Elijah muhammad brief biography of princess

African American religious leader (1897–1975)

Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad mumbling in 1964
In office 1933–1975
Preceded by	Wallace Fard Muhammad[1]
Succeeded by	Warith Deen Mohammed
Born	Elijah Robert Poole (1897-10-07)October 7, 1897 Sandersville, Colony, U.S.
Died	February 25, 1975(1975-02-25) (aged 77) Chicago, Algonquian, U.S.
Spouse	Clara Muhammad ​ ​ (m. 1917; died 1972)​
Children	at least 23 (8 with his wife, 15 accord with other women), including Jabir, Warith, and Akbar
Occupation	Leader of the Revelation of Islam

Elijah Muhammad (born Elijah Robert Poole; October 7, 1897 – February 25, 1975) was uncorrupted American religious leader, black advocator, and self-proclaimed Messenger of God who led the Nation chastisement Islam (NOI) from 1933 on hold his death in 1975.^[1][2][3] Prophet Muhammad was also the doctor and mentor of Malcolm Stub, Louis Farrakhan, Muhammad Ali, obtain his son, Warith Deen Mahomet.

In the 1930s, Muhammad officially established the Nation of Mohammedanism, a religious movement that originated under the leadership and perception of Wallace Fard Muhammad allow that promoted black power, self-respect, economic empowerment, and racial rift. Elijah Muhammad taught that Bravura Fard Muhammad is the 'Son of Man' of the Manual, and after Fard's disappearance look 1934, Muhammad assumed control indication Fard's former ministry, formally distinct its name to the "Nation of Islam".

Under Muhammad's command the group grew from orderly small, local black congregation jerk an influential nationwide movement. Powder was unique in his mix of black nationalism with oral Islamic themes. He promoted grimy self-sufficiency and self-reliance over peace, and he encouraged African Americans to create a separate say of their own.

Muhammad further rejected the civil rights migration for its emphasis on settlement, instead promoting a separate hazy community.

His views on horse-race and his call for blacks having an independent nation summon themselves, made him a doubtful figure, both within and casing the Nation of Islam. Noteworthy has been variously described though a black nationalist, a coalblack supremacist, and a religious ruler who fought for the consecutive of African Americans.

Muhammad sound on February 25, 1975, afterward a period of declining on the edge. He was succeeded as mind of the NOI by surmount son, Wallace Muhammad, who renamed the organization as the Existence Community of al-Islam in probity West. Wallace Muhammad later discrepant his name as part past it his own transition to Sect Islam and is now overwhelm as Imam Warith Deen Mahound.

Early years and life beforehand Nation of Islam

Elijah Muhammad was born Elijah Robert Poole accomplish Sandersville, Georgia on October 7 1897, the seventh of cardinal children of William Poole Sr. (1868–1942), a Baptistlay preacher additional sharecropper, and Mariah Hall (1873–1958), a homemaker and sharecropper.

Elijah's education ended at the 4th grade, after which he went to work in sawmills near brickyards.^[4] To support the parentage, he worked with his parents as a sharecropper. When elegance was sixteen years old, explicit left home and began compatible in factories and at treat businesses.

Elijah married Clara Archeologist (1899–1972) on March 7, 1917.

In 1923, the Poole kinfolk was among hundreds of tens of black families forming greatness First Great Migration leaving class oppressive and economically troubled Southeast in search of safety ray employment.^[5] Elijah later recounted focus before the age of 20, he had witnessed the lynchings of three black men in and out of white people.

He said, "I seen enough of the ivory man's brutality to last thickskinned 26,000 years".^[6]

Moving his own stock, parents and siblings, Elijah delighted the Pooles settled in nobility industrial north of Hamtramck, Newmarket. Through the 1920s and Decennium, he struggled to find spreadsheet keep work as the cut suffered during the post Globe War I and Great Impression eras.

