Black Muslims in the 20th Century In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, African American leaders such as Noble Drew Ali and W. D. Fard founded movements aimed at empowering Black Americans and reconnecting them with their Islamic heritage. The civil rights movement in America had a profound impact on Black Muslims, who saw in the struggle for racial equality a parallel to their own struggles for religious freedom and dignity. The Black Muslim movement emerged as a powerful force in the African American community. The Nation of Islam, led by Elijah Muhammad, became one of the largest Black nationalist organizations in America and was instrumental in advocating for the rights of African Americans. Malcolm X, one of the most influential Black leaders of the 20th century, was a prominent member of the Nation of Islam and his ideas continue to influence the Black community today. The Moorish Science Temple of America The Moorish Science Temple of America is a religious and cultural organization that was founded in the United States in the early 20th century. It is a unique blend of Islam, Christianity, and black nationalism, and has been a significant part of African American history for over a century. The Moorish Science Temple was founded in Newark, New Jersey, in 1913 by Noble Drew Ali, who was born Timothy Drew in North Carolina in 1886. Drew Ali was a traveling salesman and circus performer who claimed to have been sent by Allah to bring a message of salvation to African Americans. He taught that black people in America were descended from Moors, a Muslim Berber people who ruled Spain and North Africa from the 8th to the 15th centuries. According to Drew Ali, these Moors were the true descendants of the ancient Egyptians, and had a special relationship with Allah. Drew Ali taught that African Americans should reclaim their identity as Moors, and reject the names that had been imposed on them by white slave masters. He encouraged his followers to adopt Moorish names and titles and to reject the “Black”, “Colored”, and “Negro” labels. Drew Ali’s message of pride in African heritage and spiritual uplift resonated with many African Americans, who were still grappling with the aftermath of slavery and segregation. The Moorish Science Temple quickly grew in popularity, with branches opening in cities across the country. At its height in the late 1920s, it was estimated that the organization had as many as 35,000 members, 17 temples across the Midwest, and was one of the largest and most influential black nationalist organizations of its time. Another key belief of the Moorish Science Temple is that all people, regardless of race or religion, are equal in the eyes of Allah. Drew Ali taught that Islam was the original religion of the black race, and that all other religions were corruptions of the truth. He believed that the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) was a black man and that Islam was a universal religion that was meant for all people, not just Arabs. Despite its religious teachings, the Moorish Science Temple was not just a religious organization. It was also a political and social movement that aimed to improve the lives of African Americans and to promote black nationalism. Members of the temple were active in civil rights activism, and the organization was involved in a number of important social and political causes, such as voting rights, education, and employment opportunities for African Americans. One of the most notable contributions of the Moorish Science Temple was its emphasis on black self-reliance and economic empowerment. Drew Ali encouraged his followers to start their own businesses and to build a self-sufficient black community that was not dependent on white-owned institutions. He also taught that the key to black progress was education and that African Americans needed to study science, engineering, and other subjects in order to build a better future for themselves and their children. The Moorish Science Temple faced a number of challenges in the years after Drew Ali’s death in 1929. The organization was riven by internal disputes and political infighting, and it struggled to maintain its momentum and unity in the face of these challenges. Some members left the organization and formed their own splinter groups, while others became disillusioned and dropped out. The Nation of Islam One challenge faced by Black Muslims in the 20th century was the rise of the Nation of Islam (NOI), a Black separatist movement that was both controversial and influential. The NOI was founded in the 1930s by Wallace Fard Muhammad, and it combined elements of Islam with Black nationalism and conspiracy theories. While many Black Muslims rejected the NOI’s beliefs, it attracted a large following and helped to create a sense of community and solidarity among Black Muslims. The Nation of Islam gained significant popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly among African Americans in inner cities. One of its most famous leaders was Elijah Muhammad, who led the movement from the 1930s until his death in 1975. Muhammad continued to teach the beliefs of the Nation of Islam and built a network of mosques, schools, and businesses throughout the United States. The movement’s focus on black self-sufficiency and empowerment resonated with many African Americans, who saw it as a way to escape the poverty and oppression that they faced in American society. The Nation of Islam also became known for its advocacy for black rights and for its opposition to white supremacy and racism. One of the most famous members of the Nation of Islam was Malcolm X, who joined the movement in the 1950s and rose to prominence as a charismatic speaker and leader. Malcolm X was a fierce critic of American society and the American government of the time, and he advocated for the rights of black people both in the United States and abroad. Another major challenge faced by Black Muslims in the 20th century and beyond is discrimination within the larger Muslim community. […]
