Elijah Muhammad Remembered
“But there is a Black Man in America that time has
not destroyed. There is a Black Man in America who
was here in the ’30’s, here in the ’40’s; here in the ’50’s,
here in the ’60’s, and now in the ’70’s, Elijah Muhammad
is still on the scene and going strong.”
The above is from the speech delivered by Minister
Louis Farrakhan, at a Black Family Day held on
Randall’s Island, N.Y. last May. Mr. Farrakhan who
served as the National Representative of Honorable
Elijah Muhammad often made reference to the wisdom
and durability of the late messenger - and rightly so.
Perhaps, a greater Black Man has never evolved on the
American scene, than the Honorable Elijah
Muhammad. Many may disagree with the ideology of
the Nation - but no one concerned with the plight of the
black man can knock his results and accomplishments.
Many have come and gone with ideas from Marxism to
Christianity, and rhetoric from Fredrick Douglas to
MAO - but none have produced the dynamic economic
impact, the race pride, the human dignity, the spirit of
brotherhood, as seen with the leadership of Mr.
Muhammad. If the man possessed anything less than
divine guidance, surely it was supreme wisdom. One
need not mention that under his leadership the Nation
grew, in spite of the most adverse and hostile treatment
possible from Black and whites, to an 80 million dollar
plus enterprise; or that the faith spread - from two
temples in Detroit and Chicago to over 100 temples
across the country; or even that the Nation is able to
make negotiations with foreign governments as if it
were an independent government; or perhaps that the
Nation has established excellent universities across the
country; he can just observe the effects it has had on
Black Men and Women. Brothers and Sisters who were
sliding up and down the scale of degradation have been
transformed into dignified and proud Black people.
They are beautiful people now, you can tell them
anywhere. I recall last fall, when Minister Farrakhan
returned to Winston-Salem to be honored as a
distinguished Alumni, he alluded to fact of his youthful
appearance and good health and that if for nothing but
looks only, most of our students should come into the
Nation. Though meant as a joke, it was a deep thought,
meriting serious consideration-those who are concerned
with the quality of life as well as living itself. And Who
Shouldn’t be?
Granted, many are disturbed by religious aspects of
the Nation of Islam, its doctrines, and its sincerity.
How can I believe that man was messengers of God?
What about the diet? The discipline? What about
Malcom? I ask, what about you and I? What are we
doing? Ideas, education, and whatever is good, but if it
does nothing to serve the needs of man in need, what
good is it. Personally, I don’t feel qualified to question
anything about the Nation. Mr. Muhammad whether he
contrived a Plan or received direction from “up-
higher”, it is working now. Black people had physical
needs, - he supplied them with food, shelter, money.
Black people needed psychological resurrection-he
offered them a common black consciouness. Black
people needed uplifting-he pulled them up and made
them believe in themselves. All people need religion and
he gave Black people a religion that satisfied the spirt as
well as the body. What more can anyone demand?
Perhaps time will negate the value of movements such
as the Nation, but for now it is most viable and practical.
Regardless of one’s ideal society., the spirit of unity
must be the first step. The Nation represents this unity
It has a plan.
I surely hope that the Nation will have an orderly
transition. I trust that the late Elijah Muhammad will
always be remembered as a great Black Man.
Ray Williams
Messenger Returns To Allah
According to the teachings of
the Holy Koran, the righteous do
not die - they return to Allah. On
Tuesday, February 26, 1975 the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad,
Spiritual leader and messenger
of the Nation of Islam returned to
Allah after suffering from heart
failure. The messenger was 77.
He had been a faithful leader and
worshiper of the Nation of Islam
for more than forty years.
Ironically, the messenger
passed one day before he was to
deliver his annual Savior’s Day
Message. The message was to be
aired nationally via closed circuit
television from the
Amphetheatre in Chicago.
However, the affair went on as
planned with, Wallace
Muhammad, the messengers
second eldest son, presiding.
Wallace Muhammad, 41, has
assumed leadership of the
Nation. He is reported to have
been in training for the position -
although Mr. Muhammad
himself named no successor.
