Elijah Muhammad: Religious Leader (Black Americans of Achievement)

A biography of a leader of the Black Muslim movement, which combined religious beliefs with strong social protest

This series entry traces the life of Elijah Poole from his youth in rural Georgia, to his introduction and initiation to the Nation of Islam (also known as Black Muslims), to his emergence as the group's leader in 1934 as Elijah Muhammad. Halasa portrays Muhammad as a low-profile, perceptive, somewhat autocratic individual whose strong sense of black identity won many converts. This portrayal is fair and balanced; Muhammad's positive traits are highlighted while the negative aspects of his leadership and personal life are also discussed. The relationship between Muhammad and Malcolm X receives broad coverage, but after that the book plods toward its conclusion. Still, it will be useful for examining the social and religious impact that this group has had on American culture. The book is supplemented with black-and-white photographs. --Jeanette Lambert, LaVega School, Waco, TX
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.