The nation of Islam: continuity and change, 1979
Chambliss, Theresa Brockenberry
1979-12-01
1970-1979
This thesis is a descriptive analysis of the Nation of Islam in relation to its continuity and change after the death of Elijah Muhammad. The Nation of Islam under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad had been, owing to its doctrine and policy, in the forefront of the Black Nationalist movement for approximately forty years. For this reason, it exercised considerable influence in the Black community as well as a degree of impact on the society-at- large. A study of the Nation of Islam is important because with the death of Elijah Muhammad, and with the succession of his son, Wallace Deen Muhammad, radical changes in the organization's doctrine and policy ensued. These changes engendered in the minds of many, within the Nation of Islam and without, questions relating to the organization's political direction as well as the reasons for the changes. This thesis, therefore, serves to justify an assessment of the reasons for the present state of the Nation of Islam. The research of this thesis involves the survey approach as well as the use of primary and secondary sources. It has been observed, however, that few scholarly works have been undertaken which would increase the level of objective information within this subject area. In addition to this, most of the literature on the Nation of Islam has been done prior to the death of Elijah Muhammad and has been done, in most cases, from a perspective other than political. This thesis supplements and updates the literature and does so from a primarily political perspective. While utilizing the political perspective, this thesis covers such topics as the motivating factors for the rise and growth of the Nation of Islam, the organization under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad, and the organization under the leadership of Wallace D. Muhammad. In discussing the Nation of Islam's rise and growth, the focus is on the economic and political situations of Blacks mainly in Detroit, the state of other movements or organizations and the general status afforded Blacks by U.S. and world opinion. In discussing the leadership of Elijah Muhammad, the focus is on the political ideology of the organization, the evolution of Malcolm X and the structure of the organization. And, in discussing Wallace D. Muhammad's leadership, the focus is on the proclaimed changes within the Muslim organization. The summary and analysis reveals that the Nation of Islam although once considered a Black Nationalist organization, has reflected, through its changes, the character of an Islamic Nationalist organization and is taking part in a worldwide Islamic movement.
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thesis
Master of Arts (MA)
Atlanta University
Department of Political Science
Moss, Larry E.
Clark Atlanta University
Georgia--Atlanta
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:1979_chambliss_theresa_b
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
