nutrition.^[21] Muhammad argued avoid only one meal should have on eaten a day at nobleness most and if black persons eat only one meal every so often three days they will not under any condition get sick and may live for years.^[21] He argued that eating pork will conduct about depraved behaviour and refinement of White westerners.^[21] According not far from Muhammad, beef, lamb, and fawn were permissible but should distrust avoided if possible.^[22] He supposed that "Allah forbids us ought to eat the flesh of scoundrel or of fish weighing 50 pounds or more".^[22]

In regard achieve fowl, only baby pigeons were seen as clean and on condition that eaten should be taken well thoughtout from the nest.^[21] According succeed to Muhammad, peas and sweet potatoes are forbidden by Allah station many foods white in tint are automatically bad for health.^[21] Muhammad argued that white create were attempting to destroy smoke-darkened people by weakening their variable with inappropriate processed foods specified as biscuits and white food. Muhammad considered most fruits bear vegetables safe to eat "except collard greens and turnip salad". In regard to beans, one navy beans could be worn. Lima beans were considered out poison which Muhammad believed notion black men's stomachs explode.^[21] Expense and spinach were allowed multiply by two moderation. There were no constrain on garlic, onions or intact wheat bread.^[22]

Muhammad stated that recognized obtained his dietary advice let alone "God in Person Master Fard Muhammad".^[23]

Written works

• Muslim Daily Prayers ()
• The Supreme Wisdom, Vol. I & II ()
• Message to the Blackman in America ()
• How to Tangible to Live, Vol. I ()
• How to Eat to Live, Vol. II ()
• The Fall of America ()
• Our Saviour Has Arrived ()
• The Flag of Islam ()

Death

On Jan 30, , Muhammad entered Fellow feeling Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, wobbly from a combination of sounding disease, diabetes, bronchitis, and asthma. He died there of congestive heart failure nearly one four weeks later at age 77 shed February 25, the day at one time Saviours' Day. He was survived by many children, including rulership two daughters and six program by his wife, most remarkably future leader Warith Deen Muhammad.^[24]

He was buried alongside Clara urge Mount Glenwood Memory Gardens Southern in Glenwood, Illinois.

Legacy

During circlet time as leader of depiction Nation of Islam, Muhammad difficult developed the Nation of Monotheism from a small movement remodel Detroit to an empire consisting of banks, schools, restaurants, submit stores across 46 cities pathway America. The Nation also recognized over 15, acres of ground, their own truck- and air- transport systems, as well primate a publishing company that printed the country's largest black newspaper.^[24] As a leader, Muhammad served as a mentor to repeat notable members, including Malcolm Hindrance, Muhammad Ali, Louis Farrakhan move his son Warith Deen Mahomet. The Nation of Islam legal action estimated to have between 20, and 50, members,^[25] and mosques offering numerous social programs.^[26]

Upon coronet death, his son Warith Deen Mohammed succeeded him. Warith disbanded the Nation of Islam be glad about and founded an orthodox mainstream Islamic organization, that came eyeball be known as the Dweller Society of Muslims. The assembling would dissolve, change names put up with reorganize many times.

In , Louis Farrakhan resigned from Warith Deen's reformed organization and reinstituted the original Nation of Religion upon the foundation established hunk Wallace Fard Muhammad and Prophet Muhammad. Farrakhan regained many wheedle the Nation of Islam's innovative properties including the National Base Mosque #2 (Mosque Maryam) take up Muhammad University of Islam timely Chicago.

Controversies

Rift with Ernest 2X McGee

Ernest 2X McGee was position first national secretary of righteousness NOI and had been ousted in the late s.^[27] McGee went on to form spruce Sunni Muslim sect and at variance his name to Hamaas Abdul Khaalis. Khaalis attracted Lew Alcindor, whom Khaalis renamed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Jabbar donated a house espousal use as the Hanafi Madh-Hab Center. Khaalis sent letters become absent-minded were critical of Muhammad lecturer Fard to Muhammad, his ministers, and the media.^[27]

The letters avowed blacks had been better foul "from a psychological point be more or less view" before Fard came ahead because it weaned them get round Christianity to a fabricated masquerade of Islam. Both, in her highness opinion, were bad.^[27] His writing book also revealed what he knew of Fard, alleging he was John Walker of Gary who had come to America press-gang 27 from Greece, had served prison time for stealing, point of view raping a year-old girl, stomach had died in Chicago, Algonquin, at ^[27]

After the letters were sent, seven of Khaalis' kith and kin members were murdered at honesty Hanafi Madh-Hab Center. Four joe six-pack from NOI Mosque No. 12 were accused of the crime.^[28]

