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While the Party does express sympathy for the N01 on the grounds
that the capitalist system in this country is responsible for the conditions in
which a protest movement such as the N01 can arise, the Party insists, of course
that only under communism will the Negro have full freedom. As a result, the
Party is circumspect and has rejected a policy of active cooperation with the N01.
In contrast to the CPUSA position is that expressed by one militant
Marxist group, the Progressive Labor Movement PLM!,'which follows a
pro- Chinese communist line in this country. A leading figure in this movement,
who was formerly in the CPUSA, stated after the Harlem riots of July, 1964,
that the PLM was willing to work with any group in Harlem--Black Nationalist
or Muslim included.
Several articles with a pro-Chinese communist slant appeared in
"Muhammad Speaks" in 1964. These articles were undoubtedly published
because the N01 considers the Chinese people to be "brothers, " inasmuch
as they also are non-Caucasian. One of the articles, prepared by Robert
Williams, a Negro extremist who ed to Cuba to avoid prosecution for kid-
napping and who, in his speeches and writings, advocates violence in civil
rights efforts in the United States, described his visit to Red China, He
stated that the "American of African descent, whether he understands enough
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D. iimerican gliegroesl Reaction, to NO}
A well-known Negro author has written: "It is an interesting historical
there is so oltenphenomenon that when a people reach the precipice d despair,
waiting in the bushes a savior--a messiah who promises to smtch them heck
trom the edge oi the abyss and turn their grief into greatness."
To some dissatisiied Negroes, Elijah Muhammad, the sel!-proclaimed
"Iessenger oi Allah, " appears to be this messiah. Describing in a speech in
>92llos Angeles last summer the calamities which have beiallen people in the
"United States, Elijah asked, "Who can he saved?" His answer was "the lluslim
V believers who faithfully followed and obeyed His Messenger. . . .The wisest and
surest way to success is to unite behind me. I assure you that, with the help of
Allah, you will accomplish your goals: money, good homes, and friendships in
allwalksotliie." b_ .
4 Negroes living in slum conditions, hopeless and frustrated, teel
may an answer _to their many problems. These are the Negroes, the
less-educated and least-privileged, to whom Elijah directs his appeals. I_'or
these Negroes, the Muslim movement provides a meam by which they can bothI-_*-;_Qn£-in-1::=_A;_.;,_-_.¢e _ - ,_ V . . i , .' _¬ I-n - '~ ' ?."",'l"?" ."§' ""'-""'§" '~_. .. . 1 -0 K e - §1i_wqf.Zw-x5§.q¢ ii-H.
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distant white world, as they stand surrounded by other friendly black._,> And the NO! movement's insistence that Negroes are the original people who 5 i¢ ..
"must stay among themselves" gives its followers a sense oi security 1 -
even tranquility. _
However, with the exception oi a few educators and businessmen who
joined the N01 for purely selfish, ecopomic reasons, the bulk oi the Negro
population shows little interest in the religious aspects oi theN0l.
Negro leaders on many occasions have soundly denounced the N01 with its If '_
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-.- V:92 *~>.¢.92.' distorted version of Islam, which continually attacks all established
the Negro normally looks to for leadership. As a noted Negro pastor in .
Harlem warned, the teaching of the Black 1luslim8v"is going in 1 way emu-uy -
to what we know is best. It solves no problems, but only begets greater i
antagonism. " p3 WhilethemajorityoiNegroesinthe United8tatesdonotrushb d
join the N01, many seem to respect it. Among those who do not join,
participate in any criticism oi it. The lluslim advocacy of black supremacy
arouses the sympathy oi many Negroes. They silently applaud the holhess p i s
of Elijah and his ministers, who openly condemn white people. This taps
?;.-- L; .~»Jl:- 5 a - . . _ . - _. ._'1-_ . "' J. .'__'.iiislinil',_'repeated appeals tor clean living, sell-respect, and selfsentimsms of racial pride which seldom find avenues of expression.
;..r,.,. if ~- . .- . ,! '- 9 ~'-st Jr l I rloi the white community apparently have gained conside
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1.-. _ , >- |; 1 J. 4"!- -respect among American Negroes. They approve oi the way the lluslims live. g ;"l.' 44:: >
Lacking knowledge oi the complete teachings at the cult, some Negroes see the
economic advantages only. Attracted by constant publicity about the claimed
rehabilitation oi criminals, and seeing the many photographs oi well-dressed
ministers and members of the elite guard, Fruit of Islam F01!, they are
impressed with the apparent success the N01 has had in bettering conditions -
cl these members. They feel that anything that could help the Negro must be I
pod.
Those Negroes who read the N01 newspaper, "Buhammad Speaks,"
see in every issue a list of ten demands--"What the Muslims Want. " The rst V
three oi these demands--full and complete ireedom, equal justice under the law,
equality of opportunity--are iundamental principles which make up the American
creed and are desired by all segments of our society. But other stated demands
d the Muslims include land ior a nation oi their own, exemption from all
taxation, freedom from prisons ior all Negroes, and so forth. nose are
impracticable, but many uneducated Negroes cannot help being receptive to
some oi these demands. ' ' '
, Also impressed by publicity on the N01 are Negro criminals serving
in federaband State prisons. They are a very receptive group, who see
92 - .1
._,_llaslim within the prisons as an outlet for protest against their _
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t . .With the attitude of what-have-I-to-lose, they hope that some benets
might come to them by joining the N01.
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For a multitude of reasons, there are American Negroes Ib - '
sympathize with the Black Muslims or actually become loyal followers d i
Elijah Muhammad and his N01 leadership For those who join, "the
l£essenger's" word is law, and all who wish to remain in the cult must follow"
llijah's mm discipline as imposed by his loyal ministers» an um
discipline has not been able to prevent trouble in the cult. ._
Ilijah's former leading spokesman, Minister Malcolm X, Illjalfs '
sons Wallace and Akbar, and his grandson liassan Sharrietf broke from the
cult. _I-rom these former leaders, we heard Elijah called "a religious taker"
and "a fraud" who pi omoted "concocted religious teachings. " Another HG ~
minister who left the cult in disgust described the N01 as "organized like an
army"- -the members just "following along" trying to obey the strict discipline
demanded by the higher-ups who are carrying on "one of the biggest rackets J
" lntheland." =
Who are these higher-ups of the N01? What type of man leads this
, strange organization?
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IV. LEADERSHIPj___.-----"4C4
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L National OfficialsAbsolute ruler over the N01 is the "llessenger of Allah, " tliish
Muhammad, the 67-year-old former Elijah Poole from Sandersville,
Georgia. He formulates and approves all N01 policy and decisions, has
s considerable »the entire iunds oi the cult at his disposal, and possesse' .1
Valuable properties throughout the country.
This small, frail, seemingly meek and humble man, who has
I andonly a fourth-grade education, is a master at creating mood, myth,
mystery. Elijah possesses that "something" mentioned in an essay on
leaders attributed to General Charles de Gaulle, for "Allah's Messenger"
N.seems to understand that "there can be no prestige without mystery,
tint, "in the designs, the demeanor and the mental operations of a leader,
there must always be a something which others cannot altogether iathom,
~ Never appearing before the public without his black pillbox hatwhich puzzles them, stirs them and rivets their attention.
generously encrusted with jewelled stars and crescent, Elijah seems
is have a touch of the patient Oriental in ms lace. ne is not a dynamic
speaker, public lectures, his rather rasping voice drones on in
seems to know when to shake hisaudience imo _ "_~. .:- ~w.-- -t §'-f"s, 'f»'~V ~ L~ ,f.92,;v »*.92._,. 34-; --*"
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excitement Buddenly he will electrify them with a tirade against the "Qhlhs
devils, " the Government, or nonbelieving "so-called Negroes. " y '
From every speaker's rostrum on which he appears belore the public,
Elijah practices brinkmanship tactics to the frenzied delight d his audience,
some of whom frequently answer his veiled accusations with, "That's right"
or "Praise Allah." They "get the message" even as he carefully relrains
from specific language which could cause him to be arrested for "incitemeln"
or "advocacy. " _
Financially and materially, Elijah has done well for himself as the
"Messenger of Allah, " with his wife,C1ara,and at times some of his eiit
children, Elijah resided for many years in a 19-room, elaborately furnished
home in Chicago. Besides this $75, 000 residence, he owns also other propertie
in Chicago and elsewhere. In Chicago, an apartment building and a group of
other buildings owned by Elijah are valued at more than $200,lI. ' ~
In 1961, claiming his continued asthmatic attacks it
for him to leave Chicago, llijah purchased a $24,000 swimming-pool-equipped
residence in Phoenix, Arizona. He had this house completely remodeled
and moved there in October, while his wife continued to maintain the home in_', Chicago. Wanting more pretentious surroundings in Phoenix,2: s
:~;:12- room residence built on adjoining property, imo which he I
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-e-'January, 1964. This home and its furnishings are valued at approximately':,- isG
9100, 000. ls retains the other Phoenix home as his office. _ 1,
' Though the headquarters of the N01 remain in Chicago, Ilijah spent-
most of his time in Phoenix, where he is served by a chauffeur, cook, all!
A several female secretaries. lnvolvements between Elijah and several of his
young, unmarried secretaries have resulted in considerable embarrassing
pblicitytothisleaderofacnltthatclaimstohave raisedthe moralsolits
members through its strong condemnation of adultery, fornication, lying,
stealing, smoking, et cetera.
In July, 1984, in hos Angeles, two of these former secretaries filed
paternity suits naming Elijah as the father of their children. One of them y
claimed Elijah had fathered her three children and the other claimed one child
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heen similarly involved with Elijah and have borne his children. The situation
has become so notorious that members of some of llijah's temples jokingly. refer one of the occupational hazards of serving as a secretary to-,-Q4 wife,Ciara, his daughters, and his sons have been A ° ' ' $91. '7'" . Q iii r llijslrs misconduct for several years but because of their compl A '5
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by llijah. In Chicago, in July, 1962, two other former secretaries caused a "-;'x...~-.@. I
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' publicized incident, when each of them left her baby on the front lawn 0! V 9 '
mum: residence. Bach claimed um sum had fathered her child and demanded "
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economic dependence upon him have had no choice but to ignore his Adi 1;.-
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They have been completely engaged in and supported by N01 activities . 1, _ ii
throughout their lives. Most oi them have held some leadership position in '
the cult hierarchy and because of this have fared well economically--llijah
has been generous in supplying all their wants.
Until the defections of E1ijah's sons Wallace and Akbar, his
grandson Hassan Sharrietf, the N01 hierarchy had predominantly included -
most members of E1ijah's immediate family. Still holding leadership positicms
are his sons Herbert and Elijah, Jr , and his son-in-law Raymond Sharriefi.
Herbert, 36 years old, married, and having at _least six children, '
has for years been considered head of public relations for the N01 and, as t.
"Muhammad Speaks" newspaper representative, he has travelled extensively.
Since 1962, he has made tour trips to Africa, one trip to Cuba and Mexico,
and one trip to Jamaica. On each trip, he has attempted to impmve the image
of his father's cult and gain support of persons abroad for the N01. Herbert,
like his father, has had an affair with an unmarried young woman who hum
him a child and with whom he is constantly having trouble concerning support
oi this child.
3:1 steers old, marrieti. with nan r~"="i~~¢»" r "
of the F01 and
bakery and grocery in Chicago for years. Elijah, Jr. , tailed to .- ' " . _'--".1 : 4--' .,.=:=-._' =~: '»_< m;.,.1";-":<. it '. " @__@_@.@_-I _ _ i. I "__- . . ~ r 4 " ".. .': .1. -wig-"92-| § '|_--Lea. .
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i under the Selective Service Act, was arrested by the FBI, and later regiltsiidw,3 _ &_ "-11;. ;_ as a conscientious objector however, his local draft hoard advised he was not v , .' '-' 't';~,'-
acceptable ior military service as he was a "marginal literate. " There are , ; V
reports that he heads a young "strong-arm group"olthe PG inthe Chicago
Temple, which has on several occasions assaulted and beaten N01 members
who were being disciplined.llijalfs daughter Ethel Sharrieti, 41 years old, mu-ma to Raymond I
mrrieil, had three children by her first husband and two by Raymond. lie is 4
diabetic and highly emotional. For several years, she had acted as supreme ,
captain of the Muslim Girls Training HGT!; but, according to her son Hassan,
she was temporarily suspended by Elijah because she broke cult rules by
continuing to contact Hassan after his defection.
