NATION OF ISLAM AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT BY CHRIS PAYNE

DISCUSSION Think about a time when you had to work with another person, and couldn’t agree on how to do something: What was the project? What was your opinion? What were the other opinions in the group? How was it resolved? Or was it resolved? Do you feel that you received enough credit for your efforts? Why or why not?

BACKGROUND Marcus Garvey’s Back to Africa Movement had a big influence on the nation. Many African Americans saw it as a way to help find their identity. Discuss: what if you didn’t know anything about your history? What could be some effects of that on your life?

NOBLE DREW ALI AND THE MOORISH SCIENCE TEMPLE A leader who emerged after WW I was Noble Drew Ali. He was the founder of the Moorish Science Temple of America His primary message was that Black people could be saved if they “discarded the various identities forced on them by whites in America, and understand that their true origin is Asiatic” Smith pg. 80

DISCUSSION Why do you think this would appeal to African Americans? What is the significance of the use of the word “Moor”?

NATION OF ISLAM

FOUNDING OF THE NATION Marcus Garvey’s deportation in 1927, and Noble Drew Ali’s death in 1929 created a gap in the black nationalist movement In 1930 Wallace D. Fard appeared under mysterious circumstances in Detroit and is credited with founding the Nation. Fard showed an understanding of the African migrant community even though it is not believed that he was native to the U.S. or of African descent. Gibson pg. 15 In 1934, he mysteriously disappeared and was never heard from again

ELIJAH MUHAMMAD Elijah Muhammad was the longtime leader of the Nation of Islam Unlike other civil rights leaders, he did not believe in integration Justice and equal opportunity were his goals He also preached the importance of black owned businesses. Education was important as well. He wanted a separate state or territory for African Americans

COMPARING ELIJAH MUHAMMAD’S TEACHING WITH MUSLIM TRADITIION TRADITION Elijah Muhammad believed that the Nation of Islam’s founder, Wallace D. Fard, was divine, and that he, Elijah Muhammad, was the last messenger Taught that Islam was a religion for Black people What is the Shahada? What are we in God’s eyes?

MALCOLM X In the 1950’s, one of the most important leaders to emerge was Malcolm X, who became a leader in the civil rights movement Many members of the NOI changed their last name to an X to signify something unknown, since their ancestors’ names were changed by their owners. Malcolm X preached about the hypocrisy of integration. He believed in the separation of the races and black self reliance. Although not advocating violence, he did believe that fighting back should be an option, as opposed to the more pacifist approach of other groups

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Look at the picture on the right and read the caption What message is it giving? How would this clash with other teachings of the movement, specifically Martin Luther King, Jr.? How and why would white Americans react to this? Do you agree with what it is saying?

REACTION In his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King wrote that the Nation was made up of “people who have lost faith in America, and repudiated Christianity” He went on to say that “millions of negroes could seek solace in Black Nationalist ideologies, a development that would lead to a frightening racial nightmare”

CHANGES Eventually, Malcolm X left the NOI to form the OAAU and the Muslim Mosque Inc. While on the Hajj to Mecca, Malcolm met different Muslims of different colors from all over the world. He softened his position on the separation of races, but remained devoted to Black self-determination.

DISCUSSION How can being exposed to different kinds of people affect your perception about them? Think about a time when your opinion about a group of people, or person, changed once you knew more about them.

INFLUENCE The Nation of Islam had a huge effect on many AfricaM Americans Many famous people joined. Most prominent was boxer Cassius Clay who became Muhammad Ali

DISCUSSION This was a response that Muhammad Ali gave when asked what he thought about the war in Vietnam. In your own words, what did he mean? Do you support his opinion. Why or why not? Compare this with Elijah Muhammad’s teaching that Blacks are not U.S. citizens and therefore shouldn’t be required to fight in any wars.

LEGACY “The Nation of Islam, and especially Malcolm X, changed the terms of the debate about the means that could be used to achieve the goal of equal opportunity” Perry pg. 285 Why then does the Nation of Islam not receive the same credit as other groups and leaders of the movement?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS History books do not cover the Nation of Islam’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement as much as leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr. What could be the reasons for this? Does “White America” feel more threatened by Malcolm’s approach as opposed to King’s. If so, how and why? Does the West’s view, historically, of Islam come in to play? Research the assassinations of Malcolm X and MLK, including who were the alleged assassins. Does this have any meaning to why?