The Truth About The Honorable Elijah Muhammad May Never Have Been Admitted to, Told or Revealed.. If It Can be, Our Community Can Heal Greatly From this Process…
By Activist / Writer Brother Tracy Gibson…
This is serious business. Any time you are talking about healing old wounds—especially concerning an entire community of people--you are talking about serious business.
What I want to discuss today is an issue that harkens back to the time when Malcolm X was alive and going through his conflict with the Nation of Islam and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. It was the early 1960’s and Malcolm X was finding himself excluded from the Nation and isolated because he had been saying some things about Mr. Muhammad that were not appreciated by Nation leadership. Not many people knew if they were true or not. The truth has never come out and the incident of Malcolm X’s death and the surrounding controversy has left a deep, festering and unhealed scar on our community—our Black community.
The allegations against Brother Elijah were that he had impregnated some women who were under his employ during some sexual affairs and interludes he had been having with them. Malcolm was saying this was true and he was driving a deep division between himself and the Nation of Islam because of these allegations. [Brother Elijah Muhammad headed The Nation of Islam at the time.] In February of 1965 Malcolm ended up dead—shot down in Harlem--because of this controversy and some other differences he was having with the Nation of Islam. [Some people believe to this day that the reason for the assassination of Malcolm X was really the work of the FBI and other U.S. government forces who didn’t like or appreciate the independent thought, empowerment and Black liberation efforts that Malcolm represented. These ``U.S. Government forces’’ it is theorized, wanted to drive a wedge between Malcolm X and The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and may have successfully done so with this controversy and Malcolm X’s eventual murder.] Who really killed our Prince of Darkness—who pulled the triggers and gave the orders and paid any money that might have been paid, if any money was paid,—this may never all come out through true and reliable sources that can be trusted and verified and that don’t have a political ax to grind, as it were. . There have been allegations that the FBI paid some Muslim men to do it; there have been other charges and innuendo about who was responsible for the assassination of our Dark and Valeant Prince….
It must be pointed out early in this article that Brother Elijah Muhammad was a great and memorable Black man who achieved many, many accomplishments for his Black people. He trained Malcolm X; brought great unity and knowledge to his people; and helped thousands of Black men become constructive American citizens after their imprisonment.[Some activists have pointed out that The Honorable Elijah Muhammad may well have helped more Black men in prison than even the Federal Government was even able to help, during that particular time. Elijah Muhammad also: was promoted to Supreme Minister in 1933 and changed his name from Elijah Poole to Elijah Muhammad; In 1935 he was anointed as the leader of the Nation of Islam by W. Farad Muhammad; and from 1935 to 1975 he established over 150 temples and more than 40 universities of Islam. He had a following of over 200,000 people including such leaders as Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. Operated supermarkets, banks, newspapers [``Muhammad Speaks’’].
All his achievements are more the reason to work at lifting the cloud of suspicion and doubt about him so he can be righteously admonished, respected and honored by the larger Black community and the Black Muslim community at large as well. Black women, especially, want to see this cleared up once and for all and some Black women have discussed this concern with me.
One thing is clear—and long overdue-- a healing needs to take place on this issue. A healing for the women who may have been involved; for the community of Muslims involved; and for the larger Black community who loved both Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad. Frankly, it is also something our whole Nation needs to heal from. The whole country has a wound from the assassination of Malcolm X—it may not be nearly as deep as the wound the nation still feels from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, but it is a deep and still festering wound non-the-less. Why do I say this? Because many concerned non-Muslims, White people and other non-Blacks who were and / or are more aware of the grass-roots politics involved, and even non-political and / or unaware people, including just plain old every day average Black people the world over also want the Nation of Islam to internally heal from the events of those days. Many people want the Nation of Islam to make some determinations and some statements about The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and those costly and devastating allegations that were made. If they are true, why not come out and say so. Some people have already forgiven him, [Elijah] even if they are NOT true. But others want a healing and some answers and clarification.