Ilijah's other daughter, Lottie Pagan, 88 years old, and his other D
two sons, Emanuel, 44 years old, and Nathaniel, 40 years old, are still
considered Muslims though they are not at present in leadership positions.
' ' Raymond Stiarrie, 4&6 yeanfs old, to ,;.
ehughter Ethel, is the supreme captain. d the FOL Raymond has been a Muslim '
r many years, mm he served about a 1!'i-'ed.er:>J.
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The only nonfamily member among Elijah's national leaders is
John Simmons, known in the NOI as John Ali. He has been national secretary
of the N0! since May, 1960, and his duties consist mainly of fund gathering and
handling the NOI's financial dealings. Be is 87 years old and is divorced. He
has served in the United States Army, was employed as a part-time teacher,
worked as an accountant, and has been an N01 member since 1954. llijah's
son and grandson, when they left the cult, advised that John Ali is an
opportunist who is in the cult only for the financial opportunities and status
he can maintain through cooperation with Elijah. Both claimed that he ll
completely untrustworthy, has misappropriated cult funds, and is "loose
morally. " -
B. Dis sidents
Though troubles have erupted among members of the cult on many
occasions in the past, none had publicly involved the solidarity of the national
hierarchy. Many people have wondered what caused the rash of detections
and expulsions of former lesaiers of the cult during the past year. E would
be difficult to state for certain, because it must be remembered that the
dissident former members and leaders wish later loudly conaiemed Elijiah
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among his hop supg;a3i'ie;;"s shad zwecruitsrs. y ,
V _¥ But Elijah does have trouble in his "royal family. " The first L;
outward signs of a growing dissidence were revealed after Malcolm X
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assassination as an instance of "the chickens coming home to roost. " He had' 5|?
toldacheeringliblauclienceinNewYorhCitythatthisdidnotmakehimsad,_
it made him glad. Elijah feared the publicity resulting from lla.lco1ms virulent
statements would present to a sorrowing Nation an image of his cult which
might lead to trouble for him. A few days later, therefore, he announced that,
because of Malcolm's statements, he would not be permitted to make further
piblic speeches. For a month, many furtive conferences were held between
llalcolm and members of Elijahs hierarchy. Differences became more pro-
nounced, and in early January, 1964, Elijah removed Malcolm as minister of
Temple No. 7, in New York City. Malcolm, onhllarch 8, 1964, publicly
announced his complete break with Elijah and the NOL
On many previous occasions, Malcolm had gloated over disasters to
white people without incurring censure from Elijah for his remarks. For
example, on the occasion of the crash of an airliner in France killim 120
Georgia tourists, Malcolm spoke of the tragedy as "a beautiful thing that has
happened. " There are indications that Malcolm's remark made following the
?residents assassination was not the real cause but rather the excuse for
¬i<Kf;>§:1 , who zlzny lz.:s,zre been acquiring an NQZ stzmrs: that
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1 . .a statement on December 1, 1963, characterizing President John I. ,
made Elijah jealous and uncomfortable. ft .5
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e Over the years, the public press had devoted more and more "<: ~..ea. ,4 p .
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4. ; coverage to Malcolm because of his violent denouncements of white poqll in
* ' his many public appearances--in speeches throughout the country, iril
radio and television interviews, and in statements made to the press.
More and more importance was attributed to his position in the cult- -many
articles reported that Malcolm overshadowed Elijah and was taking over the
cult from Elijah, who was ill. This caused much concern to Elijah and
members of his family. When Elijah was not able to appear at the annualK§ .
IiMuslim convention in Chicago on February 26, 1963, and his place was lled
by Malcolm, Elijah's family felt Malcolm was too "bossy" and was "grabbing"F
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too much publicity for himself. Resentment and hostility toward Malcolm
rapidly increased among variousmembers of Elijah's family. D
LAbout this time, Elijah: son Wallace, who had for a long time
i been considered "heir apparent" to his iathers position, was released tram
- a Federal prison where he had been serving time for his Selective Service
violation. Though Wallace was on parole and could not engage publicly in r
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§. cult activities, it became obvious that his attitude toward his father and
other cult leaders had changed considerably from his preprison attitude.
ail. aka, ;.@;;;,:.+,.:f";. aecend wife, had bow _-..92 .~ _ :2 ,
educated at the cult's school, the University oi Elam No. 2. lazing
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f a8'Elijah's favorite son, Wallace had acted as a cult minister-at-large and
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like other ministers had strongly supported all of his father's beliefs. ii .. _, _
April, 1960, he was sentenced to three years for failure to report for hospital
work as a conscientious objector. During the next three years, his father made ~
unsuccessful court appeals to keep Wallace out of prison. Elijah claims to
have spent about $20, 000 in these court battles. On November 1, 1961, just
three days before entering prison, Wallace married his second wife.
According to Wallace, even before he entered prison he had experi- .7 ~
snced doubts about some of his father's teachings which he had felt were in
opposition to orthodox Muslim teachings. Then, while serving his prison term,
he had time to reflect on a statement made by the judge who had sentenced him
concerning how he had been "dominated by his father. " Be claimed he also
wondered about his fathers connection with Fard, who his father claimed was
Allah but who, in Fax-d's writings which Wallace had seen, had called himself
the '_'Messenger of Allah. "
Upon leaving prison in January, 1968, Wallace said he attempted to
clarify some of his doubts about his father and his teachings. He talked to
other members of his family concerning his father's behavior but, he said,
because of their complete financial dependence on their father, they did nothing.
N91 and F131 ..
even teaching someclasses at the University of Islam, he apparently stirred
up much <_:o_ntroversy concerning his father's activities, both nationally and gzjf
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I*= rin the Chicago Temple. By January, 1964, word had reached Illilh' e 4:
weneee and Malcolm had talked together and with others eebeei-em; Imam '' . I
relationship with his various secretaries and the misuse oi cultiunb U] 1.
Elijah and his hierarchy. For some time though, Elijah took no action agatllt
his son. 4
» Apparently, llijah's grandson Hassan Sharrie was one of the cult
members who were influenced by the swelling undercurrent in Chicago. assln,
during 1963 and until at least lay, 1964, when he allied himself with Wallace,
had regularly attended N01 meetings, acted as a lieutenant 0! the POI in
Muslim Mosque MM! No. 2, and was manager of the 104130. I clothing store.
In June, 1964, Hassan left no doubt concerning his feelings about
his grandfather and the N01. He went to the Chicago Police on June I3 '
requesting protection for himself and his Uncle Wallace. He advised that, -
at a meeting oi the N01 in Chicagoan June 21, both had been denounced as
"hypocrites" and expelled from the cult for deviating from the teachings 0!
Elijah. Because of this, he felt certain they would be attacked, as Hansen
knew um other members had been disciplined by beatings delivered by the
Chicago Temple's goon squad. »
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both-Wallace and Kassan. Hassan called his grandfather "a fake
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Be also said, "I am not relerring to any single lndividua1's wrongdoings or __
corruption; I am referring to Mr. Muhammad and his whole stall. " Wallace
agreed to the accusations against the Muslim hierarchy, telling the paper,
"Not only are they true, they are mild. "
Another son of Elijah, 25-year-old Akbar, was publicly denounced
as a "hypocrite" in the January 1, 1965, issue of "Muhammad Speaks. " Better
othcated than other members of the tamily, Akbar graduated from a business
school in Chicago in 1958 and,since the Fall of 1961, has been attending a
university in Cairo, Egypt. Akbar's expulsion from the cult followed a visit_
he and his Egyptian second wife and child made to this country during
November, 1964. Elijah had expected Akbar, while here, to denounce publicly
Wallace, Malcolm X, and other "hypocrites. " Instead, Akbar told a New York
newspaper that while he was in Cairo his eyes had been opened. Be said his
father's "brand" of religion was "a homemade one with its own tight rules and
regulations that tend to stiile any criticism 0! its leader." Akbar and his
lamlly shortly returned to Egypt.
Ilijah indeed has had trouble in his "royal family"!
Further confusing the image of Elijah Muhammad and the NO! were
~ Eehma.e""<;, M65. Following_,.<. . : _,1., ., :§.»'_ -..=..,.;_,~ .,1..' .,. 1.-.~.-l» ..- ,4 r.,.» I
Malcolxzds opendbreak with the N01 in March, 1964, he was outspoken in his ' -
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opposition to Elijah. He formed two organizations, the Iuslim UOQO, l
- 153?. 1 A e
Incorporated, and the Organization oi Afro-American Unity, which U
claimed would better serve the Negro nationalists. Some !IOI_membors .
left with Malcolm and became members of these new groups. hiring
several extended periods in 1964, Malcolm travelled in many of the Mrican
countries He returned, amid much publicity, to the United States late in
1964 and impressed many with his new image. He appeared to have sdtenod
his violent statements although he still openly condemned Elijah and his cult.
Early in 1965, Malcolm began a series of rallies in New York City.
On February 21, 1965, just as Malcolm began to speak to a gathering of bout
400 Negroes, a disturbance started and several men ran toward the ital d
the meeting hall firing guns at Malcolm. Be was slain instantly. Arrested,
and identied by at least one witness as Malcolm's assassins were several
Negroes who in the past had attended N01 functions. '
This eventful last week of February, 1965, ended with Illlfl
dissident son Wallace making an appearance at the annual ROI convention I1
Chicago to ask forgiveness for things he had said about his father and the EI-
Though, since his expulsion from the cult in June, 1964, Wallace had headed a
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gociety, surprisingly Wallace was reaccepted into the NOI on the recommenda-
1 :.I§»*non oi his father. ' ~ l
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The first week of llarch brought another surprising development. ,,,
As reported in the Chicago press on March 6, Hassan Sharrieti decided to
"return to the told. " At a meeting with his grandfather, Hasean's plea for
reinstatement was accepted.
What the future holds for Elijah Muhammad and his organization
cannot be predicted. Among the-dissidents, hlalcolm's following apparently
is being taken over by his hall sister, Hrs. Illa Collins; and, while the Uplift
Society is now dormant, those who had followed Wallace cannot be pleased by _
his decisions. The many accusations against Elijah by Malcolm, Wallace, and
Hassan will not quickly be forgotten. Feelings between present and former
IUI members continue to be strained. ~ I -
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V. ORGANIZATIQNAI,-w8TRUC'I,lURE,_ ", .
~
A. National Hea<k.1uarter_s ' , ~ '
_ Since 1984, when Elijah was forced to move trom Detroit, the . 4
national headquarters of the cult have been at Temple No. 2, in Chicago.
Muhammad: Temple No. 2 of the Holy Temples oi Islam or, as it is -
gt sometimes called, Muhammad's Mosque No. 2, is located at 5335 South --
1, Greenwood Avenue, and adjacent to it is thellniversity oi Islam 80. 3, _ - - .-.1
' at 5883 South Greenwood. In the basemertsof these buildings are the office! _ 0'
of the cult s National Secretary John Ali, Supreme Captain at the F0! Baymod _
Sharrie and his assistant, Elijah, Jr. , and their secretaries. lip aecre- A
taries who handle incoming mail, filing, et cetera, are employed at Elijah:
long-time residence at 4847 South Woodlawn. Headquarters tor the cult
newspaper, "Muhammad Speaks," are at 634 East 79th Street.
B. National Egieméaerg,Though the N01 has never published membership figures, estimates
reported by the public news media have ranged from a low of 25,000 to I p
high of 259, 0&0, "¢:*¬i:1 %3:P nzzrnbezr put at '70, 004!. All or! these
iigures are §l ¬3i3f;1j,* ::,§:l,;!_;;_'=l!1§;£aL,»§§-LL. V V >
_ After his detection, Elijalfs grandson Hassan estimated the total-,1. ,-"'0: , ¢=_ meinbership oi the cult as 7,000; and this figure approximates the estimate _
3"; .
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made by the dissident, iormer N01 member from Boston, Aubrey Barnette, ill -
his article that appeared in "The Saturday Evening Post, " on; February 37, 1985.
According to the latest FBI information, these membership estimates are about v _
3, 000 too high.
Concerning the NOI's membership, Bassan said no one in the N01
hierarchy had any positive idea oi the actual number of members. As has been' I
known by the FBI for years, the membership at any given time could only be
estimated, as there is a constant influx of new persons, which is balanced by
an egression of old members New people begin attending meetings on a fairly
regular basis Huey have their names entered in the "Book oi Life, " maintained
in Chicago, and obtain their "X" names. But as new members enter into the g
cult's activities, many others at any given time are in various stages of disillu-
sionment--they fail to attend meetings regularly, [ail to make the required
contributions, do not gccept the temple leaders discipline, and are soon com-
pletely out of all the cult's activities.
