Conduct some brief research on Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. Who did Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam attract and why? Do you think Baldwin’s critique of the Nation of Islam is warranted? Why or why not?
10 thoughts on “Response to “The Fire Next Time” (pp. 47-67) by James Baldwin”
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Elijah Muhammad was a leader of the Nation of Islam. He was known for his controversial preachings. He spoke to African-Americans about personal pride and economic independence but also about rejecting “white America”. African-Americans gravitated toward what Elijah was saying at the time because they were suffering from the effects of racism and discrimination.
I am between whether his critiques are warranted or not. On one hand, Baldwin’s critiques of the Nation of Islam is warranted because he was able to speak to Muhammad and view the Nation of Islam from an emic perspective. On the other, Baldwin’s critiques of the Nation of Islam is not warranted, despite the Nation of Islam furthering the rifts between black and white people. Baldwin grew up in a Christian Congregation which he hated. His analysis of the Nation of Islam reflects his bitterness toward his experience in the church. An example of this is on page 70 when he says “I left the church twenty years ago and I haven’t joined anything else.”
Elijah Muhammad was infamous for his highly controversial ideas and beliefs. He was a leader for the Nation of Islam, a political movement that emphasized being proud of one’s African roots. They believed that they, as black individuals, had rich cultural pasts that were stripped away from them as a result of slavery and the oppression that they faced by white people. As a result of these beliefs, some view the Nation of Islam as a hate group that promotes black supremacy. The general audience that the Nation of Islam drew were black people who likely felt like they were oppressed by the white people.
I believe that Baldwin’s critique of the Nation of Islam is warranted. Baldwin is entirely entitled to his opinion on the issue. The Nation of Islam was already relatively controversial at the time, and it’s clear that the ideologies of the Nation of Islam were too radical for Baldwin. Baldwin provides reasonable justification for his dismissal of the Nation of Islam stating “What these men were saying about white people I had often heard before. And I dismissed the Nation of Islam’s demand for a separate black economy in America, which I had also heard before, as willful, and even mischievous, nonsense.” With this, it’s clear that Baldwin has seen many an individual who had preached the ideas that the Nation of Islam had, and these saying had led nowhere.
Elijah Muhammad was the leader of the Nation of Islam. The Nation of Islam was advocated an unorthodox version of Islam that was very critical of whites and of white-dominated America. At one point he was very separatist leaning. He promoted a separate nation for African-Americans, among other things. His highly critical views and provocative views gained the attention of blacks across the nation that faced discrimination and racism. It advocated building a community for African-Americans by African-Americans so it gave them something to want and believe in. It gave them the idea that they could control their lives and not be subject to whites.
Elijah Muhammad is expresses radical ideas for Baldwin. Baldwin has seen people argue for ideas like this before and it has not worked out. Booker T. Washington is one earlier figure who expressed similar ideas to Muhammad but just not as radically. Washington was one of the founders of the Tuskegee Institute which would educated African-Americans how to do certain things to create an economy for them. It still led to African-Americans being intensely discriminated against. Baldwin just appears to seeing things happening again and didn’t believe the Nation of Islam would help bring equality.
Elijah Muhammad is well known for being the leader of the Nation of Islam. He was also followed by Malcom X and Muhammad Ali. The Nation of Islam advocated very controversial beliefs and ideas. They essentially believed in Black Supremacy. And as Baldwin had previously stated, the Nation of Islam helped create a community of African-Americans who believed that they could one day change their position in society.
I believe Baldwin’s critique is warranted because he gives valid points as to why the Nation of Islam won’t help their situation. He mentioned that he had heard the same things they were preaching before and yet it had done nothing.
Elijah Muhammad was one of the leaders of the Nation of Islam and spread ideas regarding Black financial independence, racial separation, as well as a strict code of moral behavior. The Nation of Islam specifically attracted Blacks who were angered and resentful of the current social situation in America and particularly identified with the message that all White people were devils. Many people were satisfied hearing their thoughts justified by a divine figure. The Nation of Islam also attracted Blacks who sought historical and divine proof of their importance in society. The fact that this message of empowerment was provided within a religious context as well was very appealing to many.
Baldwin’s critique of the Nation of Islam is indeed warranted I believe. He does a good job at pointing out the many goods that they were able to provide the Black community with and and how the Nation of Islam empowered Blacks like no other previous group. Although Baldwin’s main critique, which is in my opinion having more to do with Baldwin’s general distaste for religion, very accurately outlines some of the issues that are present with the Nation of Islam. Baldwin also takes issue with the idea that all White people are devils and in general, Muhammad’s very separatist take on race relations. Overall, I agree with Baldwin’s main message that focuses on embracing the past and learning how to use it to the best of your ability.
Elijah Muhammad was the leader of the Nation of Islam, which was a political and religious movement comprised of African-Americans that believed in a separate society from white Americans. Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X both drew influence from his beliefs. The Nation of Islam was a radical group due to their controversial beliefs on African-Americans’ conditions.
I believe Baldwin’s critique of the Nation of Islam is warranted because their statements are meant to spark criticism in my opinion. The controversial nature of their claims are most definitely up for discussion and review. In addition, Baldwin acknowledges the rights and wrongs of their claims, so it does provide a sufficient analytical lens.
Elijah Muhammad was the leader of the Nation of Islam from 1934 to 1975. One of the most pertinent views he held was that blacks should live in a separate society from whites. He pointed out that whites had oppressed blacks for centuries and preached ways to be financially independent from white America. These radical views attracted many African Americans, as they were upset by the overt racism expressed by America’s institutions and citizens.
I believe that Baldwin’s critique of the Nation of Islam is completely warranted. He gives logical reasoning behind his opinions toward the Nation of Islam’s range of radical claims. Overall, his analysis clearly depicts the extent to which the Nation of Islam is helping the black community.
Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam attracted for the most part black folk who believed that the “white man” was essentially the “devil” and that black people would one day overrun white people. This ideology mixes both religion and historical context of the time. It is fair to assume that many people had some hope for a better future and to pursue it they joined Muhammad and the Nation of Islam. Anyone weak-minded was easily intrigued by Muhammad’s claims.
Baldwin’s critique is warranted as the way he writes down Muhammad’s words make religion sound like reasoning for hatred against “white men”. Baldwin fears how religion misleads people into a very aggressive and singleminded way of thinking as he described Elijah Muhammad as purely single minded with no deeper message about “white men”. Elijah sounds like a mad man.
Elijah Muhammad was the leader of the black separatist religious movement known as the Nation of Islam. A movement that called for the establishment of a separate nation for black American and for them to adopt a religion based on the worship of Allah and to the belief that blacks are his chosen people.
I believe Baldwin’s critique is somewhat warranted because Muhammad’s idea of separating races, especially the “white devils” from the black American is exactly how Baldwin describes it “nonsense,” and it seems to be doing the same white people are doing. They are still creating a racial hierarchy, which in this case black American’s are at the top. I believe that In other to solve racial issues races shouldn’t be superior from one another if not create a whole new structure.
Elijah Muhammad was the leader of the Nation of Islam, a black separatist movement, and also a religious leader. He was a Black Separatist, he talked to African about staying away from the white. Baldwin’s critique of the Nation of Islam is warranted because he’s basically creating more racial hierarchy. He believes that the Nation of Islam won’t help their situation.