Similarities Between the Black Muslims and the Klu Klux Klan

The Klu Klux Klan is an American, Anglo0Saxon racist organization, set on making the "white race" superior to all other races, with superiority over the "black race" in particular. The Nation of Islam, an African-American group, though claiming they want nothing more than equal rights, has a goal of "black" supremacy throughout America. Though these two groups might be at opposite spectrums, they have more in common than they would like to admit.

Realizing how unappreciated they were in the society they lived in, which was primarily Caucasian and Christian, Islamicism became the religion of choice for extremist African Americans. Though the beliefs entailed in these two religions had their differences, they are both forms of deism, both contain a messiah, and they both arise from the axial age.

The Black Muslim movement in America was created out of what Eric Lincoln calls the "Armageddon complex," which is a "removal of their source of discomfort rather than to going anywhere themselves" (Mathisen, 700). This called for a removal of the Anglo-Saxon, Christian people of America, since their home was originally in Europe. Removing African Americans from the rest of society was what white Christian America had been doing to African Americans on a daily basis.

Among the many extremist black groups of the time, the Black Muslims were the most organized. They had a newspaper called "Mr. Muhammad Speaks." One particular issue contained a list of ten propositions. The ninth and tenth go as follows: "We want equal education-but separate schools...", and, "We believe that intermarriage or race mixing should be prohibited" (700, 701).

"We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children." This is known as the "14 words," a creed most Klu Klux Klan groups abide by (adl.org). It includes, but is not limited to, segregation and intermarriage between races. The point of this is to keep the "white race" pure, both culturally and biologically. They are known to enforce these such things aggressively and violently, even today.

In April of 2009, Michael Conklin and four other young Caucasian men were arrested for beating a Hispanic male. He was wearing a shirt with nazi and KKK symbols. Conklin was reportedly yelling out "White power" during the attack (adl.org). Jamil Al-Amin, on the other hand, once chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an active sect of the Black Muslims, is now in prison for shooting and killing a white police officer. He has openly stated, "Violence is as Ameican as cherry pie," and, "If America don't come around, we're gonna burn it down" (Pipes).

Both the KKK and the Black Muslims use religion to drive their messages. They both are for segregation and opposed to intermarriage. Both are organized and have a creed to which they abide to, and both have no problem using violence to implemement their goals. The KKK and Black Muslims have deep rooted belief systems and are extremley passionate towards their causes. What is sad is that their beliefs and actions, founded on hate, keep them from acknowledging any form of common ground with each other. If these two groups dropped their guard toward each other and came together, I think they would have the power to do great things.






adl.org. Extremism in America, 2009. Web. 10 October 2009.

immigration.lohudblogs.com. More on Rockland KKK Hate Crime, 2009. Web. 11 September 2009.

Mathisen, Robert R. Critical Issues in American Religious History. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2006.

Pipes, Daniel. [Belway Snipers]: Converts to Violence? New York Post 25 October 2002.