Hassan has said that approximately 100 new persons a month join the
Chicago Temple but that "members leave as fast as new ones join" and,therefore,
fair a number 0% years Line 'ts>c:1l i~n-:;=;+;i<1'a.=»;¢s; *:f§:1§C5;~i:§1§C92 has remained almost the
same everal years
Chicago Temple, complained that during the 1961 annual Muslim convention ,
500 person? "signed up" for membership but only iive of them remained in the
temple. t .O
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C. Temples or Mosques':.,>Individual temples, or mosques, are located in various clll
throughout the United States, but all are under the complete tllcllno d
the national headquarters at Chicago. Elijah has designated altogether
88 numbered temples, one of which has been inactive for several years.
The 8'1 active numbered temples are attended by about 4, 800 at the totll
of slightly over 5,000 members of the cult. Only six of these temples live
a membership of over 300 members each These six temples are located
in Chicago; Detroit; New York City; Washington, D. C.; Philadelphia; and
I.-os Angeles Almost half oi the NOI's total membership belong to these
six temples, Six other temples have memberships of between 100 ant! 800,
and all the rest 5 numbered temples! have less than 100 members each-
several having less than 20 members each.
About 750 N01 members attend the meetings of 31 unnumbered
N01 groups in various cities in the country. Many of these groups are led
by visiting ministers irom nearby temples, who frequently are accompanied
by members from their own temples in an attempt to stimulate interest in
these neigliboring cities. Meetings usually are held in small, rented rooms
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0 NUIBERED TEIPLES
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DAYTG, GEO
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saw FRANCISCO, CALIF.
ms ANGELES. CAUF.
swrr LGJIS, I0.
nun, FLA.
KANSAS cm. IO.
sauna aauo, mu.
PHOEN1X,AR1Z.
cam, um.
waau, re. c.
IILIINGTON. m-21,.
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AKRON, euro
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LOUISVILLE, KY.
RBI ORLEANS, LA.
IJNROE, LA.
FLINT, IICH.
IUSKEGON, IICH.
SAGINAI, IICH.
MINNEAPOLXS, UINN.
PATELGON, u. J.
mama, n. 1.
Paovmaucs, R. L
mums!-zauas, s. c.
IEIPHIS, mam.
NASHVILLE, nun.
"rams
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LYNCEBURG, VA. -L -7
IQARTINSVILLE, VA.
NEWPORT HE'S, VA. ;{_?; -, :[email protected] VA.
RQRFOLK BERKLEY,
, VA.
£A'l'l'l-LIBII.
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of these unnumbered groups show that only tour groups have over 50 persons »l ~ 1- Y.-Ia
regularly attending. All of the 27 other groups have less than 85 members each,
with many having less than 10.
llost temples are located in the heart oi the lower economicor
deteriorating Negro neighborhoods. Except for the larger temples, very few
are owned by the N01 and most are rented halls which are frequently on the second
oor over a store or some other commercial establishment. The notable .
exceptions are in Chicago, the national headquarters, and in Washington, D. C. ,
where the only NOI-built temple is located.
l It is interesting to note that half of the total Negro population of the
United States as of the 1960 census! reside in the 11 Southern States which made
up the Confederate States of the Civil War period. Yet, in this area, the N0!
has only six temples and 17 small, unnumbered groups having a membership of
only about 600 out oi the total cult membership of approximately 5, 000. Obviously
the ROI has made no great impression on the Southern Negro.
D. Temple Officers " -
' The highest authority in an individual temple is the minister. He is
appointed by Elijah and
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and exhorts his group oi Elijah's followers to contribute to the many collections ~:. . I17"; 1 .. ?_..<1taken for thesupport oi the local temple and its officers and the national org-anlza-la V;
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In the larger, established temples, the minister devotes his @ 1:21. _ . .1.3»
time to N01 activity and receives his entire support from donations made by
the members of his temple. Usually, his home or rented residence, his unto, a
and all personal necessities for himself and his family are paid for by the
various funds collected at his temple. Those ministers in smaller temples
with iew regular members frequently must obtain some outside employment
to supplement the assistance they receive from the temple. Nearly all
ministers do considerable travelling. They make guest appearances at other _
temples to conduct meetings, or they lead delegations from their temples to _
attend social affairs and rallies at other temples. -
The most articulate and widely known minister, until his expulsion
last year, was Malcolm X Little, oi MM No. '7, in New York City. As chief
spokesman and travelling representative of Elijah Muhammad and the N01 '
ior nearly ten years, he had made numerous public appearances in lectures
and debates before college forums, on radio and television, and through
interviews given to the public press. A tall, well-dresseci, §»8~year~»old
former convict, he freely admitted having been a dope addict, numbers runner,
and eur§;l.e.r before itiecoming "rehabilitated" by Elijah Muhammad. Since his
wait; éiirllaatii win ;.t.<.=..; ix», '~_,;.>.:-.; &4»$ ' 5; 8-PP mu, ~... tn; .;..e..i.~:. 1. >1}. i =-;r@..::<... fits?-1'5.-?.7i§...i.,z..»..L:'
had been instrumental in the recruitment oi many of the present ministers -P; i .f~.-F->_.~_ ' .~_:_. I ~ . ,. , <_92-._- i$..,¢.=' »3.'92 ' .54» -92 -.-._. - .. .~ ,,-a;-i- i
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nine most publicized and active ministers including those from the six ieadinl
temples!, one notes a distinct difference in the type of minister active prior
to Malcolm's rise to prominence and the type which joined the cult after 1953
and rose to power, influenced and assisted by Malcolm.
Four of the nine ministers had been members of the N01 prior to
1958, Three of these became Muslims in the early 1940' s, and each served a
1-e ¢ O __ .Iv --92/prison term for refusal to register for the Army draft Bach had been a
Mislim for years before attaining the status of minister. The fourth of these
ministers was Malcolm's brother Wilfred, who, though a member of the N01
prior to 1953, had not yet risen to a leadership position. He had earlier been
rejected for military service because of low mentality. Only one of these four
ministers, whose average age is 43, completed high school. _
The remaining five of the nine leading ministers joined the N01 after
Malcolm had become a leading official in the cult. All iive had been either
inuenced by Malcolm to join the cuii: or had received his assistance in their
rather rapid rise to leadership positions. All had a high school or college
education, one being a ?h. D. and former college professor. These younger
. , ., . -. , » _. -1 ali.*.J>-?<';5.:»,92 '-.,}.<...:1;;-,f. Q »." _,I ,;i_'_. , » - - _ _ . , I ', ~ .. .' » , -4 »'_"_4'J3-<--Li .r. 1 .,,/ .,, , _. - -
Two of these iive men were former entertainers, one a comic and one the
leader dag of calypso singers, The former college professor had ,_;_,_
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In examining the background, education, and personalities of the j
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.,g_._. 7'.been first a member of the Socialist Workers Party, and then aY. -923f ~
member oi a group of dissidents who broke oti to iormtiz Workers Work! ,Party. Finally, after contacts with Malcolm, he allied himlelf Iill @0111
As might be expected, the many Muslim ministers, with variedhackgrounds, education, and experience, and with very little control over themirom national headquarters. use a variety oi techniques in maintaining theinterest oi their members and in their appeals for new Muslims. it could .be said the ministers style of preaching is a blend oi the revival preacher -
and the ward- heeling politician They deliver their messages sometimes hia calm voice with unctuous earnestness and sometimes with rash and incitingstatements. startling their listeners. Anything goes, as long as it holds the -
interest oi the present followers of Elijah, gains new converts to the colt,
and keeps the donations coming into the temples many iuntb. _Below the minister, the next highest authority in an indivldul
temple is the captain of me F01, the group within the N01 composed 0! the -adult male members. Though answerable to the minister, the is »
responsible ior discipline in the temple and is the leader oi the temple's
I1 the asipteii-in frequently receives financial stipwInd is furnished an automobile irom , , >.'__~ >are usually aggressive domineering men who relish the opportunity to oommand
1"E-' fl £7 "It -the members. They maintain strict military-type discipline over the
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'1-HE [DST ACTIVE N01 IINIBTERS
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Jeremiah X Pugh!
Philadelphia
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Bernard X Cashmere!
San Francisco
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Newark, Jersey City,
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Boston
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Lonnie 3X Cross! . Isaiah Karriem Edwards!4~*=~,.-r Iv
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John Shabazz Merrill!
Loo Angeles .:
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Chicago _
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, an. ta_ ,_._.~.The minister and captain are the important officials in each temple,
but frequently there are conflicts of authority between them. This became of '
sufficient concern to the national hierarchy that during 1962 Elijah ordered that '
Supreme Captain of the F0! Raymond Sharrieff maintain closer control over the F01
captains. Previously. the minister could appoint or remove his captain without
consulting national headquarters. _
Trouble between the temple officers leads to the development of actions
in the temple. Some members support one and some the other leader to obtain '
favored treatment. Those members suffering most usually just drop out of the
temple, but occasionally they form a dissident group and complain to the
national officers. As a result, a national officer usually comes to the temple,
uestions the members, and decides what action is to be taken. Sometimes the
sident members are expelled or, when the official believes the continuance
of the temple is endangered, one or the other offending temple officer is trans-
ferred to another city.
Other, lesser officials in the temples are ag-minted by
minister according to his need for assistance in conducting the activities of the
temple. The female N01 members are headed by one of their number who is
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A ~;"__,v '__ -Imany lieutenants assisting them as are needed, according "to the raise oi the "
membershipm Here again, there is no standardization in number of officers . , l _
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in the various temples. Favoritism displayed by the minister lead! toridiculous situations at times. tiormally, each captain is assisted we _~or three lieutenants, but one temple minister set up his own elite cl 1 -.twelve particular iriends within the temple and made all oi them ueutenllll.Other members derisively called them the "palace guard. " " .Larger temples generally have investigators, instructors, impec-_ ' tors, secretaries, et-cetera, each with his own assistant-I. Home temples' ~ also lave assistant ministers, who are generally ambitious youns men woccasionally allowed to lead portions of the temple meetings, and field pto nearby areas to meet withsmall oi peopll
ministers , who travel
in an attempt to bring in new converts
E. fruit oi Islam F01!_s The Fruit oi mam rm! is the special elite group within meN01, composed oi the male members. Under the le8t1Brsh1P oi &92Pre1_M p - /in imliviclusl temple F01 captsih, each M l L
F Captain Raymond @'L3-1 l"ii=>s system vrith general or6ers ,emp1g'5 1'01 is organised and governed bysimilar to the system in a military organizl°n- Regularly, QBengages in group physicalF531 pe*iI %.ici;;,.;r,i;e;:;; i; 1 , ~ . Vexercises, and receives judo nné; _ , p A , yotraining program is to create healthy minds and bodiesb0dy¢ul1'd5 and escorts it _
iaithiul iollowers at Elijah. Acting asl .~ ' - *-'~'~- '2 v » -~ ~ - -11. re-F- 1 ~q 1» 92 , _ 1 ;._,_L'-1* 92__'_ _ _~:¢_' ;, '__, _._ " ,'- "-.»-~.--_».L_ ~~»:-~ x ;; _' ,6 - ' . _92=§5-"+-'...~ -§- ~j .I
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officials, these vigorous young men impart a crisply efficient tone to the meetings
d the organization. lhey impress nonmembers of the Negro communities with _
the massed and ready power of the Muslim organization and the accomplishments
they have achieved through faith in Elijah's teachings. But the F01 has other
functions .'
Besides the protection of officers and property of the cult, the POI
enforces compliance with the many cult rules imposed on all members. ' 4
Probably most important of these many rules is that every Muslim must sell
the N01 newspaper, "Muhammad Speaks. " The F01 sees to it that the members
T fulfill their obligation to sell the paper. To discipline those members breaking
I» the rules, as well as nonmembers who cause trouble for the cult, goon squads
t have been organized in some of the temples. These small groups of selected
1 men, frequently led by former professional boxers, well-trained in karate and
,7 judo, have been employed to threaten or, on occasions, to brutally assault
other Negroes. Charts have been used to show s~siriez~able spots on the human l
body, and instructors demonstrate the lethal blows that can be used. one
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_ instructor advised members of his group to "obtain salt brine" and soak their
lmnds in it to toughen theta snoazsh t. ..
