[Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Jan. 22, 1971 issue of Muhammad Speaks newspaper.]

“O Prophet! Surely We have sent Thee as a Witness, and a Bearer of Good News and a Warner. And as an Inviter to Allah by His Permission and as a Light Giving Sun.”–Holy Qur’an, Surah 33, verses 45-46

The so-called American Negro needs self-education of others in order to get the respect and recognition of others. He is not independent. He does not own any land that he can call his own.

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He does not have an organized government of his own; he needs even more than equal education. He needs a superior education to that which is ruling the nations of the earth today.

It is essential for a nation–if they want recognition–to be united and to enjoy self-control and in a country of their own.

We call this independence. Now, we do not have self-education, self-control, or a country–not even some of this earth we can call our own. We need a superior education or teaching in order to achieve the respect of others who are now enjoying such recognition.

The most essential qualification is the art of practicing that which we need in order to be accepted.

Cleanliness, inwardly and outwardly, is number one on the list. Manners, along with general moral aspects, are second. The so-called American Negroes’ warped minds and disrespect of self is one of the main objections of the self-respected societies.

There are no members of an educated and clean self-respecting society who want their society disgraced by a member who has ill and disrespecting morals.

The so-called American Negroes (the majority of us) have been reared by southern White people who have the most profound hatred and dislike for us (just as they did our foreparents) a degree below nothing for the last 400 years.

At the same time, they frightened the so-called American Negro slaves to such a degree, they have no hope of ever being recognized authorities among themselves.

They try to please the same White people as did our fathers under servitude and slavery. Whether this “please” is for or against them, they will do it, because they fear the White man. We must remember that the Bible closes with announcing this fear in Rev. 21:8.

Our people are afraid of he slave master and his children, afraid to displease them in their dislike of the salvation that has come to the slave, and God (Allah) has not offered the same to them (the slave-master and his children).

The so-called Negro, who tries to please his master, displeases himself. He would love to see the Hereafter and live in a kingdom (a government) of peace and security, but he would not like to accept any such glory if this acceptance is not liked by the slave-master.

Therefore, he suffers the consequence of the slave-master’s children, which is referred to in Rev. 19:20 under the name, beast (clearly symbolized as human beings in Rev. 19:19).

Destruction

Those who refuse (of the so-called Negroes) to accept God (Allah) as their King, and the people of God (Allah) as their brothers and nation, will suffer the destruction of hell-fire with the enemies.

You must wash and be clean as Isaiah 1:16 warns you. Proverbs 30:12 specifies us as a generation not washed. Hebrew 10:22 makes mention that it is necessary that our bodies be washed with pure water to enter into the recognition and respect of God (Allah).

Revelations 1:5 reads in a parable of Jesus, who will wash us inwardly, but from our sins. I want you to remember that this does not mean the Jesus who was here 2,000 years ago.

It means a Jesus at the end of the time. One whom Jesus prophesied God would send under the title of a Comforter (in the Bible) and as Ahmad in the 61st Chapter of the Holy Qur’an.

ELIJAH in MALACHI had to first come and wash and clean up a people and make them self-respecting so that God would accept them in His presence.

So, if we want White or Black to respect us, we must clean and wash ourselves of the filth in and out. No self-respecting nations will accept you as you are today, because of your ill-mannered behavior.

Hurry and join onto your own kind. The time of this world is now at hand!
Elijah Muhammad
Messenger of Allah–to you All