When certain events happen that subsequently come up in the U.S. news cycle, particularly events that result in violence, there is a familiar refrain that is often expressed by White folks:
“This is not us,” or “This is not who we are.” However, to America, it is quite the opposite: It is exactly who you are. Violence is as “American as apple pie,” especially when it is directed toward Black people.
This country was established on violence—from the killing, torture, genocide, and rape of the Indigenous people who already lived in this land—to the kidnapping, enslavement, and brutal treatment of Black people snatched from Africa and deposited in America for a life of slavery, suffering and death.
For the 470-plus years since Black people have been in this country called the United States of America, the pattern display of violence has been consistent. So, it should come as no surprise to people in a country founded on bloodshed that this pattern continues.
Additionally, since our sojourn in this country, Black people have consistently come out on the losing end of employment, educational opportunities, income, housing, health, and other categories that often measure the progress, or lack of progress, of a people.
The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad warned, in His book, “Message to the Blackman in America,” in the chapter, “Not Your Brother,” of the consequences of trying to continue to integrate into a country and people who will never see or view us as “equals” with them.
“If you understood that which you are seeking to be accepted into and if you understood the nature of those whom you are seeking to integrate with you would, instead, be seeking your own people’s society or building one of your own on some land or territory separate from the American Whites.
“We need land wherein we can build our own society free from the tension, hatred and violence that have accompanied our race relationship with the White race of America,” the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad wrote.
“When you learn that the White man is not your brother, you will readily begin to see and accept the Divine Plan that Almighty Allah (God) has in the working for our people. Who has been our aggressors and murderers ever since we have been in America? Who, by nature, was made quick to shed blood—even his own?” he added.
The more we seek to integrate into what the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called “a burning house,” the more we could see an increase in violence and bloodshed aimed at Black people.
The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad warned us to separate from our open enemy. Our brothers and sisters in the Civil Rights Movement have advocated for integration and have tried mightily for decades to try and win White people over for them to “accept” us.
The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad warned us that “integration is a hypocritical trick.” In fact, in Point No. 9 of “What The Muslims Believe,” from “The Muslim Program,” printed on the inside back page of The Final Call, He states in part:
“WE BELIEVE that the offer of integration is hypocritical and is made by those who are trying to deceive the black peoples into believing that their 400-year-old open enemies of freedom, justice and equality are, all of a sudden, their ‘friends.’
Furthermore, we believe that such deception is intended to prevent black people from realizing that the time in history has arrived for the separation from the whites of this nation.”
He continues: “If the white people are truthful about their professed friendship toward the so-called Negro, they can prove it by dividing up America with their slaves. We do not believe that America will ever be able to furnish enough jobs for her own millions of unemployed, in addition to jobs for the 20,000,000 black people as well.”
With each passing day in this country, it becomes increasingly clear that fighting for integration is futile.
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, National Representative of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, explained the importance of examining and looking more deeply into “integration,” “segregation,” and “separation.”
“Today, we have to look at the terms ‘Integration,’ ‘Separation’ and ‘Segregation,’ and behind these words discover meaning, and behind the meaning discover the intent of the parties who are advocating either way,” Minister Farrakhan explained in a July 20, 1980, message titled, “Integration and Separation.”
“If the intent of the Government in advocating integration is to trick us into believing that our 400-year-old enemy has now become our ‘friend,’ and that we should forgive and forget and be glad to take part in this great American way of life, then the intent is evil. So, the result of such evil intent can never bring justice to a people who are aggrieved,” Minister Farrakhan said.
Many people misunderstand segregation and separation, a point Minister Farrakhan cleared up masterfully in the same message. “Now, ‘separation’ is a little different from ‘segregation.’
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad has said to us that separation is a voluntary act done by two equals who realize that they cannot get along in peace, so they come to a decision that it is ‘best for us to separate: You go your way, I’ll go mine.’”
Brothers and sisters, we have been aggrieved and continue to be aggrieved. For decades, we have done anything and everything humanly possible to appeal to White people and the U.S. government to treat our people with decency and fairness, but to no avail. Is it not time to consider a different approach and decide what is best for us and our future?
It is separation or death. Which one will you choose?
