going to tell you about Islam a little later. First, we need to understand some things about this
Christianity before we can understand why the answer for us is Islam.
"Brothers and sisters, the white man has brainwashed us black people to fasten our gaze upon a
blond-haired, blue-eyed Jesus! We're worshiping a Jesus that doesn't even look like us! Oh,
yes! Now just bear with me, listen to the teachings of the Messenger of Allah, The Honorable
Elijah Muhammad. Now, just think of this. The blond-haired, blue-eyed white man has taught you
and me to worship a white Jesus, and to shout and sing and pray to this God that's his God,
the white man's God. The white man has taught us to shoutand sing and pray until we die, to
wait until death, for some dreamy heaven-in-the-hereafter, when we're dead, while this white
man has his milk and honey in the streets paved with golden dollars right here on this earth!
"You don't want to believe what I am telling you, brothers and sisters? Well, I'll tell you what you
do. You go out of here, you just take a good look around where you live. Look at not only how
you live, but look at how anybody that you know lives-that way, you'll be sure that you're not
just a bad-luck accident. And when you get through looking at where you live, then you take
you a walk down across Central Park, and start to look at what this white God had brought to the
white man. I mean, take yourself a look down there at how the white man is living!
"And don't stop there. In fact, you won't be able to stop for long-his doormen are going to tell you
'Move on!' But catch a subway and keep on downtown. Anywhere you may want to get off, look
at the white man's apartments, businesses! Go right on down to the tip of Manhattan Island that
this devilish white man stole from the trusting Indians for twenty-four dollars! Look at his City Hall,
down there; look at his Wall Street! Look at yourself! Look at his God!"
I had learned early one important thing, and that was to always teach in terms that the people
could understand. Also, where the Nationalists whom we had "fished" were almost all men,
among the storefront Christians, a heavy preponderance were women, and I had the sense to
offer something special for them. "Beautiful black woman! The Honorable Elijah Muhammad
teaches us that the black man is going around saying he wants respect; well, the black man
never will get anybody's respect until he first learns to respect his own women! The black man
needs today to stand up and throw off the weaknesses imposed upon him by the slavemaster
white man! The black man needs to start today to shelter and protect and respect his black
women!"
One hundred percent would stand up without hesitation when I said, "How many believe what
they have heard?" But still never more than an agonizing few would stand up when I invited, "Will
those stand who want to follow The Honorable Elijah Muhammad?"
I knew that our strict moral code and discipline was what repelled them most. I fired at this point,
at the reason for our code. "The white man wants black men to stay immoral, unclean and
ignorant. As long as we stay in these conditions we will keep on begging him and he will control
us. We never can win freedom and justice and equality until we are doing something for
ourselves!"
The code, of course, had to be explained to any who were tentatively interested in becoming
Muslims. And the word got around in their little storefronts quickly, which is why they would come
to hear me, yet wouldn't join Mr. Muhammad. Any fornication was absolutely forbidden in the
Nation of Islam. Any eating of the filthy pork, or other injurious or unhealthful foods; any use of
tobacco, alcohol, or narcotics. No Muslim who followed Elijah Muhammad could dance, gamble,
date, attend movies, or sports, or take long vacations from work. Muslims slept no more than
health required. Any domestic quarreling, any discourtesy, especially to women, was not allowed.
No lying or stealing, and no insubordination to civil authority, except on the grounds of religious
obligation.
Our moral laws were policed by our Fruit of Islam-able, dedicated, and trained Muslim men.
Infractions resulted in suspension by Mr. Muhammad, or isolation for various periods, or even
expulsion for the worst offenses "from the only group that really cares about you."
Temple Seven grew somewhat with each meeting. It just grew too slowly to suit me. During the
weekdays, I traveled by bus and train. I taught each Wednesday at Philadelphia's Temple Twelve.