☪️ Islam and the Black Freedom Struggle
Islam and the Black Freedom struggle in the USA share a long history. Islam has played a powerful and often underrecognized role in the Black freedom struggle. From the Nation of Islam’s early organizing to Malcolm X’s global vision of justice, Black Muslims have shaped identity, challenged oppression, and built community infrastructure.
The Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam (NOI) was founded in 1930 by Wallace Fard Muhammad and later led by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. It offered a radical alternative to Christianity, emphasizing Black self-sufficiency, discipline, and pride. At a time when Black identity was under siege, the NOI provided a framework for empowerment and resistance.
Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam
Malcolm X, perhaps the most iconic of the Nation’s leader, joined the NOI in 1952 and quickly rose to prominence. His speeches electrified audiences, challenging white supremacy and calling for Black liberation “by any means necessary.” Malcolm’s critique of integrationist politics and his emphasis on global solidarity reshaped the movement’s discourse.
In 1964, Malcolm left the NOI and embraced Sunni Islam, traveling to Mecca and connecting with Muslims around the world. His transformation expanded the scope of Black liberation, linking it to anti-colonial struggles in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He envisioned a movement that was both spiritual and political, rooted in faith and global justice.
Warith Deen Mohammed
After Elijah Muhammad’s death in 1975, his son Warith Deen Mohammed led a major reform, transitioning many NOI members into mainstream Islam. Imam Warith Deen transformed the Nation of Islam (NOI) into the World Community of al-Islam in the West (now known as the Muslim American Society), shifting its teachings from Elijah Muhammad’s unique ideology to orthodox Sunni Islam. He emphasized interfaith dialogue, civic engagement, and community development. Under his leadership, Black Muslims built mosques, schools, and social service programs across the country.
Today, Black Muslims continue to lead in criminal justice reform, education, and civic engagement. Organizations like the Muslim American Society, Islamic Circle of North America, and local mosques partner with advocacy groups to register voters, host forums, and challenge systemic injustice.
Black Muslim women have also played key roles—organizing, teaching, and leading in spaces often dominated by men. Their voices are essential to understanding the full scope of Islamic influence in the movement.
Islam’s contribution to Black liberation is multifaceted. It offers spiritual clarity, moral discipline, and a global lens. It challenges materialism, affirms dignity, and builds community. From Malcolm X to today’s mosque-based voter drives, the legacy of Black Islam is one of courage, conviction, and transformation.
☪️ Supplemental: Rebuilding the Nation of Islam
After Elijah’s death in 1975, the Nation faced a crossroads. Warith Deen Mohammed led many followers into mainstream Sunni Islam, emphasizing interfaith dialogue and civic engagement. But in 1977, Louis Farrakhan began rebuilding the original NOI—preserving its theology, structure, and cultural influence.
Farrakhan’s revival was strategic and symbolic. He reestablished mosque networks, relaunched The Final Call newspaper, and reactivated the NOI’s emphasis on Black self-sufficiency, moral discipline, and economic independence. His leadership culminated in the Million Man March of 1995, which drew nearly a million Black men to Washington, D.C. for a day of reflection, recommitment, and unity.
Under Farrakhan, the NOI became a cultural and political force—hosting forums, building schools, and engaging in national discourse on reparations, policing, and Black empowerment. While controversial, Farrakhan’s role in reviving the NOI ensured that Islam remained a visible and influential strand in the Black liberation tapestry.
Black Islamic Movement & NOI Revival
October 4th, 2025
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