Why do we need healing on this and why am I bringing it up now some 46 years later? There is something in me that wants to see a positive resolution brought to this situation. Like a good therapist, I want to see the difficult things talked about and some honest conclusions reached—even if the parties involved have to peel off some emotional clothing and be honest with themselves to reaching that healing point…. I want to see us be adult enough to take the old skeletons out of the closet and say the events described here either happened, or didn’t happen. I want us to do this without the name calling, finger pointing and immaturity that we can all be capable of, but don’t need to exemplify regarding this matter. What are the explanations? Were these just false statements and allegations? Why have such explosive allegations been allowed to fester for so long if there is no truth to them? Are they just too hurtful to discuss? Some official, honest and open consideration by Elijah Muhammad’s supporters needs to come from this, and soon…
Recently I sent an open letter to a Sister named Maisha Sullivan, an activist in Philadelphia who specializes especially in helping young Black girls bring peace, economic stability, socially responsible conduct and wholesomeness to their lives, to try to come to grips with this controversy and bring on a climate of healing . Ms. Sullivan is a trusted and honored activist in the Philadelphia area and especially in the Black community of Philadelphia. She is also a friend of mine. She has worked with young girls to help them stress education; avoid teen pregnancy; and build constructive and positive lives for themselves. {She does a host of other work on building positive Black culture in the community as well…} I asked Sister Sullivan because I trust her and because she is usually very fair in dealing with the different and divergent interests that make up the Black community in Philadelphia and the Nation.
The E-Mail I sent out follows:
An Open Letter to Activist Maisha Sullivan
RE: About The Honorable Elijah Muhammad...
Dear Ms. Sullivan:
You have stood up for Black women and young Black girls for decades. [Not to mention just regular Black folks of every stripe.] You have championed their concerns and causes such as better and more ethnically diverse education; teen pregnancy; drug abuse; economic development and many other concerns and issues. I have been asked to speak on a sore subject that has kept us from moving ahead as a people for over 40 years. That is the alleged sexual exploits of the late, great Elijah Muhammad. I wrote the Board of the organization that represents the on-going work that is being done in his name [{CROE} The Coalition for the Remembrance of Elijah Muhammad at 2435 West 71st Street {CROE Lane}, Chicago, Illinois 60629. Phone # 1.773.925.1600.] I asked them if they could please, and with all due respect, please respond to the criticism that has been leveled against him as a leader, namely the allegations that he had several out-of-wedlock affairs and got a few women, possible secretaries of his, pregnant. I asked if a formal and civil response to these allegations could be offered because this ``possible history'' was getting in the way of women being more active in the movement and feeling respectful towards Mr. Muhammad. I was hoping that you could address this issue for the women and men readers I have on my list because it is still a sore point and, while many Black activist women I know want to respect and study Mr. Muhammad, they don't feel they can because of the fact that this has never been formally addressed by the Muslim, Pro-Nation leadership. I await your answer.
Sincerely,
Brother Tracy Gibson…
When the above e-mail was sent to my 300 plus e-mail readers, one of the responses I got back was as follows: It is from Writer-Activist Shahrazad Ali. [``The Blackman’s Guide to Understanding the Black Woman,’’ By Shahrazad Ali. ]
From Ms. Ali:
"Brother" Tracy, or is it "Sister" Tracy:
``It has come to my attention that you are still on some kind of rampage allegedly going around and trying to stir up negativity about the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. A man who had the greatest program of "doing for self" that the Black people in America have ever had. He also taught Black manhood and Black womanhood which is sorely missing today. Your life is a testimony to the confusion our Black men have taken on as a result of rejecting self and choosing to live a beast life of savagery and perversion. Whatever went on with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad is none of your, or anybody else's business. Clean up your own act before you try to attack others, especially regarding morals. Look at the immoral behavior you practice and fix that before you go hunting down others. You are just angry because the Messenger clearly rejected the idea of Black men being homosexual or having any kind of unnatural relations with another man. This is your real problem but you try to hide behind other people and claim you are representing them. We don't owe you any explanations about anything concerning the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. You obviously have rejected everything he stood for to dignify and uplift the Black man and Black woman in America. So "Brother" Tracy, until you clean up your own act, keep the Messenger's holy and righteous name out of your filthy and perverted mouth. I really don't like to have to speak like this but you are out of order - and you need to find something better to do. Try bathing, putting on clean clothes, using deodorant and combing your hair and stop eating pork. This should keep you busy.’’
