Most people, when they think of African-American
Muslims, think of the "Nation of
Islam." Certainly, there is an
historical importance to how Islam took hold among African-Americans, but we will see how this initial introduction
transformed in modern times.
Among
the reasons why African-Americans have been and continue to be drawn to Islam
are 1) the Islamic heritage of West Africa from where many of their ancestors
had come; and 2) the absence of racism in Islam in contrast to the brutal and
racist enslavement they had endured.
In
the early 1900s, a few black leaders strived to help the recently-freed African
slaves regain a sense of self-esteem and reclaim their heritage. Noble
Drew Ali started a black nationalist community, the Moorish Science Temple, in
New Jersey in 1913. After his death, some of his followers turned to
Wallace Fard, who founded the Lost-Found Nation of Islam in Detroit in
1930. Fard was a mysterious figure who declared that Islam is the natural religion for Africans, but did not emphasize
the orthodox teachings of the faith. Instead, he preached black
nationalism, with a revisionist
mythology explaining the historical oppression of the black people. Many
of his teachings directly contradicted the true faith of Islam.
In
1934, Fard disappeared and Elijah Muhammed took over the leadership of the
Nation of Islam. Fard became a "Savior" figure, and followers
believed that he was Allah in the flesh on earth. The poverty and racism
rampant in the urban northern states made his message about black superiority
and "white devils" more widely accepted. His follower Malcolm X
became a public figure during the 1960s, although he separated himself from the
Nation of Islam before his death in 1965.
Muslims look to
Malcolm X (later known as Al-Hajj Malik Shabaaz) as an example of one who, at
the end of his life, rejected the racially-divisive teachings of the Nation of
Islam and embraced the true brotherhood of Islam. His letter
from Mecca, written during his pilgrimage, shows the transformation that had
taken place. As we shall see shortly, most African-Americans have made
this transition as well, leaving behind the "black nationalist"
Islamic organizations to enter the worldwide brotherhood of Islam.
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