User:Bpunjani/sandbox

Self Determination:

While a separation of races was always the goal of the Nation of Islam, it all came from a desire to disrupt the moral and normative attitude that Western philosphy and religion imposed during colonialism. With different aesthetics and a rejection of normative ideals, and with a different nation, the Nation of Islam essentially wanted agency and self determination in the economic development of their own lives. They saw the only way out of the past was with a radically different future.

"For instance, to combat the eradication of black religiosity initially practiced by enslaved Africans, the NOI introduced, or, in some cases reintroduced Islam, a religion that had historically challenged Western religious ideas. In addition, to address efforts to obliterate other aspects of African culture, such as names, dress, food, education, socialization and marriage practices, the NOI constructed a new way of life. As black self-determination remained its primary objective, the NOI focused on designing unique clothing and uniforms, introducing bean pies and other dietary changes and creating its private black schools and culturally-centered curriculum. Finally, the Nation created an economic plan that envisioned a collaborative enterprise built on non-European control. All of these initiatives intended to repair Black people and prepare them for active engagement in the increasingly liberated non-European global community, particularly but not exclusively in Africa." [1]

In their pursuit of self-determination, many African Americans turned to Christianity to reclaim autonomy of their historically emasculated and defiled bodies. The problem for many, however, was that Christianity was used to justify gender-based violence.[1] Edward E. Curtis notes that Christianity was used in tandem with American nationalism, and therefore was purposely misinterpreted to make arguments for the continuation of slavery. Therefore, a new found autonomy of the human body, according to the members of the Nation of Islam, could not be found in Christianity. It was already entrenched with Western ideals. Islam, they found, was a way to return to African heritage, a pan-african identity, a re-imagination of African American bodies, and thus fathomable post-colonial future. Of course, this post colonial nature of self determination could not have been accomplished within notions of self love [2] According to those in the nation of Islam, this self love could not be practiced under the American democracy and in American courts. Self, determination (fueled by love of self and others) could only be found in the Sunni Islamic faith and in separation from American institutions[3].

Gender Roles:

Ula Y. Taylor, professor of African American studies at Berkely University, in her book The Promise of Patriarchy: Women and the Nation of Islam describes the role of women in the Nation of Islam. She writes that the Nation of Islam is a "promise of patriarchy" for black women, or as a guarantor of security beyond centuries of physical and sexual exploitation[1]. She writes that the purpose of this patriarchal promise is to overcome the negative stereotypes that had been tattooed to black people, consequently improving the lives of the urban poor. Thus, "the respect and protection offered by black men in the Nation was appealing given the extreme sexual and economic vulnerability of black women during this period." [2]

While W. D. Fard, Elijah Muhammad, and Malcolm X are given the title of the founders of the Nation of Islam, this could not have been done without their female counterparts Sister Clara, Burnsteen Sharrieff, Ethel Sharrieff, and Christine Johnson. It was Clara Mohammed to introduced Elijah Muhammed to W.D Fard, helped him recover from his alcoholism. When people in the organization were being drafted for World War II, and after Elijah Muhammed was arrested for subversion, she and other women helped keep the organization alive. These "rank-and-file women maintained businesses, ran households, taught in Muslim schools, and contributed as writers and editors to Muhammad Speaks".

The X was meant to represent a lot "lost heritage and a personal unknown history."[1]