The F01 is deadly serious. In one temple preparing for a visit fmmige
_, Lg. . v_ 5. _92 ' - oz : .~./- "smut, "qtlggstnn told the F01 to "be more like soldiers" and not to be smnnf¢f_ §¢I
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Young men 16 to 18 years oi age and men over 25 years are generally 'placed in other groups. Most temples also have a junior F01 composedboys up to 16 years of age who are trained tor eventually joining the senior
C1'°921P5-
F. Muslim Girls Training MGT!Similar to the military-type organization oi the FOI the N01!
iemale counterpart called the Muslim Girls Training MGT!, sometimesreferred to by the female members as the General Civiliziion Class. Ledby its captain and es many fffA£'i_l.11L¬5 as are necessary, this group engagesin the many activities Elijah believes necessary tor his iemale tollowers.They have classes in homemaking, hygienics, calisthenics, and other subjects,snack: ?%=:.:T.'-.;w3?.:*;t-tt»<:, *1 ff "-°s They are constantly .- urged to be ", 31 izaagg, jg}-iiee--Eitiingi-is-_esses or white robes, at shoes, and no lipstick and cover their heads witha white shawl-type headdress. They are expected to purchase their ipplftl
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at the cult's Chicago clothing store, at prices usually higher than at other
In all its activities, the HGT is under the same strict discipline from its
superior otiicer as is the POI. And, like the PG, it has a junior HGT cl girls
under the age oi 16.
G.SchoolsTwo schools are presently being operated for N01 children, the
University oi Islam No. 1, in Detroit, and the University oi Islam No. 2, in
Chicago. Actually, neither is a university. The one in Detroit is attended by
about 125 students in grades one through nine, and the one in Chicago has about
500 students and includes high school subjects. Few stay to graduate. The _
University oi Islam No. 2 graduated in February, 1964, only four from high
school and seventeen from the eighth grade.Christine X Johnson, director oi the Chicago school, said in a
recent issue of "Muhammad Speaks" um the purpose of the N01 schools is,
besides teaching the regular academic subjects, educating "the children of
Muslims in the knowledge oi self, through the history of black men from
ancient times to the present." She described how the schools turn their boys
and girls "into self-respecting, imelligent, veil-mannered, disciplined '
citizens. ' While this seems commendable, those inside the movement "meow the .-. - _ éh' - " "xi-.*~'. ;;r,~r4-1;.A ~ _.._ -~ - » ,»__, fr ..real purpose is to indoctrinate the students with Elijah's teaching while
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them ignorant of American history and government and out of coltsct _
with the "white devil" children. 1: is known um nor schools have many f i" ".'»"'
problems of discipline, many students beingsuspended and othersdroppl ' _
out because of pregnancy. A _
The Chicago and Detroit schools have operated since the middle
1980's, but over the years they have not been without their problems with
education and health officials. hiring 1963, the Illinois Legislature
considered a bill concerning control of certain schools, specifically aimed
at control of the Muslim school; but. although it passed the senate, itlailed
to get through the house. ,
Other temples, on occasions, have attempted to start schools
but to date have been unsuccessful. Several temples do operate one-day-a-
week classes ior N01 children, and others have some form of an adult
education program. _
For several years after 1958, there were numerous requests and L
much publicity regarding donations for a proposed large N01 edacational i
center in Chicago. Though Chicago authorities blocked this building - ,
program several years ago, Elijah has recently inaugurated a new program
£02" an educational center in Qjhicago He says this center will he hast. ion"
;;.~-@.;_t~s9 1'_- as.» I;. s'_.;, ~s;§}§3H¢ .Muslims exclusively, but for the whole black nation. " is, therefore,
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appealing to all "co-called American Negroes" to contrihote to the 10! llo. 3 .~ u Q
educational fund. llijah ieels this center would assure the "lo-called llegroll
at his desire to give them "knowledge of cell." -
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~ -A. Sources of Income - _ '
___,_,___.._-1---"The prime source oi funds for national obligations come from the
Muslims charity, " National Secretary John Ali frequently reminds the members
in letters to the N01 temples throughout the coimtry. "Muslim? charity"
' certainly begins 81 home, for mm Ali, soliciting cult funds, demands um a
members "should forget their rent, bills, wives and children, as whenthe
Nation needs money you must give." Charity actually implies need, and '
benevolence and good will to the poor and suiiering. But, if "llus1imcha.ri17"
reaches the poor and needy, Elijah Muhammad must exercise the benevolence,
for he controls all the resources oi the cult and cannot, himself, be said to
be suiiering irom lack oi material things. .
Other revenue to support "the Nation" is raised by members 1
bazaars, rallies, ad dinners arranged by the various temples, through sales
1oi the cult newspaper, and irom the prots of businesses operated by some
of the temples. -
It is significant that every activity of the N01 is keyed to the
raising of money. Those activities which do not produce the desired prot
A are abandoned and new activities are then stressed. 1 ._ -
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Ivory member oi the N01 is required to make regular weekly contrl-w 5;.-,.j_:. e-
ial tunds collected in each temple. Honey collected in g
tor use of the national organization:lbutions to numerous spec
92 tour of these funds is sent directly to Chicago* No. 2 Poor Treasury Fund--The prime charity of the cult, for thepersonal use oi Elijah to support his family.
Central Point Fund--For the expenses of the national organization' and to assist in paying the salaries oi various ministers.
National Security Fund--For the defense ot Muslims involved in _
trouble with the law.
8avior's Day Fund--For a gift which is presented to Elijah at theMuslim convention held about February 26 of each year.Each member is requested to give from $100 to $125 inhonor of the N01 founder, W. D. Fard, whose birth dateElijah claims was February 26. 1877.
of the individual temples.K Other funds are used for the expenses
ugh the needs of the particular temple determine the number of special
L iunds required, the following have been customary in various temples:
R Administration Fund--For salary and expenses of the temple minister.
Rent or Mortgage Fund--For payment of temple rent or mortgage
payments. _
t General Treasury Fund~-For general expenses of the temple.
Echrool Fund~=For og;>e@r:z.ti.<r.n.-oi school or special classes at the temple.
ation or! autos used by temple oificersgj .Transportation Fund- - For oper .' »:
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In addition to these regularly used funds, special . 11 ~"-_ ,..; .
frequently taken for specific incidental purposes. For example, _
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attends an N01 rally put on by a certain temple, the members ,
provide extra funds to cover his expenses. Often, when a temple ollicer
needs a new car or some extra item, the members must make additional
contributions .
~ The contributions demanded from members vary in individual temples
from about $6 to $18. 50 per week. Of course, not all members can meet these
demands and this is a frequent cause for ridicule of or disciplinary action
against the delinquent member. A »
N01 rules, which ministers constantly stress to members, include
fasting on certain occasions, reduction of regular meals to one a day, and
the nonuse of tobacco, liquor, and drugs. Ostensibly, these rules are for
improving members health, but one wonders if there also may be an economic
reason behind these regulations made by Elijah. In their constant requests '
for contributions, ministers remind the members that Muslims who eat
only one meal a day save $730 per year more than Christians who eat three
meals a day; that, by following the rules against smoking and the use of
liqusr, they can save additional hu.n~cireds of dsllars a year;
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it should be no hardship for them to make their weekly duty contributolm l t_-_ _.d._ V. -. t v- i..:? 1' -""*92;'.or their annual 8avior's Day gifts.~ ~. _
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2. Cult Newspagr
While serving as their main propaganda organ, the cult's weekly
newspaper, "Muhammad Speaks, " is another money-making enterprise. F01
eaptains regularly emphasize to members that "the number-one program is
selling the newspaper. " Though the number to be sold varies in individualtemples, each F01 member is required to purchase and resell irom 50 to 300
copies of each issue of the paper. Contests are held by the various temples. -
Teams are made up to cover certain areas of each city and prizes are awarded
to top salesmen. A winning team of two young salesmen oi one temple sold
1 800 copies oi a particular edition. Currently, the paper is running a
nationwide contest in which the winner, who "circulates" the most cult papers
beiore June 30, 1965, is promised a new 1965 automobile.
Sales by the NOI's unpaid "newsboys" plus income from advertising
net the cult approximately $30, 000 from each weekly edition of "Muhammad
8. N01 BusinessesMost oi the larger temples of the cult operate restaurants, grocery
or meat stores, clothing stores, or service-type enterprises; and, in nearly
all other areas where the cult is active, many additional businesses are seemedt ~, w
and operatedby cult members. Because these businessmen derive most of"+~v" '15 Keir income irom sales to other cult members, they buy advertising space:t5i_;_l;§;,§ '>s i
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in the N01 paper. Then, reaping double benefits, the cult demands siaeable- 4.
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contributions from these business owners. e
Elijah constantly preaches that his followers should trade only '_
with other Muslims and stresses the importance he places on Muslims
developing their own business enterprises completely separate from the
white society. _
Despite E1ijah's emphasis on members operating their own
businesses, the cult's many rules restricting its members make the
successful operation of a business very difficult. The member who owns
a business, just as any other member, is required to attend cult meetings
several nights a week and on weekends and is expected to sell his quota
of the cult newspaper. For a cult member whose establishment should
stay open evenings and weekends, these requirements cause him a loss
of income. Additionally, many of the businessman's customers are
cult members who frequently buy on credit. This further. restricts
the businessmans income because, as mentioned earlier, members
are advised to pay their cult dues before paying their bills.
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. A. A f 4'4. Public_Activities- -Bazaars and Rallies -
Other favorite fund- raising activities of the N01 are rallies and 1. ,f
bazaars held by the various temples hiring the year.
Amid much publicity, bazaars are supposed "to focus public attention
on the economic potential of the Negro community by displaying the wares,
prochcts, and services of Negro businessmen. " Some form of musical entertain-
ment is provided, and the Muslim minister and some Negro celebrity usually
appear as speakers. Of course, admission is charged, and refreshments md "
craftwork are sold. Heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay, known in the
mlt as Muhammad Ali, is a great drawing card for the N01 and has appeared at
_ bazaars in New York, Boston, and other cities. A .
Individual temples also hold rallies at which Elijah or some other
member of the national hierarchy usually delivers the main speech. Busloads
d cult members from nearby temples attend these rallies, and visiting
ministers precede the main speaker to "warm up? the crowdwath praise of
Elijah. lollections are taken from those in attendance, and frequently the
host temple arranges a dinner where those in attendance may purchase meals '
' following the rally. i
- The most important public rally of the cult is the anmual convezion A _ e
V '_- .»&_"called the 8avior's Day convention of the Muslims. The 1965 convention W
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92. ';.Chicago Coliseum. As at all Muslim rallies, after passing
searching procedure, the visitor enteriig the hall was met by llmlim
guards holding out buckets for contributions. Ilijah appeared and spoke ' __
on only two afternoons, the 26th and the 28th. Q1 Saturday afternoon, the
27th, a Unity Bazaar was held. This is a regular event of each annual
convention, but for this bazaar there was featured a special boxing
exhibition by Cassius Clay. "Muhammad Speaks" had announced that _
tickets would be on sale at cult business places for "donations" ranging A . -
from $10 for ringside to $1. 50 for third-balcony seats. Clay's schechlsd. g _
second exhibition that day was cancelled for an undisclosed reason.
Frequently, these Muslim bazaars fall short of the claims set forth for _
them in advance press notices. H
~ G1 the last afternoon, the 28th, Elijah spoke before about 8,000 in
the hall which could hold 7, 500. Because of Malcolm's assassination a few
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Ias ~ 92- -4-rdays earlier, violence was expected, and one former Muslim was beaten and
forcibly ejected just before Elijah was to speak. The United Press has
reported that Elijah's rambling speech lasted over three hours and that
"even scme of his devoted followers were leaving the Chicago Coliseum as he
droned his way through the last hour. " Concerning the contents of Eiialfs
. speech, the United Press reported that it "ranged from economics toimbnn
t1igbtg_,f_rom Islam to short skirts on women, and from the threat of lg
27 .3 ~ : J _ '.~'~f. e
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to men on liars. He confided that Allah takes pictures of people on liars.
They re tall and skinny, they're about seven to nine feet tall, not intelligent _ i~~"_ V?-
as we are. '" The 1965 convention was no glowing success. Attendance 1 all *
ninctions was considerably less than at previous conventions.
