Elijah Muhammad

1. Elijah Muhammad The Messenger of Allah By Thaddeus Davis Sarabi Troupe Sean Bradley And Chandler Staten

2. The Most HonorableElijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad was born a slave. So his exact birthdate is unknown since the records of slaves were not kept. But it is supposedly on October 7, 1878. His hometown was in Sandersville, Georgia

3. His Childhood • Elijah Poole, was the son of a minister, William (later named Wali) and Marie Poole, had 12 other children, had to quit school after barely finishing the third. • Had to quit school after the 3rd grade. To work in the cotton fields.

4. Adult life • Just before the roaring twenties came in, Elijah Poole married the former Clara Evans, also of Georgia. They had eight children, Emmanuel, Ethel, Lottie, Nathaniel, Herbert, Elijah, Jr., Wallace and Akbar. • In April 1923, Elijah Poole moved his young family from Macon, Georgia, where he worked for the Southern Railroad Company and the Cherokee Brick Company to Detroit, Michigan

5. Hard times in the 1920’s • The stock market crash in 1929 was the gateway to economic misery that sparked the fuel of the "Great Depression" of the 1930s. Moreover, America's racial situation continued its downward spiral. Lynchings, race riots and other forms of terrorism against Blacks continued unabated. But Detroit, with its huge population of 1.5 million people including 250,000 thousand Blacks, was beginning to see changes in its social scene.

6. Converting to Islam • On July 4, 1930, the long awaited "Savior" of the Black man and woman, Master W. Fard Muhammad, appeared in this city. He announced and preached that God is One, and it is now time for Blacks to return to the religion of their ancestors, Islam. News spread all over the city of Detroit of the preaching of this great man from the East. Elijah Poole's wife first learned of the Temple of Islam and wanted to attend to see what the commotion was all about, but instead, her husband advised her that he would go and see for himself.

7. “Karriem” Muhammad In 1931,hearing his first lecture at the Temple of Islam, Elijah Poole was overwhelmed by the message and immediately accepted it. Soon thereafter, Elijah Poole invited and convinced his entire family to accept the religion of Islam. • The Founder of the Nation of Islam gave him the name "Karriem" and made him a minister. Later he was promoted to the position of "Supreme Minister" and his name was changed to Muhammad. "The name 'Poole' was never my name," he would later write, "nor was it my father's name. It was the name the white slave-master of my grandfather after the so-called freedom of my fathers."

8. Contributions to Society • For the next three and one-half years, Mr. Muhammad was personally taught by his Teacher non-stop. He led many projects that greatly increased the Muslim community in African American people. • He also wrote a newspaper entitled "The Final Call to Islam," in 1934. • Mr. Muhammad helped establish schools for the proper education of his children and the community. Indeed, the Muslim parents felt that the educational system of the State of Michigan was inadequate for their children, and they established their own schools.

9. The state of Michigan Vs. Elijah Poole • This led to the state of Michigan trying him with causing him to turn children into juvenile delinquents. Even though this was not true he allowed the police to arrest him. • When he was placed on probation after being released all that was asked of him is that he put the children into public schools which he said no to. • So he and his family packed up and moved to Chicago

10. The Honorable Elijah • His teacher had instructed him to go to Washington, D.C. to visit the Library of Congress in order to research 104 books on the religion of Islam, among other subjects. Also, after assuming the leadership of the Temple of Islam by the order of the Founder of the Nation of Islam, Mr. Muhammad faced a death plot at the hands of a few disgruntled members. Mr. Muhammad avoided their evil plan and went to Washington, D.C. to study and build a mosque there. He was known under many names, "Mr. Evans," his wife's maiden name, "GhulamBogans," "Muhammad Rassoull," "Elijah Karriem" and "Muhammad of 'U' Street."

11. The Life of a Muslim in America • Life for a black man was hard enough in the 1950’s which meant being a black Muslim sent even more hate your way. • Many of Elijah's great works such as schools and mosques were burned to the ground by intolerant white people. • Also his own people wanted him dead he received death threats regularly. • He was the most well known and most hated black man at the time.

12. The Life of a Muslim in America (contd.) • With the assassination of Malcolm X and with the fire bombing of the New York Mosque the Muslim Community began to reel.

13. Final Speech • After a life of accomplishment and success Elijah Poole retired and passed on his legacy to ”The Honorable Louis Farrakhan.” "I want you to pay good attention to his preaching. His preaching is a bearing of witness to me and what God has given to me," he declared. "This is one of the strongest national preachers that I have in the bounds of North America. Everywhere you hear him, listen to him. Everywhere you see him, look at him. Everywhere he advises you to go, go. Everywhere he advises you to stay from, stay from. For we are thankful to Allah for this great helper of mine, Min. Farrakhan." (Another rousing round of applause ensued). "He's not a proud man," he said. "He's a very humble man. If he can carry you across the lake without dropping you in; he don't say when you get on the other side, 'You see what I have done?' He tells you, 'You see what Allah has done.' He doesn't take it upon himself. He's a mighty fine preacher. We hear him every week, and I say continue to hear our Min. Farrakhan. I thank you."