My Simple response was:
``Thank you for your kind and positive comments.’’
After more contemplation over a few days, my more expanded response to Ms Ali was:
Dear Ms. Ali:
I will deal with your personal attacks first. You are right, I very well may not be as ``clean’’ and hygienic as I should be. I am living in Philadelphia and Delaware because I have to take care of my elderly father [he is 84] two weeks out of the month, so taking care of my own personal business, running a business, doing outreach, writing my books, staying afloat financially and staying hygienic becomes a great challenge. I accept the criticism and I will do my best to do better at this. Also: I met a man who appeared to be homeless while I was at the train station last week. He told me about his being chastised and discriminated against just because he appeared homeless. He said and revealed to me that he was thrown out of the bathroom at 30th Street Station [in Philadelphia] because he ``looked like a homeless person’’ and they did not want him cleaning up in the bathroom. This gentleman could well have had a family and NOT been homeless at all. He was able to confide in me because I looked a little peaked around the edges. I, as a journalist, deeply appreciated his remarks and the fact that he felt comfortable enough with me to convey his feelings. That is one reason why I don’t always bath as much as I should and don’t dress all fancy in three-piece suits. Aside from the fact that I can’t afford to so, I also like to see how I am treated by my own people and others. My feeling is that if we cannot treat poor people—and I am poor, mind you--like human beings and with respect, then we need to get the heck out of the activism business because we are being two-faced and dishonest with ourselves...
As far as my being a homosexual and `` choosing to live a beast life of savagery and perversion’’ I think you, like many far-right wing Christians are living a life in the past and being intolerant and not accepting of the various aspects of the Black community. One out of every 10 Americans is homosexual and that includes Black people… We are real and we are here. I think our activists especially need to understand this and work on being more encompassing along gender and lifestyle lines and accepting of the diversity within our Black community. Much of your anger is based on Christian-based traditional hatred of gays, lesbians, transgendered people and bisexuals. This community of people—humans--has been scorned for years [if not generations] and I have worked hard for 35 or more years to help establish more acceptance of us by the dominate society just as I have worked for social and economic advances among and for Black people. I will continue to do so. I think we need to talk about ethical behavior and realize that ALL people can act ethically no matter if they are homosexual or heterosexual. Morality is Biblically based and is a judgment. The Bible itself says ``judge not yet ye be judged.’’ The Bible itself, as you know from studying ancient Black history, is a book that has been tampered with over the years... I go to church, but I don’t believe we should accept everything in the Bible, knowing full well that it was tampered with by White scholars, King James and many others. It has had books left out and it has been twisted to provide justification for some very strange behaviors over the years including slavery, racial hatred, and genocide, the beating of women, hangings, discrimination against the gay community and women, and castrations. I think we can put some of what it contains behind us and on the ash heap of history and move on… I am surprised that you use old-fashioned terms such as ``moral’’ in your language. It is outdated and old. I have lived my life as an open book. I am an out homosexual and proud of it. I don’t make excuses for being the way I am. A pastor on TV said ``go where you are celebrated, not where you are tolerated.’’ I have to agree with that. I no longer spend time around people who hate me, dislike me or discriminate against me because I’m a homosexual because I like and accept what I am. This positive mental attitude didn’t come easy for me, but is the result of a great deal of time, money and work. Work which is ongoing…..
