(Note: Below you will find my edited PowerPoint presentation (edited for this platform) from the last in the "Islam in America" series. Much of it focuses on the history of the Nation of Islam (NOI), Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, W.Deen Mohammed, and much more. For the video of the entire program, go to This link. Also note that while we were able to use images for the original PowerPoint, copyright restrictions prevent use on this platform. )
Islam in America Part 3
Presentation by Shamsuddin Waheed
The Importance of parts 1 & 2 of this series
Previous sessions showed :(A) African presence in the Americas before Columbus (B) Muslims accompanying Columbus in his journey. (C) Muslims as being among the Kidnapped Africans brought to the Americas and made slaves.
We have emphasized “C” because of more historical evidence and lasting impact on the presence of Islam in the United States in particular. Please consult parts 1 and 2 for those details.
The “Nation of Islam” (NOI) has also been highlighted, even though other movements existed, because it became the most famous and active movement.
( To view playlist, click on this link to playlist or type in YouTube search engine "Islam in America" by Shamsuddin Waheed. To view part one's PowerPoint through an AI-generated video, click Here for part 1 powerpoint video)
Malcolm X
Born Malcolm Little (Feb.19th 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska), he was directly affected by the oppression of African-Americans in Jim Crow era.
His father, Rev. Earl Little (a follower of Marcus Garvey) was killed by White supremacists when he was six years old.
Before that, in Lansing, Michigan, his family was evicted from their purchased home because of a rule that prevented the sale of houses to Non-White buyers.
In 1947, convicted of Larceny, breaking & Entering, he enters into the Norfolk Prison colony for his sentence, wherein he encounters the teachings of the NOI
Malcolm Little becomes Malcolm X
*While serving his sentence, he is exposed to the teachings of the NOI. While popular media places emphasis on a person he meets while in prison (dramatized in the Spike Lee movie as “Brother Bane”), it was actually his brother Philbert who had accepted the NOI teaching and introduced it to him officially through letters (The Autobiography page 158).
In keeping with the NOI’s self-improvement program, he had taken steps to grow by consistent reading, study, even copying the dictionary by hand.
Rising through the ranks
Upon his release, Malcolm first goes to Detroit (The Autobiography pg.195), in a variety of jobs, all the while growing within the NOI.
Elijah Muhammad, seeing his sincerity and talents, tasks him with pastoral roles, which ultimately sees him becoming the National spokesman for the NOI, establishing “temples” in various places within the United States.
The NOI experienced tremendous growth during the 1950’s, in large part because of Malcolm’s efforts.
While we have placed emphasis on religious theology, the NOI also grew physically. Grocery stores, restaurants, a weekly newspaper (“Muhammad Speaks”)
Trouble between Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X
All the sources indicate that there has always been a certain level of resentment between Malcolm and other NOI figures, who felt threatened by his charisma, oratory and organizational skills.
Malcolm X learns of Elijah Muhammad’s relationships with women (some of which has produced children), leading to the almost complete disillusionment with the leader he had faithfully parroted as being “The Messenger of Allah”.
The assasination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 was a watershed moment. Famously, Malcolm X says that this is simply the product of hundreds of years of oppression and that “It made me glad.”, leading to Elijah Muhammad to suspend him from speaking in the NOI establishments.
It is unfortunate that we have to cut out so much history in order to stick to main points, but nonetheless jealousies existed within the NOI because of Malcolm’s growing popularity, attention. There is also the possibility that more seeds of division were planted by US Law enforcement infiltration, keen on preventing the emergence of a threat to the dominant order.
A search for clarity
Still considering himself to be a Muslim, he becomes more open to mainstream Islam.
Among the things that occurs is his pilgrimage to Makkah, known as the Hajj. His sister funds him. Although not as well known, he also visits other countries in the Middle East and Africa.
The impact of Hajj
Seeing an environment which was God-centered, very little class distinctions (via the ihram clothing) nor racial discrimination has a powerful impact on his religious and political views. He believes that Islam-if “understood” will solve the racial problems of America.
He takes on the name Malik El Shabazz, with the title “Al Hajj” before it.
He founded an organization called The Muslim Mosque Inc.
He proposes forcing the issues of Racial discrimination etc by taking the case to the United Nations, hoping the US would be held to account on a global stage.
He is assassinated Feb.21, 1965
The NOI eventually transitions
Elijah Muhammad himself died in 1975.
His son Wallace D. Muhammad (better known as Imam Warith-Deen Mohammed) becomes the leader.
He almost immediately begins to change the religious and political orientation of the NOI towards mainstream Islam, which includes embracing of all races, and various name changes as their evolution went on (World Community of Al-Islam in the West, American Muslim Mission, Muslim American society)
Louis Farrakhan, who had himself been Malcolm X’s deputy before the latter’s departure, had initially went along with the above reforms, but himself eventually broke away to revive the NOI.
Imam W Deen Mohammed
Imam WD Mohammed legacy
The network of mosques/temples became places wherein mainstream Islam was practiced.
Interfaith dialogue
The majority of Elijah Muhammad’s original following accepted this transition.
Islam in USA today
Consistent growth of people converting to the faith.
Changing people’s lives for the better.
Discipline and God-consciousness.
Influence in important areas of culture, particularly in the African-American experience.
The stats show that the biggest convert segment of the Muslim population in the United States currently is Latino. Indeed, Houston Texas has a mosque called “IslaminSpanish” (Centro Islamico)
Our links
For the previous lectures, see “Islam in America” on our YouTube channel “Imam Shams”.
Book Information: www.authorshamsuddinwaheed.com
Blog: Shamsuddinwaheed.blogspot.com
Mosque: www.themasjidibrahim.com
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