Cityview, Wednesday, March 11, 1998, Pages 13-14
ONE NATION UNDER ALLAH
Small in number, large in spirit,
The Nation of Islam preaches a message of
righteousness unfamiliar in Des Moines
B Y G E O F F F E I N
It's hard not to find someone familiar with the
Nation of Islam. On the national level, people are aware of the work the Nation does
in getting black men to accept responsibility for their lives and for the controversial
stands it takes. But few Central Iowans realize the Nation has a chapter - the group
owns a mosque, several buildings and a restaurant on Forest Avenue - in Des Moines.
The Nation of Islam is a paradox. While it's not hard to agree
with the ideas of black empowerment, self-discipline and abstinence from drugs and
alcohol, it's also difficult to overlook the accusations of anti-Semitism and racism.
Through its own literature, the Nation claims the allegations of an
anti-black agenda by Jews are warranted. Jewish leaders denounce the rhetoric as
Nazi propaganda. They say the Nation of Islam is just looking for someone to blame
its problems on.
Add to the equation the remarks Minister Louis Farrakhan has made,
charging white America with blocking opportunities for blacks and calling the U.S. the
"great Satan," and pundits say they have enough ammunition to prove the Nation
is a hate group.
Just how many members the Des Moines organization has is unknown.
Minister Preston Muhammad won't divulge membership. But he's hoping this will
be the beginning of a long-term presence.
Muhammad, 50, is the local representative to the Nation. He moved
here from Joliet in 1992 with his wife, Constance, and their children to develop a Nation
of Islam study group. He's one of Minister Louis Farrakhan's most trusted
associates.
"Our duty first and foremost is to express the teachings of the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad to not only the black community, but the community
at-large," Muhammad says. "It's necessary to not only redeem black people,
in particular, but everybody."
The group has taken its message to the streets of Des Moines through
sales of its paper, "The Final Call," at intersections along Forest Avenue.
Muhammad says he visits jails and prisons to counsel inmates. The goal, he
says, is to let blacks know that the sense of inferiority they may feel stems from the
poor education and living conditions they have been subjected to.
"In elementary school, what happens when a child doesn't learn
anything about himself? The educational system is rife with instructors unprepared
to teach black children."
He says white America bears responsibility for a history of racial
injustice.
"Some economists say every dollar you touch in America is rooted
in the slave experience. We were brought here to do work but never received
compensation. As America got richer, blacks got poorer and poorer."
Muhammad has been outspoken on reparations for blacks. He says
blacks are probably owed about $600 billion since the 1930s alone. But he knows the
government would never agree to pay.
"The government doesn't want to give us this kind of money.
I don't believe it wants to see black people independent. They don't want us
with that kind of power."
What America fears, he adds, is blacks gaining economic, political and
military strength that could eventually lead to insurrection.
SELF-HELP
"There are four times as many black men incarcerated now as at the peak of
apartheid. This tells us there is a system to mass incarcerate black people as a
means to control and destroy us.
Muhammad blames much of this on the overwhelming influence of drugs.
"I believe crack cocaine is a weapon of mass destruction.
Thousands of lives have been lost to it. There's not one black household
unaffected by drugs, deaths, mayhem and loss of morals. It's wrecked havoc on
us."
Ako Abdul Samad, head of Creative Visions, says the Nation and local
organizations are all interested in helping people. He adds he has known Muhammad
for almost 20 years.
"We both have the same interest in dealing with the community.
We'd be foolish not to support trying to give youths and adults an
alternative."
His only contact with the Nation, however, has been when he sees
members selling their newspaper down the street from Creative Visions.
Paulette Wiley, executive director of the Willke House, is one of the
few people in Des Moines to have ongoing contact with the group. Nation members have
chaperoned youth events at the facility. Before they started coming to help out, the
police were called on a regular basis.
"Without the Nation of Islam we couldn't have done it. They
taught respect, worked with kids to diffuse anger and dialogue over issues of
violence," she says. "I have a lot of respect for their community
policing."
The Nation's success in New York, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles
became so well known the group was offered a government contract to police housing
projects in Chicago. But accusations that it's a hate group forced city officials to
backtrack.
"Everywhere we worked, crime was reduced up to 80 percent,"
Muhammad says. "People were able to go out without any fear and we did it
without firing a shot and without violence. But the government snatched those
contracts away."
In Des Moines, it's been a different story. Community organizers
and business owners near the mosque say they have little contact with Nation members.
