Elijah Muhammad

Elijah Muhammad was the leader of the Nation of Islam from the 1930s until his death in 1975. He is best known for promoting a version of Islam that emphasized black self-sufficiency, racial pride, and the belief that African Americans were the original people of the world. Under his leadership, the Nation of Islam grew significantly, attracting followers such as Malcolm X, who initially served as a prominent spokesperson for the movement. However, their relationship soured when Malcolm publicly criticized Muhammad's personal conduct and the Nation's teachings. Muhammad's influence on the African American civil rights movement remains contentious, as he both inspired a sense of identity and faced criticism for fostering divisive ideologies.