Overview

Black Muslims and the Law: Civil Liberties From Elijah Muhammad to Muhammad Ali examines the Nation of Islam's quest for civil liberties as what might arguably be called the inaugural and first sustained challenge to the suppression of religious freedom in African American legal history. Borrowing insights from A. Leon Higgonbotham Jr.'s classic works on American slavery jurisprudence, Black Muslims and the Law reveals the Nation of Islam's strategic efforts to engage governmental officials from a position of power, and suggests the federal executive, congressmen, judges, lawyers, law enforcement officials, prison administrators, state governments, and African American civic leaders held a common understanding of what it meant to be and not to be African American and religious in the period between World War II and the Vietnam War. The work raises basic questions about the rights of African descended people to define god, question white moral authority, and critique the moral legitimacy of American war efforts according to their own beliefs and standards.

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9780739184882

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Reviews

Black Muslims and The Law is a seminal work that explores the Nation of Islam's legal battles for civil rights. Dr. Crawford has done an exceptional job documenting the Nation of Islam's role in moving America toward the promise of democracy for all those living within her borders. -- Abul Pitre, Prairie View A&M Fresh, focused, well researched, and engaging, Malachi Crawford's Black Muslims and The Law makes a significant contribution to African American social, religious, and legal history by offering a nuanced examination of the Nation of Islam's initially reluctant but ultimately effective use of the American legal system in the organization's extended quest for social legitimacy as a religious institution. Crawford's study not only deepens our understanding of the NOI's quest for social acceptability and justice, but also broadens our appreciation for the interrelated quests among African Americans for a full actualization of the rights and civil liberties guaranteed US citizens regardless of race or creed. -- Karen Kossie-Chernyshev, Texas Southern University

Black Muslims and The Law is a seminal work that explores the Nation of Islam's legal battles for civil rights. Dr. Crawford has done an exceptional job documenting the Nation of Islam's role in moving America toward the promise of democracy for all those living within her borders. -- Abul Pitre, Prairie View A&M

Author Information

Malachi D. Crawford is assistant director and adjunct professor of African American studies at the University of Houston.

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