8- :_v.e_=~1u
Al previously mentioned, all N01 funds and property are under the
complete control of Elijah Muhammad. Although most real estate is owned in
the names of various temples, members of Elijah's family, or the Progressive
Land Developers, incorporated, Elijah, as the "Messenger of Allah" and
absolute ruler of the N01, makes or approves all decisions involving the
financial policies and holdings of the entire cult. ' _
In recent years, Elijah apparently obtained professional aid to protect
his real-,estate holdings. The Progressive Land Developers, Incorporated, was
organized in January, 1963, "to own, operate, manage and maintain, subdivide
and otherwise develop and promote real-estate business. " Officers of this
company are F01 Captain Raymond Sharriefi, MM No. 2 Minister James 31
Anderson, and John Hassan--Raymond Sharrietfs cousin and an old-time member
who has no authority but whose name is frequently utilized in the cult's financial
transactions. The title to many of the recent real-estate acquisitions of themr if
has been held in this corporation's name. ::='=-§?."r=ri*li;i13< ;a..-,,»;,j,*- _ _ LI A _ H ""-=# *r . , .15. - "Sm; " ---Q-- V
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For many years the N01 transacted all of its business in cash; D . -_: ._a. v »
but, since late 1961, the national organization and several of the up -
temples have utilized banking facilities. Claiming to be a neligious bo,
the national organization opened corporate accounts, both checking and
savings, in the name of "Muhammad's Temple No. 2 of the Holy Temples
of Islam. " During the 26 months prior to August, 1964, nearly $1, 750,000
passed through these accounts.
The Chicago Temple also utilizes individual savings accounts e
for each oi the various funds to which members of HM No. 2 donate money ~
for temple expenses. Many other temples also maintain savings accounts in
their home cities for temple funds. .
Elijah and his wife,Clara Mu.ha.mmad,have personal accounts in
banks in Chicago and Phoenix. Rumors have circulated that Elijah and his
wife have also secretly deposited funds in foreign banking institution.
Foreign deposits could have been made by Elijah's wile and some of his
sons who in recent years have made numerous trips outside the country;
however, there are so many ways by which funds could be sent out of the
country secretly that it would be virtually impossible to prove this allegation.
C. g"MuhammadLsA3-Year _E*cor:omicvSavingsg_§glan"__ _ _ _
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1 Many persons over the past few years have credited the Blaclt
iluslims with helping American Negroes to better themselves through*
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various NO! programs. One of these programs which the N01 has proudly
advertised in its newspaper and by signs on public transportation vehicles
is "Muhammad's 3-Year Economic Plan." This so-called self-help savings
plan deserves close examination.
Elijah Muhammad began laying the groundwork for his new savings
bank program in two articles on economics which appeared in the July 3 and
1'7, 1964, issues of "Muhammad Speaks. " In these articles, Elijah renewed
his often - repeated claims that "the white man's time is growing shorter"
and that "Christianity has never been able to produce the right leadership for
our people--and never will. " He again berated the "black man in America"
as "a people who do not want to accept their own responsibility," who are
"begging and praying to the white manlo accept you." Elijah complained that
"it is difficult to plan an economic system for a people who are subject to the
whim of another people. You are limited in your jobs, salaries and income
by the white man. But you can still learn not to be reckless and wasteful
spenders." .
Elijah advised his readers, "You can save hundreds of millions of
dollars--even billions--if you would accept the right economic program and
stop using things which destroy your health, such as tobacco, which doctors
warn us can cause cancer. X-rays are known also to be dangerous and produce
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cancer. . . . Scientists now warn you against gazing into TV sets for any
long length of time, because this can produce cancer in the body."
Elijah warned, "The only salvation for you and me now is in unity
and being under the guidance of Allah through his Messenger and His program
for us all. . . . Our problem is to be solved by a divine solutionof Allah's
Messenger. Follow me and live. Reject me and die as people without
the help of God and friend. "
i
v 0The first public announcement of Elijah s divine solution" appeared
in the August 28, 1964, issue of the cult paper. Large headlines proclaimed,
"Muhammad Calls for--3-Year Savings Plan for Negro. " The article by
Elijah contained the following excerpts: '
"I appeal to all Muslims, and to all the members
of the original Black Nation in America. to sacrifice
at least 5 cents from each day's work to create an
Economic Savings Program to help fight unemploy-
ment, abominable housing, hunger, and nakedness
of the 22 million Black People here in America who
continue to face these problems." g
"Send your 25 cents every week to Muhammad's
Mosque No. 2-Chicago, Illinois. This 25 cents
will be banked until we have a million dollars to
begin building a banking system. "
"Let the entire nation sacrice. . . "
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"As soon as we have enough finance in our bank to
purchase farm lands sufficient to feed the 22 million
black people, we will build storage warehouses to
store our produce for the necessities of life for
our people. " '
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"Please respond and help yourself. Each and everyone
of you will be sent a receipt which will be recorded
in our books for the Muslims ThreeYear Economic
Program for the Black Nation in America. You will
be receipted for every penny you sent to this office,
which you will keep as your record. "
"I await your response. "
The next issue of "Muhammad Speaks" contained another article by
IIElijah in which he claimed great progress with the "3-Year Savings Plan.
Following are excerpts from this September 11, 1964, issue:
"This plan has been accepted by both Muslims and non-
Muslims. . . . Let us continue this most essential work:give all we can and stop buying that which we can do without.
"I am asking that we the whole nation! sacrifice for
the next three years, and when we get enough in ourbank we will put it to work to make more money. . . . "
n 0 1 0 0 1 I
"We would like to raise at least $500, O00, 000 in the
next three years. If all would contribute willingly
and honestly all that they could to this economic plan
. . . .we would soon have billions. . . . "
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"There are millions of your dollars lying in the
white man's banks, doing nothing for anyone. . . . "
"I am appealing to you--each and every one oi the
22 million black people of America--to send everypenny, nickel, dime. dollar, hundreds of dollars,thousands of dollars, and millions of dollars that
you can spare to this Three-Year Economic Pla.n;'MU'HAMMAD'S MOSQUE NO. 2--5333 South Greenwood
Ave. --Chicago, Illinois 60615. "
". . .When our mark of one million dollars is accomplished,we are going to build a national reserve bank for the
black people of America. "
To the casual observer, this program may appear plausible. But using a
little arithmetic, we find that before Elijah Muhammad could accomplish his goal of
$1, 000, 000 to open the national reserve bank, he would need considerable help from
non- Muslim Negroes. For, ll every one of his known active followers faithfully
contributed the 25 cents per week which Elijah has requested, it would take over
15 years, or well into 1980, to collect that amount. ,
Even more unlikely of accomplishment is his proposal to raise
$500, 000, 000 in the next three years. 'I:o reach this goal, well over 12 million
persons would have to contribute 25 cents every week for the next three years.
Could it be that a friend of the NOI applied some arithmetic to Elijalfs
"divine solution" and pointed out its inconsistencies? At any rate, there appeared
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Fin the September 25, 1964, issue of "Muhammad Speaks" a coupon to be clipped,
signed, and mailed to the Chicago headquarters oi the "3-Year Economic Plan. "
In fine print was the pledge: 9
I am going to enclose 50¢ with this coupon, and every
coupon hereafter that is printed in this Newspaper. . . "
Soon issues of the paper contained more than one coupon. The
November 20 issue had five. Perhaps it was felt that it "every coupon" was
forwarded to Chicago,Elijah's proposed bank could be started earlier than 1980.
D. Educational Center
Elijah Muhammad apparently desires to initiate programs frequently
to show his earnestness in aiding the "so-called Negroes" in America. With
his "3-Year Economic Plan" under way, he has renewed an earlier plan for an
N01 educational center to be built in Chicago.
This earlier proposed center was announced in 1958. In the following
two years, Elijah's constant appeal for contributions began with $3, 500, 000
and grew to $20, 000, 000. Though land was purchased in Chicago, it was
condemned later for city use by the Chicago Park District, and the NOI was
compensated for its return. Whatever funds were collected in this two-year
drive never have been publicly accounted for.
Now, Elijah has revived his drive for a new educational center. In
January, 1964, the cult newspaper began the campaign with articles and drawings
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regarding the proposed center. The plans are even more extravagant than the
earlier ones; however, this time Elijah does not set a figure for the amount
he needs before beginning the project. Each issue of the paper requests "all
so-called Negroes" to "send your contributions today to; Muhammad's
Mosque No. 2 Educational Fund. "
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VII. RECRUITMENT AND MEMBERSHIP PROCEDURES
A. Recruitment
The most successful recruiter for the Black Muslims over the past
few years had been Malcolm X. Due to the rising interest in the Negro rights
movement, Malcolm's outspoken attacks on white society, widely publicized
in the press, aroused the curiosity of many American Negroes. These people, ,
therefore, were in a receptive mood when approached by Muslim recruiters
"fishing" for "lost-founds" to "come to Muhammad's temple and hear our
minister tell you of our program for the so-called Negro. "
All temples require their FOI men to "fish" throughout Negro areas
prior to the Sunday, public.NOI meetings. Frequently, this is done in areas
where Negro Christian churches hold their services. FOI men, while hawking '
the cult newspaper, also urge Negroes to visit open temple meetings. But
strict rules forbid these recruiters, or any rank-and-file Muslim, to engage
in discussion of NOI teachings with non-Muslims. Only NOI ministers and
national officers trained to promote Elijah's version of Islam are permitted
to teach the "lost-founds. "
During the Spring of 1964, the F01 captain of one of the leading NOI
temples discussed "fishing" procedures which he said Elijah wanted followed. '
He said Elijah was interested in the "trashy" or indigent-type Negro rather _
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than the "elite" or "snooty" ones. According to this captain, Elijah was
interested in dope addicts, prostitutes, thieves, gamblers, and drunkards.
His technique apparently is to offer to society's black rejects the organiza-
tional apparatus of the N01. Believing these social outcasts will be shunned
by other Negro leaders, Elijah hopes to impress upon them that he is interested
in their rehabilitation. After considerable experience, Elijah knows the
unintelligent Negro is more apt to follow cult teachings .
To date, Elijah has had little success in recruiting educated
Negroes, whom he calls "white folks loving" Negroes. He expressed his
feelings toward them at an N01 rally in Detroit in May, 1964. He said, _
"Col1ege people think their education will save them. Negroes are ignorant
even though they attended college because they do not have a knowledge of
themselves. They will be destroyed because of their ignorance and
stubbornness. "
Cult ministers and other leaders recognize that the constant
turnover in membership requires constant recruiting efforts. One extreme
measure used in Chicago over the past few years has been the cult's effort
to interest various Negro youth street gangs in N01 membership. N01
recruiters, taking advantage of a gang member's penchant for militancy, _
approach a youth and remind him that the N01 basically is fighting for the
same objective as the gang, that is, Negro supremacy; and, whereas the
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gang is small, the N01 is great and would welcome these youths. As additional
enticement, recruiters promise the gang member he will receive judo and _
karate training as a member of the cult. Chicago Welfare authorities, who have
closely followed this recruitment activity, report the Muslims have had no
apparent success. Gang members, when introduced to the religious aspects of
the cult and the discipline demanded of members, after only a few meetings
lose interest in the NOI.
The cult newspaper, "Muhammad Speaks, " and Elijah's exploitation
of famous Negro athletes are other approaches to recruitment which will be
discussed later in this monograph.
B. Membership Procedures,
The "lost-found" Negro who has been "steered" into the temple by
NOI recruiters is met there by a well- dressed, polite FOI guard who takes the
visitor's name. The guard explains to the visitor that before entering the meeting
room be must be searched. Following a frisking, the visitor is seated near the
front of the hall, facing the minister. Much of the minister-s message is
directed to him and his fellow visitors. Guests are always pressed to return
to the next meeting.
After the initial visit by a "lost-found, the follow-up methods of the
various temples may be slightly different. However, all temples continually
urge nonmembers to "unite with your own kind. " Those who express a desire
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to learn more of the N01 are considered "registrants. " They receive a
certain amount of instruction and are furnished a letter which they must
copy in their own handwriting and send to Elijah Muhammad's.Chicago
address. This letter is the sender's application for membership and
H closes with the statement: "1 desire to reclaim my own. Please give
me my original name. My slave name is. . . "
Usually, the registrant must wait several weeks before receiving
an answer from Chicago. II he made no error on his application, he is
notied he has been accepted for membership and his name entered in the
"Book of Life. " '
' It is explained to the registrant that the "so-called Negro, "
during the centuries he was in slavery, lost his original name and was given
his master's surname. When the registrant becomes an N01 member, his
"slave" name is dropped and he is given an X meaning unknown! until his
"true" name is given back to him. When entered in the "Book of Life, "
the first James was James X; the second, James 2X; and so iorth.