Part of the problem may be the size of the congregation. Muhammad says their
numbers limits what they can do.
Connie Cook, president of the Carpenter Neighbors Association, says
during the summer months the Nation chases drug dealers away from the mosque by blaring
religious messages over a loud speaker atop the building. But other neighborhood
associations say they have little if any contact with the Nation.
Mayor Preston Daniels says he is unaware of the group's activities in
the area. Muhammad hasn't spoken with the either the mayor or council members.
He says city officials don't serve the interest of black people.
"They're not leaders. They're accomplices to keeping black
people in their place. I believe that in my heart."
THE NATION'S ROOTS
In many ways, the Nation of Islam is misunderstood, says Professor S. M. B.
Miller of Drake University. "If people would familiarize themselves with the
history of this organization, it is very much about a change of state-of-mind for black
men and women."
The modern Nation dates back to the 1930s when Elijah Muhammad preached
that the aspirations of blacks lay in the Muslim faith. By the 1950s, Malcolm X had
became Elijah Muhammad's principal spokesperson. When Malcolm X moved from Boston to
Harlem, a former calypso singer, born Louis Eugene Walcott (later known as Louis X), took
over the ministry in Boston. Louis X eventually changed his name to Louis Farrakhan.
After several years of changes in direction and leadership, Farrakhan
resurrected the Nation. Members see Farrakhan as the true successor to Elijah
Muhammad.
Under the leadership of Farrakhan, the Nation began to lay the
foundation for economic self-reliance. Farms, factories, grocery stores, restaurants
and book stores have sprung up across the country. Muhammad hopes to expand the
Nation's economic goals and its membership in Des Moines.
DISPELLING MYTHS
Any plans for the Nation of Islam to grow, even on a local level, will no doubt
run up against the accusations of anti-Semitism. It is the one issue that could
prevent it from gaining mainstream acceptance.
"That's the No. 1 party line. Farrakhan is not
anti-Semitic," Muhammad says. "That's reinforced because of the great
power of the Jewish community. They have the power to get their ideas across."
Rabbi Steven Fink of Temple B'Nai Jeshurun in Des Moines says there is
no doubt the organization is anti-Semitic. "They are, absolutely. There's
no question of that. The rhetoric is very similar to Nazi Germany. The idea of
a [Jewish] conspiracy causes us pain."
While the Nation has been seen as being anti-white, Muhammad says he
wants to dispel that claim. He tries to meet with community organizers, and several
area residents have eaten at his wife's restaurant.
Some religious leaders say that even with the talk of anti-Semitism,
it's hard to overlook the good the Nation has achieved.
"I lift out the positive things they stand for. This is an
organization that stresses discipline, responsibility, self-help and self-esteem,"
says Pastor Michael Hurst of the St. Paul AME Church in Des Moines. "If
Farrakhan is doing something positive, I'm an advocate for it."
The St. Paul AME Church was one of the few churches involved in the
Million Man March. Hurst says he was the only Christian pastor to sit on the podium
with Farrakhan.
"Who can dispute the reasons for the Million Man March? But
throw Minister Farrakhan in, and people say, 'Don't go,'" Hurst says.
On the anniversary of the march, Muhammad invites all worshipers to
partake in atoning for their mistakes. He says a lot of good things have come out of
the Million Man March.
"Here in Des Moines, U.S. Attorney Don Nickerson adopted several
children as a result of the Million Man March," Muhammad says.
ARE THEY MUSLIMS?
Whether the Nation is even considered a religious movement is debatable. To
be considered truly a Muslim, one has to make the Haj, retracing the Prophet Mohammad's
triumphant stand in Mecca, Miller says.
"Elijah Muhammad made the Haj and Farrakhan made the Haj."
But some Muslims don't recognize the Nation as a religion.
"It is a social movement," says Imam Taha Tawil, chairman of the Islamic
Council of Iowa. "Farrakhan is a revivalist of the black community, but that
has nothing to do with Islam. They use the same terms, but there are differences in
faith."
The Nation is not a participating member of any of the Des Moines
religious councils; however, they are recognized as a faith.
"We are aware of their presence but we have almost no relationship
with the Nation of Islam," says Dr. James R. Ryan, executive director of the
Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa.
Whether a religion or social movement, one thing is clear: Muhammad
firmly believes that the Nation of Islam and God have a message not only for blacks, but
for all Americans.
"We have to try to practice righteousness. If we are
speaking the truth, people will respect that."
Cityview
Wednesday, March 11, 1998, Pages 13-14
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