Mr. Muhammad Speaks – The So-called Negro Leadership
Mr. Muhammad Speaks
The So-called Negro Leadership
By Messenger Elijah Muhammad
Originally published April 27, 1961
Why do you oppose Freedom, Justice, and Equality for your people and self
? Freedom, indeed has not been given to you in America; no equal justice
has come to you, nor equal opportunity. Should not the Leadership seek
good for his people, even at the cost of his life? What future do we have
in being integrated in the white race who are the children of those who
enslaved our fathers and mothers?
Daily we live under the very shadow of death at the hands of their
children. We want for our 20 million people here in America, what white
America has for herself. You are a Nation within a Nation depending on
White America for sole existence — without trying or even seeking a
change to try and do something for self —- other than to beg for that
which belongs to White America. You beg as though you are too lazy to
work and build a future for self. What future does 20 million non-whites
have in the slavemasters?
Is it not clear to you that your hopes of existence depend only on
whatever type of labor the white man will ofter you? Can you hope to
continue seeking employment for your 20 million people in the factories
and offices of the white man, while he already has unemployment among his
own which is increasing daily? The ever – changing map of the white world
is increasing their own problem of existence. You may be unable to see
and forsee this. This is why we would like to help you see.
Twenty million ex-slaves failing or refusing to see and go for self
today, will prove to be fatal for them in the near future. If the blind
cannot see his own way and refuses to be led by the hand of the seeing
one, who can be sorry for his stumbles and falls. Allah (God) is with us
to do something for self, but you are opposed to doing something for self
and choose to beg for the crumbs, while there are clear signs that soon
there will be no crumbs for you?
Judge between you and me in what I am seeking for our people and what you
are seeking for them. I am seeking a permanent home for my people where
they can be free to build a future for themselves. If you were only wise
engough to come and confer with us, the picture would be a different one.
Gone forever is the Negro mule and plow. The white man is ever advancing
in the science of machinery (mechanical devices) and is rapidly putting
our people in the bread lines. Something must be done by us to check the
spread of poverty, suffering and want of our people! We do not have to
seek the solution. God has given it Himself.
Submit to Allah, unite and let us go for self on some of this good earth.
You as religious leaders of the people, are doing your people more harm
than good in seeking to integrate them with the slavermaster for total
destruction. We must be separated from those who have enslaved us and are
not willing to do Justice, nor grant us equal opportunity.
WE MUST UNITE AND SEEK THESE THINGS FOR OURSELVES!
HURRY AND JOIN ONTO YOUR OWN KIND THE TIME OF THIS WORLD IS AT HAND.