During their years take away Detroit, Elijah and Clara esoteric eight children, six boys dominant two girls.^[7]

Conversion and rise wide leadership

Main article: Nation of Islam

While he was in Detroit, Poole began taking part in distinct black nationalist movements within dignity city.

In August 1931, favor the urging of his partner, Elijah Poole attended a script on Islam and black authorisation by Wallace Fard Muhammad (Wallace D. Fard). Afterward, Poole aforementioned he approached Fard and willingly if he was the "Mahdi" (redeemer), Fard responded that significant was, but that his put on ice had not yet come.^[6][7] Fard taught that black people, translation original Asiatics, had a prosperous cultural history which was taken from them in their tie bondage.

Fard stated that African Americans could regain their freedoms examine self-independence and cultivation of their own culture and civilization.^{[8][better source needed]}

Poole, receipt strong consciousness of both recollection and class issues as smashing result of his struggles force the South, quickly fell dust step with Fard's ideology.

Poole soon became an ardent admirer of Fard and joined cap movement, as did his old woman and several brothers. Soon later on, Poole was given a Mohammedan surname, first "Karriem", and following, at Fard's behest, "Muhammad". Closure assumed leadership of the Nation's Temple No. 2 in Chicago.^[9] His younger brother Kalot Muhammad became the leader of say publicly movement's self-defense arm, the Consequence of Islam.

Fard turned make ineffective leadership of the growing Motown group to Elijah Muhammad, come first the Allah Temple of Mohammadanism changed its name to character Nation of Islam.^[10] Elijah Muhammad and Wallace Fard continued extinguish communicate until 1934, when Rebel Fard disappeared. Elijah Muhammad succeeded him in Detroit and was named "Minister of Islam".

Later the disappearance, Elijah Muhammad sit in judgment followers that Allah had make as Wallace Fard, in character flesh, to share his impression that are a salvation get to his followers.^[11][12][13]

In 1934, the Territory of Islam published its have control over newspaper, Final Call to Islam, to educate and build members belonging.

Children of its members shifty classes at the newly coined Muhammad University of Islam, nevertheless this soon led to challenges by boards of education transparent Detroit and Chicago, which deemed the children truants from say publicly public school system. The query led to the jailing be required of several University of Islam table members and Elijah Muhammad explain 1934 and to violent confrontations with police.

Elijah was have the result that on probation, but the further education college remained open.^{[citation needed]}

Leadership of position Nation of Islam

Elijah Muhammad took control of Temple No. 1, but only after battles have under surveillance other potential leaders, including culminate brother.

In 1935, as these battles became increasingly fierce, Prophet left Detroit and settled family in Chicago. Still cope with death threats, Elijah left monarch family there and traveled come to get Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he supported Temple No. 3, and sooner or later to Washington, D.C., where explicit founded Temple No. 4. Significant spent much of his interval reading 104 books suggested disrespect Wallace Fard at the Ruminate on of Congress.^[6][14][15]

On May 8, 1942, Elijah Muhammad was arrested provision failure to register for rank draft during World War II.

After he was released rear bail, Muhammad fled Washington, D.C., on the advice of king attorney, who feared a hawser, and returned to Chicago aft a seven-year absence.^{[citation needed]} Muhammad was arrested there, charged gangster eight counts of sedition convoy instructing his followers to whine register for the draft account serve in the armed revive.

Acquitted of sedition, but crank guilty of draft evasion, Prophet Muhammad served four years preparation prison, from 1942 to 1946, at the Federal Correctional Forming in Milan, Michigan. During go wool-gathering time, his wife, Clara, title trusted aides ran the organization; Muhammad transmitted his messages bid directives to followers in letters.^[6][15][16]

Following his return to Chicago, Prophet Muhammad was firmly in recriminate of the Nation of Mohammadanism.

While Muhammad was in dungeon, the growth of the Quantity of Islam had stagnated, engross fewer than 400 members extant by the time of cap release in 1946. However, knock together the conversion of his one inmates as well as original efforts outside prison, he was able to redouble his efforts and continue growing the Nation.^[17]

Muhammad preached his own version tactic Islam to his followers comprise the Nation.

According to him, blacks were known as probity "original" human beings, with "evil" whites being an offshoot ancestry that would go on relax oppress black people for 6,000 years. The origins of significance white race would come elect be known as Yacub's Earth within Elijah Muhammad's teachings. Think it over The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X talks about during the time that he first encounters this sense, though he would later relax to regret that he astute believed in it.^[18]

He preached guarantee the Nation of Islam's aspiration was to return the taken hegemony of the inferior whites back to blacks across America.^[5] Much of Elijah Muhammad's opinion appealed to young, economically burdened, African-American males from Christian backgrounds.

Traditionally, black males would beg for go to church because goodness church did not address their needs. Elijah Muhammad's program tutor economic development played a most important part in the growth hem in the Nation of Islam. Be active purchased land and businesses go along with provide housing and employment extend young black males.

By description 1970s, the Nation of Mohammadanism owned bakeries, barber shops, camel shops, grocery stores, laundromats, night-clubs, a printing plant, retail stocks, numerous real estate holdings, current a fleet of tractor trailers, plus farmland in Michigan, Muskogean, and Georgia. In 1972 rendering Nation of Islam took capital interest in a bank, grandeur Guaranty Bank and Trust Fascia.

Nation of Islam-owned schools swollen until, by 1974, the pile had established schools in 47 cities throughout the United States.^[19] In 1972, Muhammad told set attendants that the Nation of Muhammadanism had a net worth cherished $75 million.^[20]

Dietary advice

Muhammad authored spick two volume How to Rough up to Live which promoted pseudoscientific views about diet and nutrition.^[21] Muhammad argued that only individual meal should be eaten capital day at the most skull if black people eat solitary one meal every three times they will never get sick to one's stomach and may possibly live senseless 1000 years.^[21] He argued think it over eating pork will bring stress depraved behaviour and culture confront White westerners.^[21] According to Muhammad, beef, lamb, and camel were permissible but should be rejected if possible.^[22] He stated stray "Allah forbids us to clear the flesh of swine familiarize of fish weighing 50 pounds or more".^[22]

In regard to meat, only baby pigeons were local to as clean and if beaten should be taken straight suffer the loss of the nest.^[21] According to Muhammad, peas and sweet potatoes downright forbidden by Allah and repeat foods white in colour roll automatically bad for health.^[21] Muhammad argued that white people were attempting to destroy black supporters by weakening their health spare inappropriate processed foods such though biscuits and white bread.

Muhammad considered most fruits and stage safe to eat "except kail greens and turnip salad". Behave regard to beans, only naval forces beans could be eaten. Lima beans were considered a mephitis which Muhammad believed made smoky men's stomachs explode.^[21] Rice shaft spinach were allowed in change. There were no restrictions analyse garlic, onions or whole corn bread.^[22]

Muhammad stated that he erred his dietary advice from "God in Person Master Fard Muhammad".^[23]

Written works

• Muslim Daily Prayers (1957)
• The Peerless Wisdom, Vol.

  I & II (1957)

• Message to the Blackman unfailingly America (1965)
• How to Eat apropos Live, Vol. I (1967)
• How turn over to Eat to Live, Vol. II (1972)
• The Fall of America (1973)
• Our Saviour Has Arrived (1974)
• The Tire of Islam (1974)

Death

On January 30, 1975, Muhammad entered Mercy Sanctuary in Chicago, Illinois, suffering disseminate a combination of heart complaint, diabetes, bronchitis, and asthma.

Dirt died there of congestive item failure nearly one month afterward at age 77 on Feb 25, the day before Saviours' Day. He was survived antisocial many children, including his shine unsteadily daughters and six sons by virtue of his wife, most notably vanguard leader Warith Deen Muhammad.^[24]

He was buried alongside Clara at Supreme Glenwood Memory Gardens South redraft Glenwood, Illinois.

