Muhammad, Elijah - Timeline Biography
Time Period
10-07-1897 - 02-25-1975
Description
Elijah Poole (1897-1975) was born in Georgia to a family of former slaves and sharecroppers. In 1931, after moving to Detroit, he began attending lectures at the Nation of Islam (NOI), a black nationalist movement founded in Michigan by W. Fard Muhammad. Poole converted to Islam, became the assistant minister and changed his name to Elijah Muhammad.
The NOI advocated a combination of Islam and political and economic action to improve the plight of America’s downtrodden black community. Elijah Muhammad became its leader in 1934 and established a second temple in Chicago, where his pronouncements became increasingly fiery. He advocated a separate black nation, referred to white people as "blue-eyed devils" and said blacks were the chosen people. He was jailed during World War II for advocating draft evasion.
Muhammad oversaw widespread growth among the black Muslim movement in America, expanding to 70 temples and more than 100,000 followers.
The NOI advocated a combination of Islam and political and economic action to improve the plight of America’s downtrodden black community. Elijah Muhammad became its leader in 1934 and established a second temple in Chicago, where his pronouncements became increasingly fiery. He advocated a separate black nation, referred to white people as "blue-eyed devils" and said blacks were the chosen people. He was jailed during World War II for advocating draft evasion.
Muhammad oversaw widespread growth among the black Muslim movement in America, expanding to 70 temples and more than 100,000 followers.
Interactive Timeline(s)
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Religious Groups
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: IslamicIslamic: Other ARDA Links
Islamic: Religious Family Tree
Movements
Black Muslim MovementRelated Dictionary Terms
Nation of IslamPhotographs
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Elijah Muhammad- Flickr- photo by Mary Harrsch (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Elijah Muhammad speaking- Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-116389
Elijah Muhammad addressing an assembly of Muslim followers- Library of Congress, LC-USZ62-116384
Elijah Muhammed portrait- Federal Bureau of Investigation photo
Book/Journal Source(s)
Melton, J. Gordon, 2009. Melton's Encyclopedia of American Religions, Eighth Edition Farmington Hills, MI: Gale.Lippy, Charles, and Peter Williams, 2010. Encyclopedia of Religion in America Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.
Benedict, Gerald, 2008. The Watkins Dictionary of Religions and Secular Faiths London: Watkins Publishing.
Web Source(s)
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elijah-MuhammadEncyclopedia Britannica
Web Page Contributor
Sandi DolbeeAffliated with: Former Religion and Ethics Editor, The San Diego Union-Tribune
