Muhammad Speaks

Muhammad Speaks
Nation of Islam/Cover photo by Herbert Studio · Public domain · source
Name	Muhammad Speaks
Type	Weekly newspaper
Format	Tabloid
Foundation	1960
Ceased publication	1975
Political	Nation of Islam
Founder	Malcolm X
Editor	John Woodford (later)
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Publisher	Muhammad Mosque No. 2
Circulation	600,000+ (peak)

Muhammad Speaks was the official weekly newspaper of the Nation of Islam (NOI), founded in 1960. It became one of the most widely circulated and influential African American newspapers of its era, known for its militant advocacy of Black nationalism, economic self-sufficiency, and social justice. The publication served as a critical platform for the NOI's ideology, offering a stark alternative to mainstream civil rights narratives and reaching a peak circulation that far exceeded other Black periodicals.

History and founding

The newspaper was founded in 1960 by Malcolm X, then the national representative of the Nation of Islam under Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X established the publication as a tool for spreading the teachings of the NOI and to counter what he viewed as a biased mainstream press. Initially produced in New York, its operations were later moved to the NOI's headquarters at Muhammad Mosque No. 2 in Chicago. The paper's first editor was John Woodford, a journalist who helped professionalize its content and expand its reach beyond purely religious doctrine. Its creation coincided with a period of significant growth for the NOI, and the newspaper was instrumental in building the organization's national profile.

Content and editorial stance

*Muhammad Speaks* featured a mix of international news, domestic politics, and NOI doctrine. It provided extensive coverage of global anti-colonial struggles in Africa and Asia, linking them to the African American freedom struggle. The paper reported aggressively on police brutality, economic inequality, and the activities of groups like the Ku Klux Klan. It promoted the NOI's tenets of Black economic independence, moral uplift, and separation from white society. Regular columns by Elijah Muhammad and other ministers articulated the NOI's theology and social philosophy. The paper also included sections on health, education, and family life, often advocating for Black-owned businesses and institutions.

Role in the Nation of Islam

The newspaper was a central organ for the Nation of Islam, serving to unify its members, recruit new followers, and generate revenue through sales by the Fruit of Islam, the NOI's security and training wing. It was a mandatory purchase for many members, which helped guarantee its circulation. The paper disseminated the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, including the narrative of Yakub and the doctrine of the Mother Plane. It also functioned as a tool for internal discipline and messaging, particularly during the rift between Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X after 1963. Following Malcolm X's departure and assassination, the paper's content firmly aligned with the NOI's official leadership.

Impact on the Civil Rights Movement

*Muhammad Speaks* presented a radical alternative to the integrationist goals of mainstream civil rights organizations like the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Its advocacy for Black self-defense, political self-determination, and Pan-Africanism influenced the development of the Black Power movement and groups such as the Black Panther Party. The paper's internationalist perspective, connecting Jim Crow laws in the American South to global imperialism, broadened the political consciousness of many African Americans. While often critical of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and his philosophy of nonviolence, the paper kept issues of racial injustice and systemic oppression in the forefront of national discourse.

Circulation and distribution

At its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s, *Muhammad Speaks* achieved a weekly circulation estimated at over 600,000, making it the most widely read Black newspaper in the United States. Its distribution network was highly effective, relying on NOI members who sold the paper on street corners in urban centers across the country. This direct-sales method, often involving members of the Fruit of Islam, ensured a consistent financial base and deep penetration into Black communities. The paper was also distributed internationally, reaching audiences in the Caribbean and parts of Africa.

Controversies and criticism

The newspaper was frequently criticized for its anti-white and anti-Semitic content, as well as its adherence to the heterodox teachings of the Nation of Islam. Its strident rhetoric and advocacy for separation drew condemnation from both white authorities and some Black civil rights leaders. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under its COINTELPRO program, monitored the publication closely, viewing it as a subversive influence. Internal controversy also surrounded the paper, particularly after Malcolm X's split from the NOI, when it published material attacking him. Critics also noted the paper's sometimes uncritical reporting on international dictators and its conspiracy-laden articles.

Legacy and influence

After Elijah Muhammad's death in 1975, his son Warith Deen Mohammed succeeded him and began moving the NOI toward orthodox Sunni Islam. He renamed the newspaper *Bilalian News* in 1975, ending the era of *Muhammad Speaks*. The publication's legacy is profound; it demonstrated the power of an independent Black press and provided a model for later radical publications. It elevated issues often ignored by the mainstream media and nurtured a generation of Black journalists, intellectuals, and activists. The paper's emphasis on Black dignity, international solidarity, and institutional building left an indelible mark on African American political thought and journalism.