I have not hid myself behind anyone or any institution to justify having a certain name or reputation. All I’m saying is that we need to heal as a community of Black people and forgive where it is needed and move on. I’m sure there are responsible people in the Nation of Islam who can answer the questions that me and some women friends have about the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. If the allegations that Malcolm X had are false, why not come out and say so in a tempered, decent, respectful, open, and honest way? Why is this hidden and covered up like a deep dark secret. Everybody knows that the allegations were never answered and this fact hangs over the heads of members of the Nation like an ethical guillotine just waiting to fall. Black people are a loving and forgiving people. What the Honorable Elijah Muhammad did to help Black people such as his turning the lives of thousands of Black male inmates around for the better and helping them to become employed and desperately needed positive role models for our children in our community will never be erased. I think if these allegations were ever answered fully by your leadership, you would find more people having more respect for the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. These people would more than likely also want to study him more as a historical figure and make damned sure our children know about him. As it is, many people want to forget because of the ``ethical cloud’’ hanging over his memory. Forgiveness and healing would run as deep as the Nile River and a whole new attitude of love, respect, understanding and forgiveness would run within our community. The Nation of Islam could give birth to this new attitude, but instead they sit on their hands and allow this problem to fester—and it is a problem—not just something I dreamed up.
Trying to hide the truth only makes people feel less trusting of the Nation and want more answers. It also engenders a mistrust and disrespect among Black women who should be learning more about the Nation of Islam and the wonderful things the Honorable Elijah Muhammad did for Black people including the opening of hundreds of Mosques; the economic advances they made; and the establishment of the Muhammad Speaks Newspaper. Many regular Black women need to learn about the Nation of Islam and the wonderful things they are still doing today instead of frying their hair and chasing White men and drinking alcohol and doing drugs and partying all the time while trying to be WHITE!! I have a very close woman friend who has become a Muslim. She has taken on the most positive changes I could ever imagine. She takes better care of her children; she is more respected as a business woman; she dresses in the traditional clothing and looks clean and fantastic ALL the time whereas before she was a bit raggedy like me. She is a fine and outstanding example of Black womanhood like most women who are Muslims. But she deserves some answers about this whole Honorable Elijah Muhammad thing. I only took up this ``probing concern’’ about the Honorable Elijah Muhammad because women friends of mine asked me questions and it made me curious. I am not one to naturally stir up trouble with people who are naturally hostile to my community of people in the first place. Some people might think I’m crazy for challenging the Nation of Islam about this, but I just want answers and I want our community to heal and move forward in a more peaceful, respected and knowledgeable manner. I have to admit I would love to see the different factions within the community that have drawn lines on this issue heal and maybe even come together and forgive and talk…. It is a great thing when we as activists can build bridges within our community that strengthen our community and make us more able and ready to survive and fight where we need to. Truth and honesty helps create a stronger backbone for the Black community and helps us make it past the White man and his bag of tricks each and every day. Hiding, covering up and denying the facts only makes all the healing around this subject harder to come by. Maybe these allegations are nothing, but someone needs to say so and say so soon for the sake of the community and our collective sanity. Just about every great man throughout history has had some fault about something or the other. I don’t think, and I don’t believe you are naive enough to believe we have to have perfect leaders to help us make advances in the world. If we waited for perfect people to come along, we would never get anywhere because none of us are perfect. I want to introduce you to some imperfect people who are or were homosexuals who have or did dedicate their lives to helping Black people in one form or another. They are described in this edited letter [e-mail] I sent to my nephew…
``July 18, 2011 [Monday]
Dear Kamau:
I was a little taken back when you said recently upon a visit to Philadelphia, something to the effect that there is no example of a Black man who is ``differently oriented’’ making it big in America.
There are several examples: 1) James Baldwin—a novelist and writer who sold several million books and became a known lecturer, social critic and controversial figure. ``The Fire Next Time,’’ is one of his master works as was ``Just Above My Head.’’ He was quoted by many and received many literary awards before his death from Cancer in the late 1980’s.
