The Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam (NOI) is an Islamic and Black nationalist movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in 1930. His mission was to "teach the downtrodden and defenseless Black people a thorough knowledge of God and of themselves." Members of the NOI study the Quran, worship Allah as their God and accept Muhammad as their prophet, while also believing in notions of Black Nationalism.
In 1934, Elijah Muhammad succeeded Fard and the NOI began to gain popularity among African Americans during the 1950s and the 1960s with its message of racial independence, establishing mosques in urban areas, and converting incarcerated Black men to the religion.
Records held at the National Archives related to the Nation of Islam are mostly Federal investigations on their Black Nationalist activity across the country. Many of the investigative cases focused on the actions of individual members.
Below are records relating to the Nation of Islam in general, as well as pages highlighting prominent leaders and members of the group.
Search the Catalog for records relating to the Nation of Islam
Prominent Members of the Nation of Islam
Record Group 21: District Courts of the United States
Civil Case Files, 1938-1988 National Archives Identifier: 559845
Criminal Case Files, 1863-1992 National Archives Identifier: 559640
Record Group 59: Department of State
Central Foreign Policy Files, 1973-1979 National Archives Identifier 654098
The electronic records in this series can be searched online via the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) system. The telegrams on AAD include only unclassified, unrestricted files which have been determined to be of permanent historical value. Please search for 'Nation of Islam'.
Record Group 60: Department of Justice
Class 25 (Selective Service Act) Litigation Case Files, 1920-1974 National Archives Identifier: 646049
Record Group 65: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Classification 44 (Civil Rights) Case Files
Classification 157 (Civil Unrest) Case Files
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