Moorish Science and separatism
-
The Moorish Scientists and the Nation of Islam believed that the political future of Black Americans was entrenched in separatism and self-governance from white American society. The Moorish Science Temple laid the groundwork by proposing that Black Americans, referred to as "Moors," belonged to a broader Asiatic lineage that tied them to a proud, ancient heritage distinct from Western labels. This reframing aimed to dissolve the imposed racial categories that linked Blackness to oppression. Specifically, Noble Drew Ali, the founder of the Moorish Science Temple, felt that "all humans should separate themselves according to their respective national groups"; he attempts to invoke notions of a nation here as a common history, creed and value system (Curtis, 53). The combination of this Black particularism, cloaked in concepts of nation and culture, and this kind of Black nationalism created a political vision for Black Americans that was far more than just a call for separation; it was a profound reimagining of Black identity in the West. It emphasised a collective reckoning, where redemption would come through "the collective actions of a whole nation", rather than any individual acts.
The Nation of Islam expanded on this foundation, transforming the notion of Black separatism into a form of political resistance rooted in a distinct theological ideology. For Elijah Muhammad and the Nation, this separation was not merely a social or cultural choice; it was a survival strategy, born from the lived experiences of generations of Black Americans who had endured centuries of exploitation and violence at the hands of white society. They viewed white people as "the devil," a characterisation steeped in generational histories of abuse. This perspective posited that the very existence of Black people in America was intertwined with a legacy of violence, necessitating a radical departure from this inhumane society. The Nation's doctrine called to reclaim Black identity, by establishing separate institutions that would foster economic independence, spiritual renewal, and communal solidarity. In this way, the Nation of Islam framed separatism as a crucial means of political resistance for the future.