Islam as a Way of Freeing Black People from the White Man's Poison
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Moorish history began in the 1910s in New Jersey, and reached Chicago in 1925 (Curtis IV, 47). Noble Drew Ali founded Moorish Science and published the Holy Koran of the Moorish Science Temple (Curtis IV, 48). The movement was inspired by Islamic movements of resistance against European powers (Curtis IV, 50). Members of the movement would synthesize and rewrite many parts of ancient history surround Islam as a way of claiming that African Americans were descendants of ancient Asiatic people who were Muslim (Curtis IV, 54). I do not completely believe that this is cultural appropriation, as many African Americans were indeed Muslim before being stolen from the native land of West Africa. However, I do believe that it is problematic when American people claim that their ancestors built the pyramids in Egypt or Sudan, as they have no proof to back these claims, and they are somewhat claiming other people’s history. Noble Drew Ali believed that White people were guilty of the harsh living conditions in Black communities. He claimed that the White man took Black people’s identities away. Moreover, he believed that White people stripped Black people of their nationality and heritage (Curtis IV, 55).
These views are similar to the ones Malcolm X had, before he left the Nation of Islam. In fact, members of the Nation of Islam believed that all White men were devils. They also believed that the White man’s actions were the cause of the suffering of Black people (Malcolm X, 159). In order to describe all the systems put in place to keep Black people in the same conditions, Malcolm X uses the term ‘‘White man’s poison’’. He was motivated to become a Muslim, as it was of way of freeing himself from these many poisons, such as pork, alcohol, cigarettes and drugs (Malcolm X, 161). Furthermore, he considered that Islam was a way of revealing the true knowledge that the Black man possessed (Malcolm X, 162). I also believe that there was an appetite for Islam among African Americans, as Christianity was often used as a way of pacifying them and making them submissive and obedient to the White man. In public speeches, Malcolm referred to these submissive Black people as ‘‘house slaves’’.
The song ‘‘The Spark’’ by the rap group Roots mentions Islam directly. The artist rapping, Malik B, calls himself Abdul Malik, meaning servant of the King, King being one of God’s names mentioned in the Quran. Thus, he is saying that God is his master and his King, and that no man is above him. He also mentions giving Dawah, which I believe means preaching, or inviting people to Islam. He mentions the pillars of Islam, such as prayer, fasting, charity, and the Holy pilgrimage. He also mentions du’as, which are prayers in which one makes requests or invocations, asking for guidance, mercy, provision, and many more things that God can give us. Finally, Malik B mentions Tawaf, which is when pilgrims walk circularly around the Ka’aba during the pilgrimage.
The two readings mentioned above, as well as the song, illustrate the importance of Islam, specifically in relation to the liberation of Black people from the White man’s shackles. Islam allowed Black people to create an identity separate from the one that was forced onto them by the White man, who were once their slave masters. Thus, through Islam, Black people claim that only God is their master, and that they will not submit themselves to men. What I find particularly interesting is that these movements were initially racist and separatist, whereas Islam prohibits racism. In fact, it is said in the Quran that God created us and made us into different peoples and tribes so that we may get to know one another (Surah 49, verse 13). Thus, there is no place for segregation or separatism in Islam. That is why many members of the Nation of Islam ended up leaving it and embracing true Islam, which is the case of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali.