Jeremiah Shabazz
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Shabazz was born into a poor family in Philadelphia, Pa. during the Great Depression. He attended the Benjamin Franklin High School graduating with honors and subsequently drafted into the US Army. Jeremiah served 18 months in Japan
and Korea
. Returning home he attended Temple University College majoring in Mechanical Design Technology.
After school he then embarked on a career in government with jobs in the Post Office, Navy Dept., Railway Mail Service and finally the army signal Corps where in 1955 he was summarily dismissed for belonging to the "Muslim Cult of Islam", the name the government gave to the Nation of Islam
under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad
. Jeremiah had actually been a Muslim since the age of 14 when he came under the influence of a Muslim minister who also worked as a barber in his North Philadelphia neighborhood. After discharge from the Army he served as a Lieutenant in the Fruit of Islam
(FOI) for six years. It was in 1954 that he met the late Malcolm X
who had been summoned from Boston
, Mass. to Philadelphia by Elijah Muhammad to help mediate a dispute Malcolm X subsequently moved into Jeremiah's small apartment where he stayed for approximately one year before Mr. Muhammad sent him to New York City
to assume the ministry there. Jeremiah resisted Malcolm's offer to move to New York and remained in Philadelphia were he rose to the rand of East Coast Captain of the FOI. After his promotion, Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X were then responsible for the propagation of Islam in all states west of the Mississippi. For 3 years they toured the northeast; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Youngstown
; Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids, Mich.; Buffalo
and Rochester
, N.Y, with frequent stops in Chicago
touching base with the Leader of Islam , Elijah Muhammad. then it was on to Washington, D.C.
, Baltimore
, MD., Hartford and New Haven, Conn., Springfield
and Boston, Mass.
It was to Boston, Mass during the summer of 1956 that Malcolm and Jeremiah were sent to investigate some problems that had arisen in the Temple. At that time a brother, Ulysses X was the minister and Louis X (Louis Farrakhan
) was the local FOI Captain. Unfortunately, it became necessary for the Malcolm/Jeremiah team to temporarily suspend Ulysses X from his ministerial duties pending final adjudication from Elijah Muhammad. Although it was customary to replace ministers with their assistants, Jeremiah Shabazz argued for installing Louis X instead because he had demonstrated an ability that more than qualified him for the job. After a brief deliberation, Louis X was placed into his first position as a Minster.
In the Fall of 1957 Jeremiah was selected to go to Los Angeles to become the West Coast Representative for Mr. Muhammad but fate intervened and he was sent instead to Atlanta, Ga. to troubleshoot yet another problem. The Problem required more than a few days to solve with Jeremiah remaining in Georgia approximately 7 years. Observing the plight of Black people throughout the South inspired Jeremiah to launch an Islamic Crusade as he went to Macon
and Savannah
, Ga., Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay
and Pensacola
, Fl.
Birmingham
, Anniston
and Tuscaloosa
, Ala., Meridian
and Jackson, Miss., Monroe, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La.
In the summer of 1962 Jeremiah Shabazz became the first Black man in the history of America to attend a Ku Klux Klan
rally in Georgia and live to tell about it.
When Martin Luther King, Jr.
moved from Montgomery to Atlanta he found that Jeremiah was already established as a fearless fighter for black people and an opponent of integration and a believer in racial separation as the true path to freedom, justice and equality for black people.
Another important event transpired during the summer of 1962 when a brash, young fighter named Cassius Clay visited the Miami Temple of Islam which led to his conversion to Islam and all the ensuing controversy. Again it was Jeremiah Shabazz who introduced him to the faith and helped to nurture him into becoming Muhammad Ali
, 3 times heavyweight Champion.
In 1963 when Malcolm X was censured by Elijah Muhammad for his now infamous "chickens coming home to roost" remarks concerning the death of President John F. Kennedy
, it was Jeremiah that Elijah Muhammad dispatched to New York to "fill-in" for Malcolm during his forced silence.
Shabazz's life has not been without controversy. When Muhammed Ali sued boxing promoter Don King for underpaying him by $1.1 million for a fight with Larry Holmes, King called in Jeremiah Shabazz, and handed him a suitcase containing $50,000 in cash and a letter ending Ali's lawsuit against King. He asked Shabazz to visit Ali (who was in hospital due to his failing health) and get him to sign the letter and then give Ali the $50,000. Ali signed. The letter even gave King the right to promote any future Ali fights. According to Shabazz 'Ali was ailing by then and mumbling a lot. I guess he needed the money.' Shabazz later regretted helping King. Ali's lawyer cried when he learned that Ali had ended the lawsuit without telling him.[10]
Jeremiah and his wife, Elizabeth Shabazz, traveled extensively to places around the globe spreading the teachings of the Nation of Islam. Upon his time of passing Bro. Minister Jeremiah Shabazz appointed Brother Minister Al Muntaquin Ali to minister over Muhammad's Temple #12.Many other Ministers at that time had abandoned him and went with other leaders.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Returning home he attended Temple University College majoring in Mechanical Design Technology.
After school he then embarked on a career in government with jobs in the Post Office, Navy Dept., Railway Mail Service and finally the army signal Corps where in 1955 he was summarily dismissed for belonging to the "Muslim Cult of Islam", the name the government gave to the Nation of Islam
Nation of Islam
The Nation of Islam is a mainly African-American new religious movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930 to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African-Americans in the United States of America. The movement teaches black pride and...
under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad
Elijah Muhammad was an African American religious leader, and led the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975...
