THE NATION OF ISLAM during the Civil Rights Era

Why Enter the Blogging Arena At This Time?

The Nation of Islam, a masterful and enduring effort in social engineering and religious reconciliation started in the 1930s with questions like "Who is the original man?" is still challenging the so-called "American lifestyle."  

Issues and answers surrounding the original effort and its development and or evolution over the past eighty (80) years demand attention. As a participant, a photo-journalist and having had the opportunity to document a portion of this social and religious "reconciliation" I hope to offer through this BLOG a series of meaningful personal recollections and insights.

Recent monitoring FaceBook and other social media outlets, indicates to me an increase in activity and debates about growth and development in the overall Islamic or Muslim community in the USA. Like it or not, everyone that practices Islam in the USA today knows or should know that we are ALL indebted to the Nation of Islam (NOI) under the Hon. Elijah Muhammad.  Much of the recent online debate is centered on partial (or incomplete) information available to active, younger generation Muslims and challenges to views and “recollections” residing in the minds of participants in earlier efforts of Muslim community development -- yet to be preserved in formal fashion.

Vigorous debate and exchange of ideas and information is vital to intellectual, social and community growth and development.   Nearly "instant" communication is readily available to the world nowadays. Whether it’s the “Citizen Journalist”, “Political Organizer”, “Protest Participant”, “Passive Observer” or the like, the availability of “Social Media” has forever changed the manner and means of human interaction.

Don’t know how many of us born in the 1930s can take full or even good advantage of this phenomena, but I’m going to give it a try – Good Lord willing (Insha Allah, in Arabic).  I heard those words uttered as a way of life by at least three generations of family members, and I believe to my soul that philosophy was a factor in my seeking to follow the Islamic way of life as a matter of survival during the tumultuous 1960s.  

The past generations of family members I had the pleasure to live among and enjoy did not profess the practice of an Islamic way of life but, as I came to learn later, managed to practice and pass on many traditions of an Islamic way of life.  This blog is a learning experience for me with the intention to share some “personal recollections” that may, again “God Willing,” benefit generations that follow. 

Visit: The "OFFICIAL" Unofficial Source for Everything "Nation of Islam" during the Civil Rights Era 

While I’ve had some experience writing blogging is new for me, so please bear with me as I learn the ropes of this intriguing media arena.  I’ve been threatening to enter this arena for a time now and have been pushed over the edge so to speak by the exchanges I mentioned above and an heightened awareness of the need to share this information prompted by a series of questions posed by my daughter in Florida. 

Next: My introduction to The Nation of Islam in the 1960s.