Category Archives: History
By Kristopher Idrees Crawley Introduction Muslims have played a significant role in the African American community, yet their contributions are often overlooked and left out of the narratives of Black history. From the early days of slavery to the civil rights movement, Muslims have made invaluable contributions to the advancement of African Americans. However, their impact is often overshadowed by the dominant narrative of Black history which primarily focuses on the Christian faith. As a member of the NFB Muslims Group and 1st Vice President of the SC Association of Black Leaders, please accept the following article as my contribution to Black History Month. Note: The views and opinions found within this article are mine alone and not that of any group, division, chapter, affiliate, or other organization I participate in. African Muslims in Slavery Slavery has a long and dark history in the United States, and it is well-known that many Africans were brought to the Americas as slaves. However, what is often overlooked is the fact that among those enslaved Africans were also Muslims. African Muslim slaves played a significant role in shaping the history of the United States, and their legacy is one that deserves to be remembered. One of the earliest recorded instances of Muslims in America was during the transatlantic slave trade. It is estimated that as many as 15 to 30 percent of enslaved Africans were Muslims, who brought their religious beliefs and practices with them. Despite facing extreme adversity and persecution, these enslaved Muslims continued to practice their faith and passed it down to their descendants. Many of these Muslim slaves were taken from regions that are now modern-day Senegal, Gambia, and Mali and brought to the Americas as early as the 1600s. These slaves were primarily used for manual labor on plantations in the southern United States. Despite the challenges they faced, Muslim slaves found ways to maintain their religious beliefs and practices. They prayed secretly, created their own communities, and played important roles in many slave revolts. Bilali Muhammad Bilali Muhammad was an enslaved African man who lived in the southeastern United States in the early 19th century. He was born in West Africa but was captured and brought to the United States as a slave. Bilali is best known for writing a religious text in Arabic, which is considered to be the first written document in the United States by an enslaved person of African descent. This document, known as the “Bilali Document,” was an important artifact of the Islamic faith among enslaved Africans in the Americas. Bilali Muhammad was a devout Muslim and his religious beliefs played a significant role in his life. He is said to have prayed and fasted regularly, and his religious observance was respected by his slave owners. Although he was a slave and subjected to the brutal conditions of slavery, Bilali maintained his faith and passed it down to his descendants, who went on to become leaders in the African American Muslim community. The Bilali Document provides insight into the religious beliefs and practices of enslaved Africans and is considered one of the most important primary sources for the study of Islam in the Americas. His writings have been widely studied by scholars of African American and Islamic history. Omar Ibn Said Omar Ibn Said was a West African Muslim scholar and slave who lived in the United States in the 19th century. He was born in Futa Tooro, a kingdom in present-day Senegal, and was captured and sold into slavery in 1807. He was taken to the United States, where he spent the rest of his life as a slave in North Carolina. Despite the difficult circumstances of his life, Omar Ibn Said was a deeply religious man and continued to practice his faith. He is notable for writing his autobiography in Arabic, a rare document from an enslaved African in the American South during this period. A translation of the document is available on NLS Bard. Omar Ibn Said’s autobiography provides a unique perspective on slavery in the United States and the experience of African Muslims in the Americas. In his writings, he described his life in West Africa before his capture, his journey to the United States, and his experiences as a slave. He also wrote about his faith, including his deep devotion to Islam and his daily religious practices. The Impacts of Slavery on African Muslims The lives of Muslim slaves were difficult and brutal. They faced physical, emotional, and psychological abuse and the threat of being separated from their families. Regardless of these hardships, they managed to maintain their cultural and religious traditions. Many of these traditions, such as the use of Arabic names and the practice of Islam, are still present in African American communities today. Although they had a significant presence, the history of African Muslim slaves has been largely forgotten. This is due in part to the fact that many slave owners sought to stamp out the religious and cultural practices of their slaves, and also to the fact that Muslim slaves were not allowed to openly practice their religion or share their stories. This resulted in a lack of documentation of their lives and experiences and made it difficult for future generations to know about the contributions and sacrifices of Muslim American slaves. Jerald Dirks in his book “Muslims in American History” states “As can be imagined, the institution of slavery in the Americas was not conducive to the preservation of detailed, biographical information on enslaved African Muslims. Nonetheless, as many of these Muslims were highly educated and literate individuals, some left autobiographical sketches, and others came to the attention of whites who chose to write a brief account about them”. After the abolition of slavery in the United States, many former Muslim slaves faced continued discrimination and segregation. The legacy of slavery and racism has had a lasting impact on African American communities, including those from a Muslim background.