Baldwin's view of Nation of Islam in Down on the Cross

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Superficial Power The Nation of Islam emerged as a very powerful organization during the 1960s. One of the Nation?s key goals was to create an independent Black America. It further preached about the White man as the devil, thus instilling faith within its followers that White society will be decimated, and Black society will prevail. Through these powerful messages, the Nation of Islam gave African-Americans a claim to divinity and created the notion of Black supremacy. However, in attempting to cement these ideas, the Nation of Islam?s message became extreme to the point of absurdity. While James Baldwin expounds on this irrationality in ?Down at the Cross?, he also understands and agrees with the underlying motivation behind the Nation?s absurd claims. According to the FBI files on the Nation of Islam, one of its principles was to ?separate the black man from the devil through the establishment of a black nation? (FBI). Many publications propounded on this philosophy. For example, Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam, wrote in Message to the Blackman in America, ?it is far more important to teach separation of the Blacks and Whites in America than prayer? (Book Summary). According to Elijah Muhammad, integration and intermarriage between Blacks and Whites are an attempt by Whites to confuse Blacks, keep them enslaved, and prevent them from learning Nation of Islam's teachings. Furthermore, Blacks who assimilate into mainstream culture were regarded by the Nation of Islam as ?disgraceful Uncle Toms? (FBI) who simply seek to please their ?slave-masters? children? (FBI). Granted, these statements are coming from FBI files which clearly did not support the NOI movement, but the message that the Nat... ... middle of paper ... ...s to nothing less than the perpetual achievement of the impossible? (346). Thus creating a new foundation for Black society, upon which hatred for other races will be justified, does nothing but stunt its ability to achieve its rightful spot in western society. Works Cited Baldwin, James. ?Notes of a Native Son.? 1955. James Baldwin: Collected Essays. Ed. Toni Morrison. New York: Library of America, 1998. 63-84. Book Summary ? Message to the Black Man in America. 8 March 2004. http://home.att.net/~phosphor/week1a/message.html Clark, Micheal. "Rise in Racial Extremism Worries Harlem Leaders." New York Times 25 Jan. 1960: 1+. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Elijah Muhammad. Federal Bureau of Investigation. 8 March 2004. http://foia.fbi.gov/muhammad.htm Fineman, Howard and Vern E. Smith. ?An Angry ?Charmer??. Newsweek. 30 Oct 1995: 35.

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