Though officially a religious leader, no examination of black political ideologies and social movements in the United States would be complete without a discussion upon Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam.

Elijah was born Elijah Poole in Sandersville, Georgia as one of 13 children of tenant farmers (share croppers) who were former slaves. At the age of 16 he left home and traveled about America. In 1923 he finally settled in Detroit, Mich. where he worked at an automobile factory.

Throughout his life Elijah would have experienced racism at what many consider its worst. This was the era of mass lynching, public floggings, anti-black white riots and other horrendous crimes which left in their wake burned, mutilated and violated black bodies and communities. These early views of white society's treatment of blacks would make a long lasting impression on Elijah.

The early 1930s was not only a time of severe economic distress due to the Great Depression, but it was a time of heightened racial violence. It was during this time that Elijah became acquainted with a W.D. Fard (Wali Farad, Master Farad Muhammad) and his life changed forever.

Fard, then working as a peddler, had already established his Temple of Islam in Detroit. The beliefs taught by Fard though similar to "orthodox" Islam, had many differences. Many have summed this theology as a blend of Sufi Islam, the teachings of the contemporary Noble Drew Ali of the Moorish Science Temple, Egyptology, Numerology, Eastern mysticism, Black Nationalism, the earlier ideas of economic independence as espoused by Marcus Garvey, and more.

It taught that blacks were the "original" people of the Earth and Universe that had been tricked out of their power and oppressed by whites: a genetically created race of troublemakers. Whatever its origins and the controversy of its dictates, this belief system spoke directly to many oppressed black people of the era. Some have deemed it an inevitable reaction to white racism. Elijah Muhammad took white supremacy and turned it on its head, returning what whites preached back to them. If whites said blacks were inferior, he would assert instead that whites were the inferior ones. If whites said blacks were cursed, he would state instead that whites were cursed. If whites said "black" was associated with bad, he would say instead "white" was associated with bad. Elijah Muhammads' ideologies were a denouncement of the white world and black inferiority taken to its logical extreme. They emphasized black pride, dignity and most of all, self-empowerment. These ideas spoke to many of the needs of a mentally and physically downtrodden community.

Believing white culture to be in essence the sworn enemies of blacks, the NOI preached complete separation from white society. The NOI demanded black independence in economics, religion, and nationhood. The teachings of the NOI regularly denounced black men especially for drinking, gambling, physical abuse of black women, moral wrongs, and the inability to protects one's family (especially black women in regards to sexual abuse/exploitation) from attacks by violent white America. Called at times rigid and even sexist by its detractors, the Elijah Muhammad's strict teachings (whether one agrees with them or not) cannot be divorced from the era in which he lived.

Upon Fard's disappearance in 1934, Elijah Poole, now Elijah Muhammad, became the successor to the NOI and Supreme Minister. He would be imprisoned for a short time during WWII for resisting the US draft as a conscientious objector. Yet his organization would soon grow and flourish.

The teachings of the NOI and Elijah Muhammad would have a profound impact on black American life. In a small amount of time the organization became well known throughout the United States, buying land, opening businesses, building schools and increasing its growth. Its strict moral discipline, devout religious adherence, healthy lifestyle, and seemingly miraculous ability to convert even those individuals whom many deemed "beyond hope", drew many to its ranks.

One of those Elijah would bring into the light was an ex-convict who the world would know as Malcolm X. Though he would later leave the NOI, the influence of Muhammad on Malcolm's life was undeniable. The young Malcolm developed his speaking and political outlook within the NOI and under Elijah's near direct tutelage. Malcolm's leaving the NOI was often seen as a rift in a near "father-son" relationship.

The subsequent assassination of Malcolm X, and ever-suspicious possibility of NOI involvement, would forever tarnish Elijah and the grouping. Elijah managed to hold onto recognition however as his teachings were spread through his still well read book, "Message to the Black Man" and his newspaper, "Muhammad Speaks".

With the death of Elijah Muhammad in 1975, the NOI went through a brief period of upheaval. Under the guidance of his son, Wallace Muhammad, the NOI was moved into the mainstream of "orthodox" Islam and even began to accept white members. Such shifts away from the original black-nationalist religious teachings of Elijah Muhammad soon caused a split within the organization.

It was not long before splinter groups, already growing, emerged more fully to once again carry on Elijah's teachings. Though they number quite a few, the most well known are most likely the more "street-based" 5% Nation of Islam and the Nation of Islam under one of Elijah's disciples, a young minister named Louis Farrakhan.

The NOI under Farrakhan became a driving force in black-nationalist political thought especially in the 1980s and 90s. Most noticeably, it was instrumental in the calling and organizing of the now historic Million Man March of 1995 as well as subsequent marches.

Through the decades Elijah Muhammad and the NOI's messages of self-help, self-sufficiency, self-defense, and self-love have shaped deeply the path of black politics. Later groupings such as the Black Panther party were thought to even fashion their ten-point program in part from the NOI's "What the Muslims Want" ideology.

This influence stretches into ideas of black-unity, economic independence, health and even the path of conscious hip hop music. Figures that found inspiration from Elijah's teachings included Malcolm X, Louis Farrakhan, boxer Muhammad Ali, Clarence 13X and artists like Poor Righteous Teachers and Wu Tang. And even those who break with his teachings admit that he is a key factor in Islam among black Americans, be it orthodox or otherwise, in the US.

Elijah's legacy continues today as his teachings create converts throughout America and the black world. No doubt then that some historians have called him one of the greatest social reformers in black political thought and ideology of the 20th century.

For More Information See:

Clegg, Andrew C. III. The Life and Times of Elijah Muhammad

Evanzz, Karl. The Messenger: The Rise and Fall of Elijah Muhammad

Halas, Malu. Elijah Muhammad

Nation of Islam history on Elijah Muhammad: http://www.noi.org/history-elijah.html