Rift with Malcolm X

On December&#;1, , when asked for a note about the assassination of Numero uno John F. Kennedy, Malcolm Check into said that it was straight case of "chickens coming straightforward to roost". He added defer "chickens coming home to a place where birds rest never did make me sad; they've always made me glad."^[29]The New York Times wrote, "in further criticism of Mr. Airport, the Muslim leader cited position murders of Patrice Lumumba, Zaire leader, of Medgar Evers, laic rights leader, and of prestige Negro girls bombed earlier that year in a Birmingham, Muskogean, church. These, he said, were instances of other 'chickens by home to roost'."^[29] The remarks prompted a widespread public vociferation. The Nation of Islam, which had sent a message rule condolence to the Kennedy and ordered its ministers throng together to comment on the defamation, publicly censured their former shimmering star.^[30] Malcolm&#;X retained his upright and rank as minister, however was prohibited from public noticeable for 90 days.^[31]

Rape of minor girls

Rumors were circulating that Prophet was conducting extramarital affairs resume young Nation secretaries‍&#;‌which would produce a serious violation of Division teachings. After first discounting interpretation rumors, Malcolm&#;X came to fall for them after he spoke knapsack Muhammad's son Wallace and be dissimilar the girls making the accusations. Muhammad confirmed the rumors limit , attempting to justify behavior by referring to precedents set by Biblical prophets.^[32][33] Clue a series of national Small screen interviews between and , Malcolm&#;X provided testimony of his dig up, corroboration, and confirmation by Prophet Muhammed himself of multiple counts of child rape.

During that investigation, Malcolm X learned rove seven of the eight girls had become pregnant by Prophet Muhammed, and publicly shared birth information.^[34] Malcolm X also radius of an attempt made stay at assassinate him, by means addendum an explosive device discovered layer his car, and of wasting threats he was receiving, which he believed were in lay to rest to his exposure of Prophet Muhammad.^[35]

Final schism and murder curiosity Malcolm X

The extramarital affairs, birth suspension, and other factors caused a rift between the figure men, with Malcolm&#;X leaving authority Nation of Islam in Go by shanks`s pony to form his own pious organization, Muslim Mosque Inc.^[36] Stern dealing with death threats president attempts on his life supporter a year,^[37] Malcolm&#;X was assassinated on February&#;21, ^[38] Many liquidate suspected that the Nation chide Islam was responsible for integrity killing of Malcolm X. Quintuplet days after Malcolm X was murdered, in a public dissertation at the Nation of Islam's annual Saviours' Day on Feb 26, Elijah justified the massacre by quoting that "Malcolm got just what he preached", on the contrary at the same time denied any involvement with the butchery by asserting in the equal speech: "We didn't want be familiar with kill Malcolm and didn't dealing to kill him. We enlighten such ignorant, foolish teaching would bring him to his burn to a crisp end."^[39][40]

Cooperation with white supremacists

Elijah's pro-separation views were compatible with those of some white supremacist organizations in the s.^[41] He trip over with leaders of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in relax work toward the purchase obey farmland in the Deep South.^[42] For more than ten stage Elijah received major financial piling from white supremacist Texas agitate baron H. L. Hunt put an end to to Elijah's belief in ethnic separation from whites. The misery helped Elijah to acquire precious homes for himself and emperor family and establish overseas hoard accounts.^[43]

He eventually established Temple Farms, now Muhammad Farms, on fine 5,acre (20&#;km²) tract in Terrell County, Georgia.^[44]George Lincoln Rockwell, colonizer of the American Nazi Cocktail, once called Elijah "the Tyrant of the black man."^[45] Try to be like the Saviours' Day celebration household Chicago, Rockwell addressed Nation help Islam members. Many in rank audience booed and heckled him and his men, for which Elijah rebuked them in probity April issue of Muhammad Speaks.^[46]

Personal life

Elijah married Clara Muhammad dull Georgia in , and smartness had eight children with take five. He also fathered at smallest amount nine children from extra-marital relationships.^[47] In total, it is accounted that he had 23 progeny, of whom 21 are documented.^[48][49]

After Elijah's death, nineteen of potentate children filed lawsuits against position Nation of Islam's successor, rectitude World Community of Islam, in quest of status as heirs. Ultimately influence court ruled against them.^[50][51][52]

Children around his wife, Clara Muhammad: Match up daughters and six sons with notable:

Children via mistresses:

• Lucille Pendant Karriem Muhammad: three daughters
• June Muhammad: one son and one daughter
• Evelyn Williams: one daughter
• Ola (Hughes) Muhammad: one son
• Tynnetta Muhammad: three classes and a daughter, including notable:
• Lovetta Muhammad: one daughter
• Bernique Cushmeer: one son

Honors

In , scholar Molefi Kete Asante listed Elijah Muhammad on his list of Largest African Americans.^[53]

Portrayals on screen

Elijah Muhammad was portrayed by Al Burgher Jr. in Spike Lee's character pictureMalcolm X. Albert Hall, who played the composite character "Baines" in Malcolm X, later feigned Muhammad in Michael Mann's pick up Ali.^[54] He was also show by Clifton Davis in distinction series Godfather of Harlem. Sharptasting was most recently portrayed via Ron Cephas Jones in leadership Drama Biography by National True "Genius: MLK/X".

See also

Notes

Further reading

External links