Wallace, is only one of Mr.
Muhammad’s six sons. Strangely
enough during the break between
the late Malcolm X and the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad,
Wallace opted to sympathize with
Malcolm and was excused from
the Chicago Temple No. 2 by his
father.
Former Alumnus Seen As
Contender For Leadership
There had been much
speculation as to who would
become the “number one man”
in the Nation. According to the
Amesterdam News, the New
York based weekly. Winston-
Salem State’s own Louis
Farrakhan had been trying to
project himself in the top
leadership - but time was not on
his side. The Amsterdam news
went on further to cite that
Minister Farrakahan's two
daughters recently married two
of Mr. Muhammad’s grandsons,
and that “Mr. Farrakhan the
New York representative of
Honorable Elijah Muhammad
had been preparing his
congregation for the coming end
and a possible power struggle.”
Others who were seen as
possible contenders were Mr.
Muhammad’s son Herbert
because of his unbroken
association with his father and
another brother Akbor, One of the
messenger’s sons, Ekbar is a
Professor at Vanderbilt
University. According to the
Chicago Tribune, however, he is
not considered of the inner circle
which guides the religion.
Muhammad Ali, though not
considered a leader, might be
influential should a struggle
develop. Many, particularly the
Amsterdam News seem to
think that a struggle is inevitable
because of the need for recon
structing within the Nation. The
Amsterdam also feels that
Wallace Muhammad because of
his orthodox tendencies will be
effective, if he leads the Nation
closer to orthodox teachings
Otherwise, “They would Fall by
the wayside like (the
Book
Review
The most controversial,
revolutionary, and debated idea
in education today is the subject
of Career Education: A Proposal
for Reform by Sidney P
Marland, ,Ir. (Mc(;raw-Hill
$7.95).
The author,
inissioner of
a former Coin-
Education and
Assistant Secrrtary of Education
and now President of the College
iMitrance I’xaniinatioii Hoard,
points out that this new force iii
learning theory and practice
shifts the emphasis of America’s
schools from learning for lear
ning’s sake to preparing .students
ill practical—as well as academic-
-ways for a u.seful, productive
and self-fulfilling life .styles of
their choice.
The fir.st book on the subject for
general readers. Career
Education di.scusses the ways in
which career education seeks to
make schooling more relevant
for children, young people, and
adults. It describes the system’s
current impact on schools,
colleges, vocational institutes!
and busine.sses, and explores its
potential for revitalizing the
nation's learning curricula.
Dr. Marland also examines the
pros and cons of career
education, and responds to its
(ritics and detractors. While
there have been passing thrusts
at other concepts of educational
change over the past half cen
tury, he notes, none has so
captured the support of parents,
teachers, school and university
leaders, school boards, business
.ind industry.
Dr. Marland objects to the title
father of career education”
which is commonly associated
with his name, for the concept, he
.says, has had many fathers and
mothers: in fact it has been
waiting in the wings for
generations, he declares, and he
has only been a "mid-husband”
to its development.
by \ ictor de Keyserling
movements) of P'ather Divine or
Daddy Grace.” It will never
theless be an interesting and
crucial period in America’s
history - black and white.
Funeral
On Friday, February 28, 1975,
more than 20,000 people in and
around Temple No. 2 to pay last
respects to that honorable
messenger. Many dignataries
were on hand; Jesse Jackson,
former A&T State student and
head of Operation PUSH,
presidential assistant, Stanley
Scott, and Floyd McKissick.
Mayor Daley did not attend the
funeral, but visited with the
family. He also sponsored a
resolution in the city council
meeting expressing deep regret
at Mr. Muhammad’s passing.
Ray Williams
Winston-Salem State University
Student Government Association
Will Sponsor
A Lecture
By Albert Bryant
F ormer Research Assistant
For The Senate Watergate Committee
On
Wednesday, April 2
At 8:00 P.M.
Ballroom-Hauser Student Union
EDITOR - Mickey Flowers
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