Nation of Islam: Cult of the Black Muslims/Preface
PREFACE
A monograph entitled "The Nation of Islam" issued in October, 1960, examined the background, organization, activities, and violent nature of this fanatical, all-Negro cult in the United States which is based on a distorted interpretation of the religious principles of Islam and is motivated by hatred of the white race.
This new monograph has been compiled from both public and confidential sources to furnish additional information on this antiwhite group, which has received a considerable amount of publicity. Trials have occurred involving prisoners who claimed their religious rights were denied them during their incarceration; law enforcement officers have been harassed and assaulted by lawbreakers who claimed to be Black Muslims; and Nation of Islam (NOI) members have engaged in verbal battles, as well as actual altercations, with former cult members.
Even members of leader Elijah Muhammad's own family have condemned him. "Black Muslims," since the assassination in February, 1965, of Malcolm X, who was the dissident number-two leader, has become a familiar term nationwide to many who before had never been aware of the group. His murder has deepened cleavages and multiplied allegations. Resulting publicity created national interest that in part benefits the NOI, because this publicity tends to magnify the cult's position out of all proportion to its importance.
The public news media generally refer to all Negroes claiming cult membership as Black Muslims, and this name apparently has been accepted by Elijah Muhammad and the NOI, but attention should be given to the fact that not all persons classified by the press as Black Muslims are actually members of the NOI.
This monograph will clarify some of the distorted images of the cult and reveal the true consequence of this organization.