Legacy

During his lifetime as leader of the Spectacle of Islam, Muhammad had advanced the Nation of Islam chomp through a small movement in Port to an empire consisting own up banks, schools, restaurants, and preparation across 46 cities in Land. The Nation also owned cheapen yourself 15,000 acres of farmland, their own truck- and air- produce systems, as well as clean publishing company that printed excellence country's largest black newspaper.^[24] Orangutan a leader, Muhammad served likewise a mentor to many abnormal members, including Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Louis Farrakhan and jurisdiction son Warith Deen Mohammed.

Magnanimity Nation of Islam is held to have between 20,000 nearby 50,000 members,^[25] and 130 mosques offering numerous social programs.^[26]

Upon her majesty death, his son Warith Deen Mohammed succeeded him. Warith disbanded the Nation of Islam improve 1976 and founded an accepted mainstream Islamic organization, that came to be known as influence American Society of Muslims.

Authority organization would dissolve, change first name and reorganize many times.

In 1977, Louis Farrakhan resigned unfamiliar Warith Deen's reformed organization existing reinstituted the original Nation marketplace Islam upon the foundation mighty by Wallace Fard Muhammad near Elijah Muhammad. Farrakhan regained numerous of the Nation of Islam's original properties including the Civil Headquarters Mosque #2 (Mosque Maryam) and Muhammad University of Mohammedanism in Chicago.

Controversies

Rift with Ernest 2X McGee

Ernest 2X McGee was the first national secretary fanatic the NOI and had antiquated ousted in the late 1950s.^[27] McGee went on to conformation a Sunni Muslim sect added changed his name to Hamaas Abdul Khaalis. Khaalis attracted Lew Alcindor, whom Khaalis renamed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Jabbar donated a igloo for use as the Hanafi Madh-Hab Center. Khaalis sent calligraphy that were critical of Muhammad and Fard to Muhammad, consummate ministers, and the media.^[27]

The copy stated blacks had been mend off "from a psychological speck of view" before Fard came along because it weaned them from Christianity to a unjustified form of Islam.

Both, move his opinion, were bad.^[27] Sovereignty letters also revealed what subside knew of Fard, alleging subside was John Walker of Metropolis who had come to U.s. at 27 from Greece, difficult served prison time for pilfering, and raping a 17-year-old youngster, and had died in City, Illinois, at 78.^[27]

After the calligraphy were sent, seven of Khaalis' family members were murdered enraged the Hanafi Madh-Hab Center.

men from NOI Mosque Negation. 12 were accused of integrity crime.^[28]

Rift with Malcolm X

On December 1, 1963, when asked for adroit comment about the assassination model President John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X said that it was a case of "chickens prophesy home to roost".

He additional that "chickens coming home term paper roost never did make deem sad; they've always made apartment glad."^[29]The New York Times wrote, "in further criticism of Catholic. Kennedy, the Muslim leader unasked for the murders of Patrice Lumumba, Congo leader, of Medgar Evers, civil rights leader, and hold the Negro girls bombed before this year in a City, Alabama, church.

These, he articulate, were instances of other 'chickens coming home to roost'."^[29] Prestige remarks prompted a widespread market outcry. The Nation of Mohammedanism, which had sent a notice of condolence to the Aerodrome family and ordered its ministers not to comment on excellence assassination, publicly censured their earlier shining star.^[30] Malcolm X retained culminate post and rank as revivalist, but was prohibited from get around speaking for 90 days.^[31]

Rape incline underage girls

Rumors were circulating depart Elijah was conducting extramarital tale with young Nation secretaries‍—‌which would constitute a serious violation fall for Nation teachings.

After first notwithstanding the rumors, Malcolm X came commerce believe them after he strut with Muhammad's son Wallace ground with the girls making greatness accusations. Muhammad confirmed the rumors in 1963, attempting to substantiate his behavior by referring match precedents set by Biblical prophets.^[32][33] Over a series of folk TV interviews between 1964 cope with 1965, Malcolm X provided testimony indicate his investigation, corroboration, and verification by Elijah Muhammed himself prop up multiple counts of child hang.

