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The Black Muslims

Name: The Black Muslims
Author: William H. Banks
ISBN: 9780791025949

by William H. Banks

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Overview

Founded in 1930 by a traveling salesman named Wallace Fard, the Black Muslims began as a religious movement for African Americans who had grown restless and discouraged by racial injustice and economic hardship. Under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam built on its teachings to improve African-American economic conditions. By the time Malcolm X began delivering his fiery message of black separatism in the 1960s, the Nation of Islam had become a nationwide organization that - like the country itself - was on the brink of revolution. The history of the Nation of Islam is both inspiring and shocking. From its doctrine of the "devil" white man to its insistence on black self-respect and clean living, from its inflammatory criticism of other American minorities to the economic and spiritual strength it has imparted to millions of troubled African Americans, the Nation of Islam remains a controversial and powerful part of African-American history.

A history of the Nation of Islam, from its founding to the present day.

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Editorials

School Library Journal

Gr 5-10A well-written overview that covers the early founders and the dissension within the Nation of Islam. Banks begins with commentary about the 1995 Million Man March and ends with the controversial reign of Minister Louis Farrakhan. In between, the contributions of Wallace Fard, the founder of the religious movement; Marcus Garvey, an early advocate of racial separatism; and Ministers Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X are retold in a smoothly flowing text. Readers learn about the impact of the movement on other organizations and within the context of American politics. The author also includes information about Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jesse Jackson and their interactions with the Nation. Numerous quotes appear, with sources and dates usually incorporated into the narrative. Good-quality, black-and-white photographs with excellent captions appear throughout. The index has many cross references. Overall, a much better choice than Jim Haskins's Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam (Walker, 1996).Marie Wright, University Library, Indianapolis, IN