Members with a common given name are now being given "X" names in
high numbers, such as James 78X, John 57X, and Charles 87X.
But how he receives his "true" name, if ever, is somewhat oi a
mystery to even the N01 member. Hassan Sharrieff, in his letter of
resignation from the N01, denounced his grandfather Elijah and complained
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;bout lib flagrant injustice with regard to assigning "true, " or original, names
gq his followers. Elijah never did favor certain old iaithfuls with any but an
"1" name, Hassan said and added his observation that these slighted Muslims
were those who achieved no material gain or fame hi Elijah's eyes. Although
Bassan recalled that Elijah had said he could not give out these names, that it
was up to Allah, he noted that Elijalfs favorites, such as his personal secretaries,
National Secretary John Simmons John Ali!, and Cassius Clay Muhammad Ali!,
the heavyweight boxing champion, received their "true" names quite early.
Clay learned oi his while he was listening to a radio broadcast. He commented,
"I am honored. "
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VH1. PUBLICITY
Elijah Muhammad fully understands that wide publicity is extremely
necessary for the continuation of the N01. Though he and his ministers
appear before the public frequently to promote N01 teachings--on radio and
television, at rallies and feasts, and at the annual conventions--Elijah has
long felt the written word could reach "so -called Negroes" who would not
attend public functions. Also, he has not overlooked the fact that this method
of spreading his "message of Truth" brings in considerable revenue.
A. Public ' - ations
Beginning in early 1956, Elijah arranged for a column, under his
by-line, entitled "Mr. Muhammad Speaks" to appear regularly in the weekly
Negro newspaper, the Pittsburgh "Courier. " Immediately, selling papers
became one of the most important of the cult's programs. In temples
throughout the country, N01 members were given quotas for the number
of these papers they were required to buy and resell. By the Summer of
1959, however, E1ijah's attempts to dictate the papers policy caused a
conflict with the publisher, and his column was dropped. The N01 then
surittzheci its hawking activity to another Negro weekly, the L-os Ange-les
"Herald-Dispatch, " which also had been printing Elijah's column and other
N01 news.
13 en92
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By the Fall of 1961, Elijah and some oi his hierarchy decided theyhad "made money for several other papers, now we will make some tor our-
selves. " In October, 1961, they hired the "Chicago Defender" to print the
first issue of their new paper, "Muhammad Speaks. " Soon after, the Muslimsbought themselves a rotary press and issued their own paper once a month until
July, 1962, when they changed it to a bimonthly. Since February 12, 1965,"Muhammad Speaks" has been issued weekly. The paper first sold at 10 cents
and to 20 centsper copy, but the price was raised to 15 cents in January, 1962,
in April, 1963.Over the years, other Negro newspapers have intermittently printedarticles on the cult, as well as columns written by Elijah and other cult members.
But Elijah's dictatorial attitude and demands have caused considerable trouble.
The editors oi the Los Angeles "Herald-Dispatch" became disenchanted withElijah and dropped his column inMay, 1963. Only the "New Crusader," a
struggling Negro weekly published in Chicago, has been fairly consistent in
running Elijah's column. Prior to its N01 association, this small paper,
edited by a former waiter, was published under another name and supported
leftist doctrines. h/iuhammacl Speai-1;:s" :2. gr-.ubl_ished by Muhammad's
Mosque No. 2, at 634 East 79th Street, Chicago. Generally 24 to 28 pages in
length, this paper is superior to the average Negro paper in layout and
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technical quality. Large headlines in unusual combinations of black
and white lettering on a shaded background streak across the pages.
Since mid- 1964, more and more pictures have been printed in color.
On the front page oi every issue, an article by Elijah Muhammad
usually accompanied by his photograph, dramatically sets iorth some
phase of his teachings. Very often, also appearing on the front page
is either a large picture or a drawing which emphasizes racial strife,
police brutality, or some form of violence against the black man. Through
out the paper, nearly everything printed tends to aggravate the soreness
of race relations in the United States and around the world. Always, the
white man is portrayed as the brutal oppressor and the black man as the
innocent victim. 0ne- or two-paragraph news articles and filler-type
inserts printed throughout the paper follow this same line. Some of the
articles are dated, but many are not. The time element is not important.
One recent issue contained six filler inserts, all oi which referred to
Negro slave revolts in the United States <f<~.11"i.ng the 19th century.
To emphasize the pm gress of the black man through following
Elijah's teachings, many articles describe the achievements of members
who operate their own businesses. Each issue of the paper also contains
a section called "What Islam Has Done For Me." Therein, various N01
members relate the circumstances which led them into the cult. In all
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cases, they tell how they were unhappy, destitute, and without hope but how,
after becoming followers of the "Messenger of Allah, " they are happy, their
economic stams has improved, and they have a purpose in life.
Many photographs and pictorial sketches are included throughout each
issue of the paper. A typical issue contained five pictures showing Negroes
being beaten by white police, two cartoons depicting the Negro being threatened
by whites, a large photograph of a sobbing Negro mother whose son had been
slain in a riot, and one of a Negro male victim of a beating by white youths.
interspersed with these pictures of white violence are many news
pictures of Elijah, Negro leaders of emerging African countries, smiling and
happy NOI members, and prominent Negroes--both Muslim and non-Muslim.
The back page of each issue has a photograph of Elijah, and the rest of the page
is devoted to "The Muslim Program." This consists of the list of 10 items
entitled "What the Muslims Want" and a list of 12 items entitled "What the
Muslims Believe. " V
Considerable advertising appears in each issue oi "Muhammad
Speaks." The paper regularly carries classified advertisements placed by -
businesses operated by the various NOI temples and by individual NOI members
In addition to cc>11Z7"" S future a::ive::1**;isi:¢»?i;
are printed. Readers are thus enticed to clip and mail these coupons, indi-
cating thereon that they wish to contribute to the "3-Year Economic Plan, "
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or desire to subscribe to "Muhammad Speaks, " or perhaps want to
purchase books and other products for sale by N01 shopkeepers.
Regular features of the paper are columns by Tynnetta Deanar, _
Harriett Muhammad, and Abdul Basit Naeem. Who are these featured
columnists ?
Tynnetta Deanar, in late 1959, was a young, light-skinned,
unmarried Negro girl who became a secretary to Elijah Muhammad and
soon began writing a column entitled "Women in Islam. " In her column,
Tynnetta forcefully echoes Elijah's teaching that the Negro woman should
completely disassociate herseli from the customs and practices of the
white woman, that the white race is "the real enemy of our people," i
and that the black people must develop strong "racial pride and solidarity."
What Tynnetta advocates, however, is not what Tynnetta practices
Since serving as a secretary to Elijah, she has taken two vacations, once
travelling to Cincinnati in 1960, where she gave birth to a baby girl, and
again to Albuquerque in 1964, where she gave birth to a baby boy. This
young Negro columnist, who so strongly advocates pride of race, listed on
the girl's birth certicate that the baby was white, that she herself was
white, and that the failiexs s.~"-iiite.
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The Messenger ol Allah Presents
The Muslim Program
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Harriett Muhammad's advice-to-the-lovelorn column, "For and
About You," has been a regular feature of the paper since November, 1963.
Harriett was married to Elijah's son Akbar from 1960 to October, 1963. InSeptember, 1961, she accompanied Akbar to Cairo, Egypt, where both attendedschools. Their marriage was unsuccessful, and they returned to the United States
and were divorced in October, 1963. Akbar went back to Egypt and marriedan Egyptian girl. Harriett, with hardly the best qualifications for her new job,
immediately began her advice-to-the-lovelorn column. In June, 1964,columnist Harriett remarried. This time, she became the wife of a 27-year-old
bigamist who had deserted a wife and three small children.
The third regular contributor to the cult paper, Abdul Basit Naeem,for the past eight years has written much in praise of Elijah Muhammad. 6 Naeembegan a new column, "Speaking of Business, " in the January 29, 1965, issue of
"Muhammad Speaks." Its purpose is to report on and furnish advice to Muslim
businesses and to stimulate their use oi the newspaper ior advertising.
Naeem was born in India and entered the United States from Pakistan
in 1953. In the Fall oi 1956, he issued a bimonthly publication, "The Moslem
World and the U. S. A. " Through this little periodical, he said, he desired to
impart information about and to consolida.te various orthodox Muslim
groups in the United States. After including an article about the N63 in one
issue, he was contacted by cult leaders. Being in dire iinancial straits,
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Naeem published additional favorable articles on the N01 in exchange for
considerable monetary assistance and a guaranteed increase in sales 0!
his publication. Orthodox Muslims then stopped buying his publication
and he devoted his attention to Elijah Muhammad and the N01. Since then,
Naeem, pretentiously claiming to be a "leading Pakistan Muslim and
world lecturer, " has written profusely for the cult paper extolling
Elijah Muhammad and the N01.
An editorial in the January 29, 1965, issue of "Muhammad
Speaks" reveals the main theme and purpose of Elijah Muhammad's
whole rmblicity program through the years:
". . .we cannot get our freedom, justice and dignityfrom the American government without Divine help.It has been Diw inely predicted that God alone wouldsend a Messenger and that messenger is among us. "
". . .'lhe slave is never able to tree himself fromthe master without a guide. And that guide is theHonorable Elijah Muhammad, born to do just that. "
But the "so-called Negro needs prodding. Elijah's articles
conclude with the urgent appeal: "HURRY AND JOIN ONTO YOUR OWN KIND
THE THLS #127012-1.1:! IS NOW AT HAND. "
Elijah occasionally has had to change this "time" that he iorebeils, ~
and once again he is warning in the above-mentioned issue of the paper;
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"Speaking of Business"
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"America is falling. Her doom has come and none,said the prophets, shall help her in the day of herdownfall. . . . What is going to happen in 1965 and1966? It certainly will change your minds aboutfollowing a doomed people- -a people who hate youand your kind, and who call one who teaches thetruth about them a hater. They are the producersof hatred of us. We are with God and the righteous. "
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B Eifploitation of Negro Athletes
Noted Negro athletes, with many admirers among members d
all races, are exploited by the NOI to gain publicity for the cult. The N01
has been most successful in this regard with heavyweight boxing champion
Cassius Clay. H
Clay was known prior to his title fight with Sonny Liston on
February 25, 1964, as the "great mouth" and "the impish chatterbox who
dabbled in verse. " Clay's "I-am-the-greatest" antics brought him con-
siderable news coverage. On many occasions, he had been asked by the
press about his reputed Muslim connections. During interviews at that
time, he gave the impression that he was not a Muslim member, although
he admitted his respect tor the religion.
Then, the day after Clay's defeat oi Liston, which greatly
surprised the sports world, Elijah Muhammad announced to the annual
Muslim convention in Chicago that Cassius Clay was a follower of the
Muslims and had accepted him -as the "Messenger of Allah. " Elijah claimed
that the reason Clay had not been defeated was that "Allah and myself said
no. " Clay then told the press that he had been a member of the Muslims
Clay's own father, speaking earlier to the press about his son,
said that the Muslims had been "hammering at him and brainwashing him"
ever since he had won the Olympic light-heavyweight title at Rome in 1960
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Like many other Negro youths in Louisville, Kentucky, Clay had
evidenced some interest in the Muslims, but he had also "marched for integra-
tion. " Clay spent considerable time with cult leaders in Miami while training _
for a fight during the Fall of 1961. During 1962, with his younger brother, he
attended several N01 functions in Miami and elsewhere. But little attention
was paid to him by the N01. In fact, the N01 was backing Liston and in
"Muhammad Speaks,"of February 18, 1963, printed an article captioned "Memo
to Cassius Clay. " The article supported what it called Liston's verbal haymaker,
that Clay was "the youngest, fastest thing coming up- -with his mouth, " and
referred to Liston as "the best thing that has happened to boxing since Joe Louis
blazed across the fistic horizon. "
Three straight victories in the ring by Clay during the first half of
1963, and Clay was gaining considerable attention in the press. Suddenly he
became important to the Muslims. Malcolm X developed a close friendship
with Clay. During the rest of that year, Cassius and his brother were introduced
as "visitors" at several N01 temples; and the press throughout the country
described Cassius appearances at various public N01 functions. The interest
of the press really became aroused in January, 1964, when Clay disappeared
from Miami, wlie1*ei1e had l;l?5;i§i.§.12j{ "fer iiiile fight, and :1; st
spoke before a New York N01 rally. These were the events that took place
before Clay became champion and that led to his open affiliation with the N01.
