Malcolm X (65 page)

On May 11, 1964, a second source stated that the Temple of Islam in Boston, Massachusetts, is known as Muhammad's Temple of Islam No. 11 or Muhammad's Mosque No. 11. It is located at 35 Intervale Street, Dorchester (Boston), Massachusetts, and is the local branch of Muhammad's Temple of Islam whose headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois.

H. Muhammad's Temple of Islam No. 13, Springfield,
Massachusetts, also referred to as the
Nation of Islam (NOI)

On March 9, 1955, a source advised that the Nation of Islam (NOI) had, at that time, just opened a Temple in Springfield, Massachusetts.

On May 11, 1964, a second source advised that NOI Temple No. 13 is located on the corner of Oak and Tyler Streets, Springfield, Massachusetts. The membership refer to Temple No. 13 as either Muhammad's Temple of Islam No. 13 or Muhammad's Mosque No. 13. This source stated that Temple No. 13 is a part of the national organization which has its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.

I. Muhammad's Temple of Islam Hartford, Connecticut,
Temple No. 14 aka Muslim Cult of Islam,
Nation of Islam

The July 12, 1956 edition of the
Pittsburgh Courier
, New York edition, a weekly Negro newspaper published at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, contains an article reflecting that Temple No. 14 of the Muslim Cult of Islam was located at Hartford, Connecticut.

A source advised on May 19, 1961 that Muhammad's Temple of Islam, Hartford, Connecticut, Temple No. 14, also known as the Muslim Cult of Islam and Nation of Islam, is affiliated with the Headquarters of the Nation of Islam, Chicago, Illinois.

J. Muslim Girls Training (MGT)

On May 19, 1960, a source advised that the Muslim Girls Training (MGT) is a group within the Nation of Islam and is composed of all female members of the NOI. The MGT is similar in structure to the Fruit of Islam, which is composed of all male members of the NOI, in that the MGT has officers, similar to military organizations, to whom other female members are accountable.
MGT members receive instructions in homemaking, hygiene, calisthenics, and other subjects such as Muslim history and the English language. There also exists a Junior MGT which is composed of female members of the NOI who are between the ages of 15 and 19 and who are afforded military-type drill.

Since 1957 various officers and “sisters” of the MGT have, at meetings of the MGT, used the term MGT so that it also means General Civilization Class. General Civilization Class refers to classes conducted within the MGT.

The above refers to activities of the MGT at Muhammad's Temple of Islam No. 2, 5335 South Greenwood, Chicago, Illinois.

On May 16, 1960, another source advised that the MGT is a group within the NOI which is composed of all female members of the NOI. The MGT is similar in structure to the Fruit of Islam, which is composed of all male members of the NOI. In theory the MGT exists in all Temples of the NOI and is patterned after the MGT at Muhammad's Temple of Islam No. 2, Chicago. General Civilization Class refers to the collective group of classes held within the MGT.

K. Muslim Mosque, Incorporated (MMI)

The March 13, 1964 edition of the
New York Times
, a daily newspaper published in New York, New York, contained an article on page 20 which indicated that MALCOLM X (LITTLE), former national official of the Nation of Islam (NOI) who broke with the NOI on March 8, 1964, publicly announced in New York City on March 12, 1964, that he had formed the Muslim Mosque, Incorporated (MMI). The MMI, according to the article, would be a broadly based politically oriented black nationalist movement for Negroes only, financed by voluntary contributions. In this public statement, MALCOLM X urged Negroes to abandon the doctrine of non-violence when it is necessary to defend themselves in the civil rights struggle, and he also suggested that Negroes form rifle clubs to protect their lives and
property in time of emergencies in areas where the government is unable or unwilling to protect them.

Incorporation papers of the MMI filed on March 16, 1964, with the Business Section, Clerk of Courts, New York County, New York, New York, reflect that the MMI was incorporated under the Religious Corporation Law of the State of New York to work for the imparting of the Islamic Faith and Islamic Religion in accordance with “accepted Islamic principles.” The principal place of worship to be located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York, New York.

The May 23, 1964 edition of the
New York Amsterdam News
, a weekly Negro newspaper published in New York City, contained an article by columnist JAMES BOOKER in which he indicated that he had heard that the visit by MALCOLM X with Muslim leaders during his African tour has changed him to become more religious.

On October 6, 1964, a confidential source advised that the MMI is apparently affiliated with the true orthodox Islam religion through its affiliation with the Islamic Foundation (of New York), 1 Riverside Drive, New York City. The only teachings of the MMI are on the Islamic religion.

This confidential source advised on May 17, 1965, that the headquarters of the MMI are located in Suite 128, Hotel Theresa, 2090 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York, where they were established on March 16, 1964. These headquarters are shared with the Organization of Afro-American Unity (OAAU) which was also headed by MALCOLM X.

MALCOLM X was assassinated on February 21, 1965 while addressing an OAAU rally at the Audubon Ballroom, Broadway and 166th Street, New York City.

L. Nation of Islam, formerly referred to as the
Muslim Cult of Islam, also known as
Muhammad's Temples of Islam

In January, 1957, a source advised ELIJAH MUHAMMAD has described his organization on a nationwide basis as the “Nation of Islam” (NOI), and “Muhammad's Temples of Islam.”

On May 8, 1964, a second source advised ELIJAH MUHAMMAD is the national leader of the NOI; Muhammad's Temple of Islam No. 2, 5335 South Greenwood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, is the national headquarters of the NOI; and in mid-1960, MUHAMMAD and other NOI officials, when referring to MUHAMMAD's organization on a nationwide basis, commenced using either “Mosque” or “Temple” when mentioning one of “Muhammad's Temples of Islam.”

The NOI is an all-Negro organization which was originally organized in 1930 in Detroit, Michigan. MUHAMMAD claims to have been selected by Allah, the Supreme Being, to lead the so-called Negro race out of slavery in the wilderness of North America by establishing an independent black nation in the United States. Members following MUHAMMAD's teachings and his interpretation of the Koran believe there is no such thing as a Negro; that the so-called Negroes are slaves of the white race, referred to as “white devils,” in the United States; and that the white race, because of its exploitation of the so-called Negroes, must and will be destroyed in the approaching “War of Armageddon.”

In the past, officials and members of the NOI, including MUHAMMAD, have refused to register under the provisions of the Selective Service Act and have declared that members owe no allegiance to the United States.

On May 5, 1958, the first source advised MUHAMMAD had, upon advice of legal counsel, tempered his personal statements and instructions to his ministers concerning the principles of his organization in order to avoid possible prosecution by the United
States Government; however, he did not indicate any fundamental changes in the teachings of his organization.

On May 7, 1964, a third source advised MUHAMMAD had, early in July, 1958, decided to de-emphasize the religious aspects of the teachings of Islam and to stress the economic benefits to be derived by those Negroes who joined the NOI. This policy change, according to MUHAMMAD, would help him acquire additional followers and create more interest in his programs.

M. Nation of Islam, Mosque No. 7

On May 3, 1965, a source advised that the Nation of Islam (NOI) affiliate in New York City is known as Mosque No. 7, and is also referred to as Temple No. 7. It is part of the national organization of the NOI headed by Elijah Muhammad with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.

There are three branches of Mosque No. 7; one at 105-03 Northern Boulevard, Queens (known as Mosque No. 7B), another at 120 Madison Street, Brooklyn (known as Mosque No. 7C), and one at 878 Prospect Avenue, Bronx (known as Mosque No. 7D).