Read on Twitter
I just wanna start by saying that often times the very people that folks like to talk about are the same people that are never invited to the table for discussion. All these think pieces about Muslims/NOI and women rarely ever centralize us and our actual experiences.
It has gotten to the point where there is this idea that women rarely convert to Islam in general, and that women aren’t part of the Nation of Islam at all. Both are widely incorrect. In fact, there’s many contributions of women in the Nation that we enjoy today.
Women have been very important to the Nation in its maintenance. Even today, women don’t have a minor role in the Nation. Just because we’re not constantly out on the corner with the Final Call like the men doesn’t mean we don’t exist and don’t have something to offer.
Women in the nation (Generally referred to as MGT which stands for Muslim Girls Training) have always been an integral part of the NOI. Bayyinah Jeffries wrote about this in her book “A Nation Can Rise no Higher than Its Woman” which is also a quote from the Hon. Elijah Muhammad
These militant roles of lieutenants, captains, and troops that Jeffries mentions has been a factor of the Nation that people are usually unaware of. Yes, there is an all-women sector within the Nation called MGT Vanguard (also sometimes referred to as “The Vanguard”).
Women in the nation have always been there. In the 1930s, sisters such as Mother Clara Muhammad literally ran the nation and conducted its affairs when the Hon. Elijah Muhammad went to jail. She pioneered NOI independent schools, also an important pioneer of homeschool education
Mother Clara’s daughter, Sister Ethel Sharieff, is also an important figure. She established the first bakery for the NOI called Eat Ethel’s Pastries. She also had the original idea for an MGT Factory, starting in the basement of her home, growing to eventually employ other women
She served as Supreme captain and National Captian of the MGT and designed the National uniform. When her father (THEM) went to jail in 1942, she helped her mother with maintaining the Nation. She also became one of the women to direct the Muhammad University of Islam in Chicago
Sis Mary Almanza Islam from Detroit created the first navy bean pie. She, along with her 10 children, were some of the early members under Master Fard Muhammad. She was also one of the first teachers of MUI and was arrested during the raids on the Temple. (I don’t have a pic
)
)
Mother Tynnetta Muhammad was a scholar, designer, artist, journalist, author, and more. She was the first Muslim woman columnist in several newspapers including the Pittsburgh Courier.
Her articles and column within the Final Call “Unveiling the Number 19” often dealt with an in depth understanding of Islam, science, art, culture, numbers, astronomy, etc. She traveled the world to connect the various cultures of the Original family of the earth
Sis. Dr. Ava Muhammad is a lawyer, researcher, author, & student minister (yes there’s female ministers). She became the first female Minister to preside over a mosque and region in the NOI. She currently serves as the national spokesperson for the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan
Sis. Burnsteen Sharieff Muhammad was the only woman of the first nine laborers of the NOI under Master Fard Muhammad. She served as His secretary and was called the “Reformer” due to her typing skills (95 WPM with 98% accuracy).
Sis. Sharrieffah Muhammad was an actress, writer, & beautiful trainer of women in the Vanguard and overall a top soldier. She eventually became National MGT Vanguard Captain. Her dedication to the Nation & the sisterhood left a legacy and example for all other vanguard to follow
Mother Khadijah Farrakhan aka the First Lady of the NOI. In the rebuilding of the nation, she served as the first treasurer/secretary. She is recognized around the world with the same respect & honor as First Ladies of other countries. She is also an amazing seamstress & designer
And many. Many. More. Women in the NOI have always been there and are STILL here. If you have any questions let me know. But that narrative that the NOI has never included women, the narrative that the NOI doesn’t care about women, or have anything for women? Yea that dies today.