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With this new champion in his corner, Elijah decided it was
time to honor Clay with a new name. On March 6, 1964, Elijah bestowed '
on Clay his "true" name, Muhammad Ali. Since then Muhammad Ali has l
not failed to stir up the publicity which Elijah so desperately seeks.
Although they may never find another Muhammad Ali, the
publicity-seeking Muslims have not bypassed other Negro athletes. Professional
football star Jimmy Brown and professional basketballers Bill Russell and
Wayne Hightower have each been publicized in the cult paper for statements
they made praising the Muslims.
C. Advertisig '
Elijah Muhammad has utilized various advertising media to
publicize himself and his cult programs. With typical extravagant and
exaggerated claims, he published a schedule in the first edition of "Muhammad
Speaks" which listed 198 cities throughout the country where his weekly radio
broadcasts could be heard. As is usual with Elijah's pretentious plans, his
radio broadcasting too was beset by problems. Stations which began broad-
casting his weekly taped speeches frequently cancelled the program after
short periods of time because of complaints from listeners. Those stations
whicii continued to cazmg-" i,1!§*";."i*£5,Ti~.1¢ 11.1: 4: e L; V -
and were obliged to repeat previous programs.
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The actual value to Elijah of his radio broadcasting is hardly
assessable. However, it is signiiicant that the schedule continues to be set
out in the cult paper and that frequently the list of stations carrying his pro-
grams and the list of cities reached reect changes. The March 5, 1965,
issue of "Muhammad Speaks" lists 31 cities which can receive E1ijah's weekly
broadcasts beamed from 19 radio stations around the country. Fourteen of
the 31 cities are supposed to be receiving the programs from Station XERF,
a Mexican radio station located just across the border from Del Rio, Texas.
Another advertising media tried by Elijah was beset with even more
difficulties. Early in 1964, Elijah decided to utilize public transportation
systems to carry signs advertising his programs. This plan proved expensive
and disappointing to Elijah. Many transportation companies would not accept
his advertising, othersthat agreed to carry the signs soon cancelled the program
after receiving complaints from citizens and civic organizations in their areas.
When the transit program was beg-un early in 1964. the signs carried
Elijah's picture and, in large letters, the challenge: "Read--Muhammad Speaks
Newspaper. " Below these words appeared the name of the local radio station
and the time when Elijahs speeches could be heard. Later, after his economic
program was devised, those companies still accepting his advertisements dis-played pertinent new signs. Again, Elijah's picture drew attention, but the new
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caption read: "Join Muhammad's 3 Year Savings Plan to Help Fight Poverty
adand Want--5335 S0. Greenwood Ave. , Chicago, 15, Illinois. Buy 'Muhamm
Speaks newspaper."Early in 1965, because of the expense and the lack of response,
the transit advertising program was discontinued.
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IX. SECURITY MEASURES AND DISCIPLINE
A. Security Measures"Its for everybody's protection, " explains the F01 guard to the
visitor, who must be searched before entering an N01 meeting place. Negro
reporters for the "Chicago American" told about their experience before a
meeting got under way where Elijah was to speak. You are led into a room,
they said, where you register with a smiling Muslim at a desk. Then you are
conducted before a team of guards who begin to search you for dangerous
weapons. They are gentle but thorough, covering hat to shoes:
". . . A muscular young Muslim tells you to emptyyour pockets. Your ballpoint pen is clicked repeatedlyto make sure its not a miniature weapon. Anythingobjectionable in your pockets goes into a brown bagand you get a claim check to redeem it after the meeting.
"Then you're standing. . .arms thrust skyward. The_ muscular one takes a karate stance and commands youto move into me. ' I-lis fingers dart up to yours, thenflick downward over your arms, across the top ofyour chest, under your armpits, and down your sides.The hands go inside and under your belt, all the way
around.
"Then the probing fingers glide down your legs,inside and out. The Muslim slaps your thigts andhips, nods to three men standing silently behindyou and mutters, O.K.' Then ina dull monotone,he apologizes for the frisk and hopes you're not offended. "'
Frisking for weapons as the standing line gradually moves up causes
long delays. Men search men, women search women. After being cleared, the
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visitor enters the meeting hall, where men sit on one side and women on
the other. The speaker is surrounded by stern-faced, neat, young body-
guards standing at ramrod attention and lacing the audience from fixed
positions around the rostrum. Other F01 guards stare into the audience
from side and rear positions or move soundlessly around the hall. At
short intervals the guard changes. With appropriate salutes and a brief
verbal exchange, those on duty are relieved. V
Constant vigil is kept because Elijah and his leaders always
suspect the presence of "stoo1 pigeons" and "hypocrites. Alter years
of cautioning the faithful to guard against stool pigeons," Elijah now fears
"hypocrites" even more than "stool pigeons." Since the cherished
Malcolm X broke from Elijah, Elijah has constantly denounced him and
others like him who once followed closely but later deserted.
Should a stool pigeon" or a "hypocrite" gain entrance to a
meeting or rally and be discovered, F01 guards immediately converge
on him and forcibly eject him. During the 1965 Savior's Day convention,
guards spotted a visitor who had formerly attended meetings and later
spoken out against the N01. Twenty or more F01 guards charged toward
him and dragged him to the back of the hall. They beat him and kicked
him unmercifully before he crawled out through the doorway, where police
rescued him.
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B. llrotection of Elijah MuhammadElaborate and showy security protection has always been providedfor Elijah Muhammad by the F01 bodyguards. Much of this protection in thepast undoubtedly was ceremonial and ritualistic evidence of his followers
respect for him as the "Messenger of Allah. "Since early 1964, however, when Malcolm X and many other cult
members left the N01, the protection afforded Elijah has been very seriousand complete. During the Summer of 1964, a new procedure was inauguratedto protect Elijah. Formerly, his escorts numbered into the hundreds.Confusion and shoving resulted when they attempted to enter buildings andautomobiles. The new plan is for the supreme captain of the F01 and aselected few highly trained and trusted F01 men tightly to surround Elijah atall times. On either side of these bodyguards, a column of security escorts
acts as the buffer guard. The F01 guards are constantly reminded that theyare the soldiers of Islam, serving the greatest general, Elijah Muhammad,and that every "Fruit" must be willing to sacrifice his life for "the Messenger. "After the assassination of Malcolm in New York City on February 21,1965, and subsequent threats by Malcolm's followers against Elijah and N01 'property in Chicago, Elijah advised the press that he did not fear for his life;
nevertheless, he welcomed the protection afforded him by the Chicago police.
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When appearing at the annual convention less thanaweek alter u
Malcolm's death. Elijah was additionally protected on the speaker's
stand by a double row of N01 ministers sitting in front and on either side _
of him. This double row was in addition to the regular F01 guards facing
the audience and standing shoulder to shoulder in iront of the speaker's stand.
C. iDiscipline and Punishment
N01 members are constantly reminded that "the first law of Islam
is obedience." Members are guided by a variety oi "musts" and "must nots."
Some of these are that they must regularly attend meetings, make the required
financial contributions, sell their quota of the cult newspaper, and trade with
Muslim-operated busmesses. They mus. not smoke, drink liquor, eat pork,
use narcotics, commit adultery. or associate with non-Muslims. Women
members must wear the prescribed head covering, keep their homes neat,
and serve the proper Muslim foods; and they must not wear lipstick, high
heels, or short dresses. These rules are but a few of the many that have
guided those who accept Elijah Muhammad's concocted version of Islam.
Muslims are warned that they must obey without question all
orders of those in authority. Arty member who violates the rules is subjected
to disciplinary action administered by the NO] leadership composed oi _
Elijah Muhammad, the national officers, the temple ministers, captains,
lieutenants. and investigators.
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When a member is "brought up on charges, " he is given a trial, some-
times before a regular temple meeting, sometimes before only the temple
oicials. The penalty of the guilty depends upon the nature of the charge and A
varies considerably among temples. For a minor violation, a member may be
suspended from all temple activity for a period from 30 to 90 days; or, if the
charge is more serious, he may be suspended for one to five years.
A suspended member is not permitted to associate with other members
or take part in any temple activities. Upon completion of his sentence, the
member who shows the proper respect and promises to obey henceforth all
Muslim rules is permitted to return to the organization. One member, although
suspended for a year for having an affair with a woman other than his wife, took
steps to ensure that he would be able to return at the completion of his sentence.
He continued his regular monetary contributions and sent numerous recruits to
his temple.
Except in certain isolated cases, the most severe penalty meted to
violators of cult rules has been permanent expulsion from the cult. During the
past year, however, the rise of dissidence among members influenced by the
expelled leaders--Malcolm X, Wallace, and Hassan--has led to the cult's A
resorting to violent measures to punish those who have been slandering "the ~
Messenger" and questioning his claim to be the last Apostle of Allah..1
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Throughout 1964, the cult paper regularly printed articles
concerning hypocrites. A hypocrite, as defined by Elijah, is "one whofirst says he believes, then disbelieves, and seeks to oppose the Messenger
and those who believe in him." During the first half of the year, Elija.h's
venomous condemnations were aimed at Malcolm X as the"chief hypocrite, "
and after Wallace and Hassan broke away from the cult in June, 1964, they
too were denounced as hypocrites.During June, the Chicago press was reporting on seven admitted
dissident members of the Chicago N01 temple who complained that each one
of them had been threatened with bodily harm by the Muslim goon squad.
One of them already had been beaten by two I-O1 lieutenants. Other news-
papers reported similar beatings administered to dissident members in
both Philadelphia and New York.
Elijah grew concerned over the publicity regarding an increasing
number of hypocrites. He called an emergency meeting of ministers and
captains at Chicago on August 19, 1964. From many temples, they slipped
secretly into Chicago to hear Elijah discuss how the problem of defectors,
dissidents, and hypocrites should be met.
In Boston, just three days after this conference, a dissident member
and his wife were beaten by F01 guards outside the Muslim temple. The day
after that, two dissident male members were badly beaten by nearly a dozen
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strong-arm men r0 b d their beatings asF bruary 2"! 1965, descri e"The Saturday Evening Post, " e ,t. "
punishment tor quitting and also as a warning "to keep our mouths shu
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X. Q01 VERSUS LAW AND ORDER
A. Cont ' 'radictions
Elijah Muhammad has publicly denied that the N01 teaches or
advocates the use of violence or disobedience to the "white man's laws"
in order to achieve its goals. This disclaimer has been repeated in
public by the ministers of the various NOI mosques throughout the country.
The same message of denial is carried in "Muhammad Speaks. "
While this attitude toward violence and disruption is publicly
enunciated, a more militant approach is actually pursued. Violent action
to prevent police officers from enteriné NOI meeting halls and to avenge
what is considered unprovoked police measures. is condoned. In addition
obstruction of police and prison officials, excessive requests for freedom
to practice their "religion" in prison, and deliberate violation of certain
laws are actions supported by NO] leaders and members.
Black Muslim conflict with authority and with the law and order
of our civil society has been particularly evident in the areas of police
jurisdiction, prison confinement, and FBI investigations.
B. Police Jurisdiction
Police departments in numerous cities have been involved in
investigations pertaining to N01 representatives. The most publicized
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incident in recent years occurred in Los Angeles on April 27, 1962, when
police officers, in a routine investigation, stopped two men apparently selling
clothes from an automobile. The officers were thereupon attacked by the suspectswho were N01 members, and by numerous fellow members who poured from and
adjacent mosque. In the melee, shots were fired. One N01 member was killed,
and other members and some of the police officers were wounded. The N01
immediately charged police brutality. N01 leaders and ministers, to exploit
sympathy, have widely shown a photograph of the dead member lying on the
pavement at the scene of the altercation.Court proceedings against N01 participants in the fight have been
extensive and undoubtedly did not end with an October, 1964, decision of the
Second District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles that affirmed the prior con-
victions of 11 Black Muslims on charges of assault and resisting arrest.
