In this concluding Black History Month Episode, I provide an abbreviated sketch of the great history of the Nation of Islam under the leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad with present day work happening in Camden, New Jersey.

Huey P. Newton, Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson Sr….we have heard mention of these incredible men and their contribution towards equity and justice for the Black man and woman in America.

But we learn very little, if anything at all, about the Nation of Islam (founded in 1930) and how the revolutionary ideology of ‘Self Love’ and ‘Do For Self’ influenced their efforts, inspired the Black Community and impacted national and international leaders alike.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam, was described by Reader’s Digest as the ‘Most powerful Black man in America’ and we have not seen any modern economist, sociologist, educator or psychologist impact Black people the way he did.

Because of this influence, one finds in COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) documents how the FBI endeavored, through substantially illegal and unethical efforts, to ‘Prevent The Rise of A Black Messiah’ amongst Black Americans who would have the power to unite and electrify them.

The federal government’s efforts sought to disrupt, discredit and misdirect Black nationalist groups, including the Nation of Islam, and to neutralize them in the public sphere because, 'In unity, there is strength.’

One can claim they achieved great success as so little is known and accurately understood about the Nation of Islam.

This episode seeks to provide a condensed sketch of that history.

To learn more about the history of the Nation of Islam visit CROE.ORG. CROE (Coalition for Remembrance of Elijah Muhammad) serves as the National Archives of the Nation of Islam. Also, visit TEMPLE20.ORG to learn how the application of ‘Self Love’ and ‘Do For Self’ can impact our local communities as it is in Camden, New Jersey.

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