During this investigation, Malcolm Confirmation learned that seven of nobleness eight girls had become expectant by Elijah Muhammed, and candid shared the information.^[34] Malcolm Damper also spoke of an exertion made to assassinate him, unhelpful means of an explosive machine discovered in his car, tolerate of death threats he was receiving, which he believed were in response to his uncovering of Elijah Muhammad.^[35]

Final schism celebrated murder of Malcolm X

The extracurricular affairs, the suspension, and strike factors caused a rift in the middle of the two men, with Malcolm X leaving the Nation of Muslimism in March 1964 to suggest his own religious organization, Mohammedan Mosque Inc.^[36] After dealing pick death threats and attempts make stronger his life for a year,^[37] Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965.^[38] Many people suspected think it over the Nation of Islam was responsible for the killing waning Malcolm X.

Five days aft Malcolm X was murdered, bring off a public speech at say publicly Nation of Islam's annual Saviours' Day on February 26, Prophet justified the assassination by quoting that "Malcolm got just what he preached", but at position same time denied any curiosity with the murder by declarative in the same speech: "We didn't want to kill Malcolm and didn't try to thoughtful him.

We know such unsighted, foolish teaching would bring him to his own end."^[39][40]

Cooperation tackle white supremacists

Elijah's pro-separation views were compatible with those of unkind white supremacist organizations in interpretation 1960s.^[41] He met with stupendous of the Ku Klux Fto (KKK) in 1961 to profession toward the purchase of land in the Deep South.^[42] Read more than ten years Prophet received major financial support plant white supremacist Texas oil lord H.

L. Hunt due abut Elijah's belief in racial split-up from whites. The money helped Elijah to acquire opulent enclosure for himself and his lineage and establish overseas bank accounts.^[43]

He eventually established Temple Farms, nowadays Muhammad Farms, on a 5,000-acre (20 km²) tract in Terrell Province, Georgia.^[44]George Lincoln Rockwell, founder obey the American Nazi Party, at one time called Elijah "the Hitler wear out the black man."^[45] At excellence 1962 Saviours' Day celebration boast Chicago, Rockwell addressed Nation cosy up Islam members.

Many in authority audience booed and heckled him and his men, for which Elijah rebuked them in rectitude April 1962 issue of Muhammad Speaks.^[46]

Personal life

Elijah married Clara Muhammad in Georgia in 1917, professor he had eight children observe her. He also fathered elbow least nine children from extra-marital relationships.^[47] In total, it silt estimated that he had 23 children, of whom 21 stature documented.^[48][49]

After Elijah's death, nineteen confront his children filed lawsuits encroach upon the Nation of Islam's peer, the World Community of Muslimism, seeking status as heirs.

In step the court ruled against them.^[50][51][52]

Children via his wife, Clara Muhammad: Two daughters and six kids including notable:

Children via mistresses:

• Lucille Rosary Karriem Muhammad: three daughters
• June Muhammad: one son and assault daughter
• Evelyn Williams: one daughter
• Ola (Hughes) Muhammad: one son
• Tynnetta Muhammad: two sons and a daughter, plus notable:
• Lovetta Muhammad: one daughter
• Bernique Cushmeer: one son

Honors

In 2002, pedagogue Molefi Kete Asante listed Prophet Muhammad on his list be fitting of 100 Greatest African Americans.^[53]

Portrayals package screen

Elijah Muhammad was portrayed uninviting Al Freeman Jr.

in Stake Lee's 1992 motion pictureMalcolm X. Albert Hall, who played position composite character "Baines" in Malcolm X, later played Muhammad providential Michael Mann's 2001 film Ali.^[54] He was also portrayed encourage Clifton Davis in the followers Godfather of Harlem.

He was most recently portrayed by Daffo Cephas Jones in the Photoplay Biography by National Geographic "Genius: MLK/X".

See also

Notes

Further reading

External links