2) Filmmaker Marlon Riggs, who directed ``Tongues Untied’’ (1989) and ``Black Is, Black Ain’t’’ http://newsreel.org/video/BLACK-IS-BLACK-AINT along with several other films. He was an important filmmaker and would have reached extraordinary success had he not succumbed to complications from AIDS early in his career.
3) Writer Joseph Beam. A friend of mine who wrote for and edited the first Black Gay Anthology ever in the United States. ``In the Life.’’ A brilliant writer who took his craft very seriously and taught me to do the same. He also succumbed to AIDS early in his career.
4) Essex Hemphill a Brilliant poet who has shared a stage with your mother on at least one occasion. He wrote at least two books of poetry and was a fabulous stage performer for his works. He also succumbed to AIDS early in his career, but has left us with his works and ideas to build on as has Beam and Riggs. One of his books was entitled ``Brother to Brother.’’
5) Arnold Jackson. Another friend of mine, now passed away, who served as a TV Host on alternative Public TV for a program about HIV and AIDS. He was also an activist, a writer and a stage performer. I once interviewed him for a piece I wrote for SBC Magazine back in the 1980’s.
6) Michelle Parkerson: a lesbian filmmaker [and a relative of your Aunt Leslie’s] who did a phenomenal documentary about Black lesbian poet, activist, orator and writer Audre Lorde: ``A Litany for Survival: The Life & Work of Audre Lorde,’’ [1995] and in 2008 did ``A Conversation with Lesbians of African Descent.’’
7) The guy who did ``Precious’’ [which, by the way, I don’t think was a good film]. Lee Daniels, is a Black homosexual and is putting together an important film about Selma, Alabama and the Civil Rights struggles that took place there over the years. I think this film will be very important and ground-breaking.
8) Brother Tracy Gibson. [Me] I served on the first committee that dealt with AIDS in the Black Community in Philadelphia [It was part of Philadelphia Community Health Alternatives and existed before Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues {BABASHI} existed, and before Action Aids existed. I was also a co-founder of Adodi Philadelphia Inc. [in 1986] which is a support group for Black gay men which has gone national and which has a national retreat every year in various parts of the country. I was a major organizer for Adodi Philadelphia Inc. and a chief facilitator for meetings when we were really in our hay day and up and running in the Philadelphia area. I am currently the head of several organizations and Founder, President and CEO Of my own company; Brother Tracy Gibson And; Associates, Inc. . I am also writing two books, which I will publish over the next six months.
9) Brother Clifford A. Rawlins. He was an arts therapist who was the founder, soul and spirit behind the support group Adodi, which was created to end the isolation that Black Gay men were feeling at the height of the early stages of the Aids Crisis in the Philadelphia area in 1986. ... After his death, Clifford is still given credit, and justifiably so, for the group Adodi which has touched thousands of lives and changed the course of thousands of people for the better…
10) Brother Darrell Waters. He was instrumental in taking the Adodi concept to New York City and helping popularize the organization there as well as helping lay the ground work for making Adodi a National organization. He served as a lead organizer and major facilitator for Adodi until his untimely passing. He helped motivate several other Brothers in the New York area who have kept the Adodi spirit and their activities alive as they celebrate their 25th anniversary this year….
