Black Muslim Religion in the Nation of Islam, 1960-1975

Bibliographic Data

ID10027939
AuthorsLouis A Decaro (Union Theological Seminary, corresponding author)
Year2007
Volume94
Issue1
Pages362-362
Publication date2007-06-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of American History (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-8723 • E-ISSN: 1945-2314
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/25094946
OpenAlexW2027752327
LanguageEN
Citations received12

The Nation of Islam (noi) is one of the most important “counter-orthodox” movements ever to appear on the landscape of religion in the United States. No academic writer has engaged the complexities of the noi as Edward E. Curtis IV has done in this book, which exceeds older studies dating from the 1960s. Curtis extends his examination to the post— Malcolm X era (1965–1975), providing a readably lucent text that reflects careful research and extensive interviews. Offering a fascinating array of information about the noi's inner world, Curtis argues that its members were not mindless minions, but thoughtful believers who conformed to, complemented, and even departed from the teachings of the leader Elijah Muhammad. Curtis's work has rightly been called “the first comprehensive examination” of the noi's rituals, ethics, and teachings (“Edward E. Curtis IV,” News from the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture, Spring 2006, p. 9). For instance, instead of focusing on Muhammad's peculiar narratives, he surveys many different historical narratives that existed among his followers. He similarly explores a wide range of themes, such as the noi's auxiliaries, diet, health, hairstyle, and attire regulations, as well as moral codes and world view. Curtis has likewise made good use of visual materials culled from noi publications

Art · Islam · Literature · Media studies · Narrative · Sociology · Gender Studies · History · Philosophy · Race, History, and American Society · Religious studies · Religious Studies

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