The Honorable Elijah Muhammad
1897 – 1975 Over the past one hundred years, the black community in America has had many so called leaders. Some good,
some bad, some credible, some not so credible, some incredi: ble. I’ll allow you to be the judge of them respectively,
collectively and individually.
Let’s not be remiss and not mention the leaders of the sit-ins, march-ins, talk-ins, beg. ins, beat-ins, cry-ins, love-ins,
lay-ins, sing-ins, play-ins, laugh-ins, run-ins, dance-ins, peep-ins, etc. Oh, did I miss any ins? Oh yeah eat-ins, drinkins, rap-ins – however, so
much for the ins.
After all these “ins”, the best interest of the black masses in America have not been best served. Again, allow me to
reiterate the fact that these “ins” by and large were of the best intentions. However, often times instead of getting us
into the mainstream, they changed horses in midstream and ended up keeping us out. Furthermore, this process of
keeping the predominate masses of black folks out, were frequently both fostered and perpetrated by many of the
black folks who had initially benefited by the so-called
“ins”!! Many of these benefactors never participated in the “ins”
Elijah Muhammad warned us about those so-called “ins”. In fact, he told us thirty years ago that those “ins” really
weren’t going to get us anywhere. Whether you agree with all the ideas Elijah Muhammad stood for or not, that’s
beside the point. However, as we all know, he was not a leader of any of the “ins,’
“. He was a leader of a Nation, (The
Nation of Islam). If he wasn’t the leader of a nation, he was the closest that we’ve seen in this century. If white folks
writing history don’t give this man his just dues, then so be it.
We as black people must put this man up there where he belongs whether we believed in him or not. We as black
people in America owe him; because it was he who reached behind those prison walls, took a hardened criminal, who
had no self esteem or hope, cleaned him up, educated and developed him, then gave us a Malcolm X.
Again with his steady hand of spiritual guidance, he converted and developed thousands of black men and women,
whether they were physically incarcerated behind bars or mentally enslaved by ignorance.
He took a loud-mouthed and savvy kid called Cassius Clay and schooled him, showed him wisdom, gave him
spiritual guidance, then gave black people and the world Muhammad Ali. Not only did he show Ali how to be a good
athlete, he also showed Ali how to stand on moral and religious principles, with or without money, world fame and the
world heavyweight boxing championship title.
Given Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X, I challenge you or any scholar; who has given us better men white or black?
Malcolm X and all of the merchandising of memorabilia, prints, all other media, books, clothing, arts, etc. will generate
billions of dollars worldwide. Also, the stage that was set by Muhammad Ali-in the marketing field of professional
boxing world-wide has already made billions and has revolutionized the marketing game of boxing, which has therey
influenced the marketing growth of other sports.
I remind you that if it were not for the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, there would never have been a Muhammad Ali or
Malcolm X. In fact, he gave each of them theit names. Again, give him his due. Put him up there where he belongs.
He showed America, if not the world, the only genuine criminal rehabilitation program that we have seen that works.
Neither we nor they gave him his just credit for that.
God knows that we need the likes of his wisdom now-a-days as our prisons bulge at the seams with the prime of our
youth being incarcerated there.
Some municipalities whose population consists of less than 30% black have correctional and jailing facilities
containing more than 80% black inmate population. Furthermore, remember and keep in mind that the majority of the
inmates are between 18 and 35 years of age. Again, the prime of their lives. To continue this trend will destroy the
black presence in America. It is this age group which is potentially the strongest human resource fiber to best support
the growth and development of the economical, political and general welfare of the black community in general; and
most of all, the biological reproductive process there-in.
Now, given the crucial need to reverse this backward and genocidal trend, the col-oreds, negros, blacks, and African
Americans who are in fact working with, hanging out with, and rapping with the President, should in fact say, “Hey,
Mr. President, we have a way to save some of the Black incarcerated men, and even women for that matter. We
need some of our tax money back.” In other words, “We demand some of our tax money; get that money.” Contact
those who carry the legacy of Elijah Muhammad forward. Then say to them, “Brothers, Sisters, here is some money
to put back into play that program that Mr. Muhammad had; because we need to rehabilitate those brothers and
sisters that are in jail. Word Up! “Keep us posted on your progress – see yah later……
P.S. Oh! We could really use some more of those Muhammad Alis and Malcolm Xs.
Give us a call as soon as you get some more of them. Cause, we can make plenty (mo money) with them. Ain’t that
right Spike Lee……. Don King?
And them Alis, we can really use. They bring serious millions: ain’t that right Larry Holmes, George Foreman, Sugar
Ray Leonard, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson, or ask Smoking Joe Frazier? And the list goes on!!! Ali opened the
door.
“Enough Said”
Recommended Reading: Message to the black man by Elijah Muhammad
“Over 60 million Africans were taken out of Africa and put on slave ships. Due to physical abuse, disease and those
that were thrown overboard, only 20 million survived. Those that survived were the strong willed, determined and
courageous.
We are the descendants of those who survived.”