. Jeremiah had actually been a Muslim since the age of 14 when he came under the influence of a Muslim minister who also worked as a barber in his North Philadelphia neighborhood. After discharge from the Army he served as a Lieutenant in the Fruit of Islam
Fruit of Islam
The Fruit of Islam , or "Fruit" for short, is the male-only paramilitary wing of the Nation of Islam . The Fruit of Islam wear distinctive blue or white uniforms and caps and have units at all NOI temples. Louis Farrakhan, as head of the Nation of Islam, is commander-in-chief of the Fruit of Islam,...
(FOI) for six years. It was in 1954 that he met the late Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
who had been summoned from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Mass. to Philadelphia by Elijah Muhammad to help mediate a dispute Malcolm X subsequently moved into Jeremiah's small apartment where he stayed for approximately one year before Mr. Muhammad sent him to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to assume the ministry there. Jeremiah resisted Malcolm's offer to move to New York and remained in Philadelphia were he rose to the rand of East Coast Captain of the FOI. After his promotion, Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X were then responsible for the propagation of Islam in all states west of the Mississippi. For 3 years they toured the northeast; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Youngstown
Youngstown
Youngstown may refer to:A place*Canada**Britannia Youngstown, Edmonton, Alberta**Youngstown, Alberta*United States**Youngstown, Florida**Youngstown, Indiana**Youngstown, New York**Youngstown, Ohio***Youngstown State University...
; Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids, Mich.; Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, N.Y, with frequent stops in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
touching base with the Leader of Islam , Elijah Muhammad. then it was on to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, MD., Hartford and New Haven, Conn., Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
and Boston, Mass.
It was to Boston, Mass during the summer of 1956 that Malcolm and Jeremiah were sent to investigate some problems that had arisen in the Temple. At that time a brother, Ulysses X was the minister and Louis X (Louis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan Muhammad, Sr. is the leader of the African-American religious movement the Nation of Islam . He served as the minister of major mosques in Boston and Harlem, and was appointed by the longtime NOI leader, Elijah Muhammad, before his death in 1975, as the National Representative of...
) was the local FOI Captain. Unfortunately, it became necessary for the Malcolm/Jeremiah team to temporarily suspend Ulysses X from his ministerial duties pending final adjudication from Elijah Muhammad. Although it was customary to replace ministers with their assistants, Jeremiah Shabazz argued for installing Louis X instead because he had demonstrated an ability that more than qualified him for the job. After a brief deliberation, Louis X was placed into his first position as a Minster.
In the Fall of 1957 Jeremiah was selected to go to Los Angeles to become the West Coast Representative for Mr. Muhammad but fate intervened and he was sent instead to Atlanta, Ga. to troubleshoot yet another problem. The Problem required more than a few days to solve with Jeremiah remaining in Georgia approximately 7 years. Observing the plight of Black people throughout the South inspired Jeremiah to launch an Islamic Crusade as he went to Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, Ga., Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
and Pensacola
Pensacola
Pensacola is a city in the western part of the U.S. state of Florida.Pensacola may also refer to:* Pensacola people, a group of Native Americans* A number of places in the Florida:** Pensacola Bay** Pensacola Regional Airport...
, Fl.
Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Anniston
Anniston
Anniston may refer to:* Places:** Anniston, Alabama** Anniston, Missouri* Anniston Munitions Center* Anniston * USS Anniston, a.k.a. USS Montgomery See also:* Aniston...
and Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is the name of two places in the United States of America:*Tuscaloosa, Alabama*Tuscaloosa County, AlabamaThere is also:*USS Tuscaloosa , U.S. Navy New Orleans-class heavy cruiser*USS Tuscaloosa , U.S...
, Ala., Meridian
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
and Jackson, Miss., Monroe, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, La.
In the summer of 1962 Jeremiah Shabazz became the first Black man in the history of America to attend a Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
rally in Georgia and live to tell about it.
When Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
moved from Montgomery to Atlanta he found that Jeremiah was already established as a fearless fighter for black people and an opponent of integration and a believer in racial separation as the true path to freedom, justice and equality for black people.
Another important event transpired during the summer of 1962 when a brash, young fighter named Cassius Clay visited the Miami Temple of Islam which led to his conversion to Islam and all the ensuing controversy. Again it was Jeremiah Shabazz who introduced him to the faith and helped to nurture him into becoming Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, 3 times heavyweight Champion.
In 1963 when Malcolm X was censured by Elijah Muhammad for his now infamous "chickens coming home to roost" remarks concerning the death of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, it was Jeremiah that Elijah Muhammad dispatched to New York to "fill-in" for Malcolm during his forced silence.
Shabazz's life has not been without controversy. When Muhammed Ali sued boxing promoter Don King for underpaying him by $1.1 million for a fight with Larry Holmes, King called in Jeremiah Shabazz, and handed him a suitcase containing $50,000 in cash and a letter ending Ali's lawsuit against King. He asked Shabazz to visit Ali (who was in hospital due to his failing health) and get him to sign the letter and then give Ali the $50,000. Ali signed. The letter even gave King the right to promote any future Ali fights. According to Shabazz 'Ali was ailing by then and mumbling a lot. I guess he needed the money.' Shabazz later regretted helping King. Ali's lawyer cried when he learned that Ali had ended the lawsuit without telling him.[10]
Jeremiah and his wife, Elizabeth Shabazz, traveled extensively to places around the globe spreading the teachings of the Nation of Islam. Upon his time of passing Bro. Minister Jeremiah Shabazz appointed Brother Minister Al Muntaquin Ali to minister over Muhammad's Temple #12.Many other Ministers at that time had abandoned him and went with other leaders.