Another incident took place in Rochester, New York, on January 6,
1963. Two police officers, dispatched to investigate a call that a man with a
gum was on the second floor of a building, were halted at the street entrance to
the hall in which the N01 was holding a meeting. The N01 guard was told the
purpose of the officers visit and, as the police went up the stairs, the guard
shouted a warning upstairs. The officers were met and assaulted by several
N01 members who responded to the guard's warning. Upon the arrival of '
another police officer with a K-9 dog, the members retreated into the hall,
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where they were ordered to identify themselves to the police officers.
Arrested were 15 N01 members, the majority of whom were visiting
members from the Buffalo Mosque. _
Four trials have been held as a result of these arrests. The
first trial was terminated following picketing of the courthouse in which
the trial was being held. The second and third trials resulted in deadlocked
juries. Following new indictments returned by a grand jury, a fourth trial
was held which ended in the conviction of the 15 members. All the defendants
received four-year suspended sentences and were placed on probation for one
year.
On October 27, 1963, three Flint, Michigan, police officers
sought admission to an N01 meeting being addressed by Elijah Muhammad.
N01 guards called on them to surrender their weapons before entering V
the hall, but the police refused to obey the N01 rule that only unarmed
persons can enter their meetings. Elijah Muhammad then suspended the
meeting. He later instituted a million-dollar damage suit against the
police officers and the city attorney, charging that the constitutional
immunities and guarantees of the N01 were violated by the police.
A Federal district court judge in July, 1964, dismissed the Buit_
on grounds that the police had a legitimate right to enter the hall, that three
police officers could hardly be considered too many when about 2, 500 people
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were in the hall, and that the suit was merely an assertion by Elijah Muhammad
that the Constitution gives him the right to conduct a public meeting or religious
assembly in a public place with the public invited, free from police supervision.-
A Trenton, New Jersey, patrolman approached two Negroes on
September 2'7, 1964, to issue them a traffic ticket for double-parking. The
two Negroes, later identified as NOI members, knocked the patrolman to the
ground, kicked him repeatedly, and attempted to obtain his revolver. A third
Negro seized the revolver and ordered the NOI members to release the patrol-
man. A passer-by telephoned for police assistance. The two NO! members
resisted arrest. In the attack, the patrolman suffered a fractured elbow and
torn thumb ligaments. l
One of the NOI attackers was found guilty of traffic charges of
failing to obey a signal of a traffic officer, failure to show a driver's permit
and an automobile registration, illegal double-parking, and failure to notify
the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of a change of address. In February, 1965, the
N01 members were indicted for atrocious assault and battery against the police
officers.
C. Prison Confinement
Individuals claiming to be Black Muslims and followers of Elijah
Muhammad have created numerous problems for prison authorities in recent
years. Some of the individuals involved were members of the N01 prior to
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confinement, while others professed different religious affiliation on
entering prison and later claimed conversion to the N01.
The problems created by N01 practitioners in prisons, reforma-
tories, and detention centers have included outright violence, as well as
preparation oi petitions or legal suits alleging authorities were denying
them their constitutional right oi religious freedom. One of the most
significant court battles between prisoners and prison authorities has N
involved N01 members or sympathizers in District of Columbia penal I
institutions.
Members of the N01 were first permitted to conduct weekly
religious meetings in District penal institutions in 1955. In 1959, a _
group of Muslims nearly rioted in a recreation yard at the Lorton
Reiormatory in Lorton, Virginia, where District inmates are incarcerated.
Some time later, prison officials isolated a prisoner for preaching the
N01 program to his fellow prisoners.
The N01 follower brought a suit in Federal district court in
Washington, D. C. , charging discrimination for not being allowed to
practice his religion. In July, 1962, a district court judge ordered him
to be returned to the area of general prisoners and to be permitted to
practice his religion. In his decision, the judge indicated that N01
adherents embraced a legally recognized religion, since they believed in
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a Supreme Being. The judge also stated that, while the prisoner deserved
disciplinary action, the punishment given him had been excessive and was based
principally on the fact that he had made complaints against District of Columbia
officials.Less than a month after N0l prisoners were granted permission to
practice their religion, there were two riots in the Youth Center at the Lnrton
facility. Damage of several thousand dollars was caused by about 50 N01
followers and sympathizers. Prison authorities promptly banned further
Muslim services in the Youth Center as dangerous to prison discipline and order
Services were still permitted in the adult section of the prison system, where
N01 leaders were allowed to conduct services for the N01 inmates.
In 1964, a Federal district judge ordered District prison officials
to permit N01 followers at the Youth Center to resume the practice of their
religion. The order came in a ruling involving a suit filed by 15 N01 prisoners.
The judge declared that to "justify the prohibition of the practices oi an
established religion at the Youth Center, the prison oificials must prove by
satisfactory evidence that the teachings and practice of the sect create a clear
and present danger to the orderly functioning of the institution. " There was no
conclusive evidence offered, the judge held, to show that the 1962 riots had
been instigated Or led by members of the N01.
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The extent of this problem is revealed in statistics issued in
June, 1963. At that time there were 183 legal petitions and 42 appeals
by NOI prisoners pending in the Federal courts of Washington, D. C. ,
and Virginia. NOI prisoners were termed a "cult of harassment" by
District of Columbia officials, who declared that the volume of complaints
was causing administrative and investigative backlogs that interfered with
the normal work of the Corporation Counsel's office.
Typical of the complaints from Muslim prisoners was a charge
that Lorton officials had not lived up to an agreement to grant special
concessions during Ramadan, the Muslim's month of fasting. Actually,
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Mohammedan calendar year; but, on
account of the Mohammedan year being a few days shorter than the
Gregorian calendar year, this fasting month occurs during various months
of our year. For convenience, therefore, Elijah established that the
month of December would be Ramadan for his followers.
Lorton officials were cooperating with Elijah's rule when they
allowed Muslim inmates special mealtimes during December so that they
would be served before sunrise and after sunset, as is the Ramadan custom.
Mealtimes for the Muslim prisoners were based on sunrise and sunset tables _
of the United States Naval Observatory. In spite of this consideration, Muslim
prisoners protested that it was not dark enough to eat at the designated times
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because, according to Elijah's rules, there should not be enough light to
distinguish between a black thread and a white thread.
In a study of 38 Muslims who were first permitted to hold religious P
services in District of Columbia penal institutions, authorities noted that each
of the Muslim inmates violated prison rules sufficiently to warrant disciplinary
action during his period of incarceration, whereas considerably less than half
of an average group of prisoners ever committed violations that came to the
attention of prison authorities. At the time of admission of these 38 inmates,
16 indicated Protestant religious preference; 10, Roman Catholic; nine, Muslim
while three indicated no religious preference. Thus, 75 per cent of these NOI
members were recruited and trained during their confinement in jail. '
While the legal proceedings concerning Muslim prisoners in District
of Columbia penal institutions have not been ruled upon by the United States
Supreme Court, that Court has been involved in a suit brought by a prisoner
at the Illinois State Penitentiary who charged that he had been denied his
constitutional right to practice his religion. The prisoner, sentenced in 1953
to two consecutive 100-year terms for two Chicago holdup murders, brought a
suit in July, 1962, in the Federal district court in Chicago alleging that prison
officials prohibited him from buying and reading the Koran and Arabic language
books and from seeing other inmates of his faith. Prison officials claimed that
the prisoner was a troublemaker, who was isolated for several years for
disciplinary purposes.
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In December, 1962, the Federal district court in Chicago
dismissed the suit on grounds that it pertained to a matter not within
the court's jurisdiction. On appeal, the United States Court of Appeals
in 1963 dismissed the complaint and held that the Black Muslim movement
in this country was not a religion but a racist organization. Therefore,
the court added, its members were not covered by the guaranty of religious
freedom in the United States Constitution.
In June, 1964, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the
prisoner's complaint had asserted a proper cause oi action and should
not have been dismissed by the appellate court. -The latter court was
ordered to conduct hearings to determine if prison officials had improperly
denied the prisoner his constitutional right to practice his religion. A
hearing in this case has been scheduled for 1965.
_ In addition to resorting to the State and Federal courts for
permission to practice their religion, N01 prisoners have used other means
to protest prison treatment. Several years ago, for instance, the leader
of an NOI group of prisoners died from gunshot wounds received from a
prison guard during a disturbance between white and Negro prisoners in
the exercise yard of the San Quentin, California, Adjustment Center. The
Center, a portion of the California State Prison, is reserved for incorrigible
inmates.
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The next day, about 70 Negro inmates assembled in the yard and
refused to work. A spokesman presented to prison authorities several demands
including segregation of N01 followers in the prison and a place for religious .
worship. The demands were denied and 59 of the protesting prisoners refused
to go to work. However, after a brief period of isolation for these prisoners,
they returned to work. Word of the disturbance at San Quentin apparently
spread, as several days later, N01 leaders in California came to the prison to
present demands for special privileges for N01 prisoners. Their demands were
refused.
Much publicity is given to the contention that N01 members are taught
to live cleanly and to improve themselves physically, spiritually, and morally.
While N01 adherents in prison have sought freedom to practice their religion
and to follow the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, the sincerity and depth of their
convictions are sometimes in doubt. While in prison, a Muslim often asserts
devotion to his religion and claims his religious rights are being denied by
prison authorities. Then, released from prison, he may violate religious
principles unscrupulously.
_ For example, an N01 member confined in a New Jersey State prison
filed a suit alleging that prison authorities discriminated against N01 inmates.
His suit reached the New Jersey Supreme Court, which has yet to render a
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while still claiming active N01 membership, he was arrested again, this
time by New York City police, and charged with assault and battery, two
narcotics violations, impersonating an officer, auto theft, possession of
burglary tools, and concealing a dangerous weapon. I-ie received con-
current sentences of five to ten years on two counts of attempted robbery.
D. FBI Investigations .
1 During investigations of N01 members coming within the purview
of FBI jurisdiction, information has been developed showing how N01
literature and speakers have fostered the impression that violation of
United States laws is cause for suspension or expulsion from the N01. The
facts, however, refute this law-abiding pose.
Primarily, N01 members in conflict with Federal statutes are
involved in alleged violations of the Selective Service Act. Among NOI
- L leaders found guilty and sentenced to prison in the past for such violations are
: Elijah Muhammad himself, his son Wallace, and his son~in-law Raymond
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HSharrieff. In addition, numerous members have been investigated for
similar violations.
N01 ministers give members confusing and contradictory instructions
concerning Selective Service laws. The leaders remind NOI members that
their allegiance is to the Muslim flag. They say that they cannot order members
not to go to war, but that members should use their heads and decide for
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themselves whether to go into the Army or to jail, that Elijah Muhammad
served time for not going into the Army and no other N01 member is better
than Elijah. 1
Bernard X, the NOI's youthful minister in San Francisco, decided he
was "no better than Elijah. He refused to report for induction, as ordered by
his local draft board. From November, 1961, until July, 1968, he served time
in a Federal prison. Immediately following his release, he returned to his NQI
ministerial duties. -
In one case beginning in 1963, an N01 member was convicted for
failure to appear for induction as ordered by his local draft board. He was
placed on probation on condition that he seek "employment of national importance
within 60 days. However, he failed to do so and in 1964 was sentenced to prison
for two years for violating that condition. '
_ In another case, a self-admitted N01 member was sentenced in 1964
to two years in prison for failure to report for induction. He had originally
registered in 1958 with a draft board in South Carolina and had been classified
1-A. In 1961, he requested to be classified as a conscientious objector, a
request that was denied. He was ordered to present himself for induction in
1962 but he failed to appear. He was then transferred to a local draft board in ~
New Jersey, where he had taken up residence. At a preinduction examinationI
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On two occasions in 1963, however, he failed to report for induc-
tion. His request for deferment to attend school was turned down. His case
was transferred back to the South Carolina draft board in late I963, and he was
again classified I-A. When he neglected to report for induction in early 1964,
he was arrested by FBI Agnts in New Jersey and refused to give a signed
statement concerning his failure to report ior induction. He informed a I
United States commissioner that he was an N01 member and would not submit
to induction into the armed services for either combatant or noncombatant
duty, because of his religious beliefs.
A Federal grand jury in South Carolina indicted the N01 member
for violation of the Selective Service Act, but he consented to stand trial in
New Jersey. On pleading guilty, he was given a two-year sentence.
Several years ago, John Ali, national secretary of the N01,
enunciated a policy governing NOI contacts with the FBI. He warned members
not to sign any papers if requested by the FBI and to report immediately to
NOI leaders if interviewed by FBI Agents.
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