These are just a few examples of Brothers and Sisters some of whom I personally know of or met who did great things. Well, Kamau, there were no examples of a Black woman making it as big as Oprah Winfrey did until Oprah herself came along. There was a forerunner to Rosa Parks, but her name escapes me. What if these great people just sat on the sidelines of life and waited instead of took steps forward—be they frightening steps to take—and decided NOT to put their people and themselves ahead in life? Where would we be then? My feeling is that as long as there is adequate persistence and talent among the gifts, mind-sets and skills included in the subjects seeking success he or she has a chance. The subjects’ personal qualities—his or her ability to positively interact with his or her fellow Black citizens, members of the Black business class and wealthy Blacks and with Whites who might want to extend funding, as well as people who can act as gate keepers and other professionals—having a left-leaning political view or being a homosexual shouldn’t matter as much as one would think or as much as you described. What one has to do is drip on the Powers That Be in an on-going and consistent manner until an effective, open, useful and meaningful avenue is discovered to take one on that road to success…. One person with the right money or connections willing to help and / or share can make all the difference. The secret is to be hard working, relentless and consistent and always find ways to improve, streamline, work around road blocks and NEVER give up. If I have to go to my grave working towards getting my books published…. If I have to hand my Business Plans down to you, Muata, Anoa and Thandiwe in hopes that one of you might be more effective at moving things forward—then so be it. Maybe there will be some small step I took that will help one of you do what you want to do easier. I’m not sure any of this really matters much anyway. What will be the difference in 20,000 years anyway? Will even the work, life, speeches and writings of Martin Luther King Jr. last that long? Thanks for letting me rant and share,
Your loving Uncle,
Brother Tracy Gibson…
P.S. Keep your head up and stay alert. There are plenty of potholes we want you to avoid and more ahead of you. GOD BLESS YOU!!!’’
In ending: I also think the Nation of Islam is strong enough and strong willed enough to not only survive any questions I might have, but may well come from a more powerful station and position once such questions are answered properly and once the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s memory is put in a more honest place. He was undoubtedly a great man and I have a lot of respect for him, but I still think the questions should be answered fairly, accurately, honestly and very soon…
By the way Ms. Ali: I also think Brother Martin Luther King, Jr., Brother Malcolm X and Brother Marcus Garvey had excellent and wonderful programs that would have and did help Black people as well—not just The Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
Sincerely,
Brother Tracy Gibson of Philadelphia and Delaware…
Back to me and the issue at hand:
It is obvious that this subject still generates some deeply hurt feelings, some misunderstandings and some deep-rooted hatred and resentment from within the Black community. What Ms. Ali said proves that there needs to be a statement made to bring this issue to the fore, heal hurt feelings, and begin a healing process that can bring us together as a people once and for all... Right now, many who respect the Black Muslims and their movement feel there is a dark cloud hanging over their work because of the age-old allegations and what they represent and mean to Black women… You can help the process by writing me concerning this matter. If you think it is best left alone, please write me and say so. If you understand the deep divisions that still exist, please write and tell me. I am especially interested in hearing from Black women on this matter and especially from older readers who were in the struggle back in the 1960’s and 1970’s. If you are knowledgeable about Malcolm X and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad [maybe you read ``The Autobiography of Malcolm X’’ by Alex Haley who assisted the late activist and Black Nationalist in writing; or maybe you saw the Spike Lee movie ``Malcolm X’’, or maybe you did some other independent reading or even saw a PBS documentary or two on this matter,] I am interested in hearing from you also. By the way, the late writer / activist Manning Marable has a new book out about Malcolm X entitled: ``Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention.’’ I have heard it is well researched and worth reading. I am presently working on two books and generating funds for publishing them. Write me at: BLockBoi75@Yahoo.Com for more details.
Brother Tracy Gibson
Writer – Listener – Reader – Businessman
Fund Raiser – Organizer – Visionary
Human Rights Advocate – Gay Rights Advocate
213 South 49th Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19139-4205
Reach me in Philadelphia at: 1.215.471.6494
Brother Gibson is Founder, President And CEO OF: Brother Tracy Gibson And Associates, Inc.; Founder and President of the Coalition to Find And Fund Sane, Peaceful And Coherent Solutions for the Crisis in the Middle East; President And Founder of The Black Millionaire’s Network; Founder of the Balance Movement...
[The Above article was edited slightly by Brother Tracy Gibson for clarity on February 11th And 13th, 2013]
