In the heart of the Black experience in America lies a profound truth: we are a people of faith, resilience, and resistance. From the spirituals sung in plantation fields to the Friday prayers echoing in urban mosques, Black people have found strength in belief systems that offered hope amidst horror.
But somewhere along the journey, a dangerous division took root—one that said a Black Muslim and a Black Christian could not stand side by side. That their beliefs were at odds. That unity was impossible.
This division is not divine.
It is designed.
✝️🤲🏾 Two Pillars of Faith, One Foundation of Liberation
Christianity and Islam—though different in form—both became vessels for freedom in the Black community. Christianity, through the Black Church, was the backbone of the Civil Rights Movement. Islam, through the Nation of Islam and later Sunni and Shi’a practice, became the force behind Black dignity, discipline, and resistance.
But what many forget—or were never taught—is that these two faiths did not always stand apart. In fact, some of the most iconic moments in Black liberation history came when these faiths walked in unity.
🤝🏽 When Malcolm X and Dr. King Moved Closer
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. are often portrayed as opposites: the militant vs. the pacifist. But this is a simplification. A colonial narrative meant to fracture our memory.
In reality, Malcolm and Martin were converging in the final years of their lives. In 1964, Malcolm reached out to King, writing:
“The Muslim Mosque Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity have the same objectives in common with the nonviolent civil rights groups… Our religious differences should never permit us to forget our common oppressor.”
In 1965, just weeks before his assassination, Malcolm met with Coretta Scott King in Selma while Martin was in jail. He told her:
“I want Dr. King to know that I didn’t come to Selma to make his job difficult. I really did come thinking I could make it easier.”
This was more than a meeting. It was a bridge.
🕌✝️ NOI and the Black Church: Allies in the Fight
The Nation of Islam (NOI), founded in the 1930s, became a force of empowerment during the era when Christianity was being used to justify Black inferiority. NOI offered something different: self-reliance, Afrocentric theology, and pride. But while doctrinal differences existed, the goals were aligned.
During the civil rights era, Black Christian churches like Ebenezer Baptist Church (where Dr. King preached) and NOI temples often supported the same causes:
Economic upliftment Ending segregation Black-owned businesses Restoration of dignity
In cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia, NOI members provided security for marches led by Christian activists. In Harlem, Christian preachers and Muslim ministers debated each other publicly—not to divide, but to educate and uplift the people.
Elijah Muhammad and Dr. King may have had deep theological disagreements, but they shared a goal: freedom for Black people.
🔥 The Shared Fire: Faith as Resistance
Both Christian and Muslim Black Americans drew on the sacred as a form of resistance:
The Black Church gave birth to freedom songs, civil disobedience, and nonviolent protest rooted in the teachings of Jesus and Moses. The Nation of Islam and broader Muslim community taught discipline, economic sovereignty, and a return to African identity and values.
Faith was not passive. It was active warfare against oppression.
It still is.
🧬 Today’s Call: Reunite the Roots
In today’s world, where Black youth are targeted, incarcerated, and erased from the cultural narrative, we cannot afford spiritual division. We need to rediscover the shared ancestral fire that both Islam and Christianity carry in the Black experience.
We don’t have to agree on everything.
We don’t even have to worship the same way.
But we must stand together.
The Let’s move forward by:
Hosting interfaith healing circles and community dialogues Supporting Black-led religious schools—Christian and Muslim alike Teaching our children the truth about our unity, not the lie of division Uplifting the legacy of Malcolm, Martin, Elijah, and all who stood for liberation
🌍 One People. Many Paths. One Struggle.
Before Islam and Christianity arrived in Africa, we had spiritual systems that emphasized harmony, community, and respect for all life. These values are not foreign to us—they are our inheritance.
We are not enemies.
We are family.
Join the Movement
Reclaim your power. Reunite your people.
Visit LivityUnityAlliance.Online and download your free eBook: Reclaiming Our Power.
Because it’s time. Time to unlearn. Time to rise. Time to remember that faith—any faith—should unite us, not divide us.
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Rooted in ancestral truth, unveiling hidden legacies, and nurturing the spirit of Indigenous resilience.
📚 References
—Abdul-Alim, J. (2015, February 20). What Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. had in common. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/02/20/what-malcolm-x-and-martin-luther-king-jr-had-in-common/
Cone, J. H. (1991). Martin & Malcolm & America: A Dream or a Nightmare. Orbis Books.
— This seminal work by Black theologian James Cone explores the philosophies and spiritual beliefs of both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
Marable, M. (2011). Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention. Viking.
— Pulitzer Prize-winning biography that details Malcolm X’s evolving political and spiritual views, including his late-stage alignment with Pan-Africanist and interfaith unity ideals.
Lincoln, C. E. (1994). The Black Church in the African American Experience. Duke University Press.
— A foundational study on the role of Christian churches in Black America, especially their political and community power.
Gardell, M. (1996). In the Name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. Duke University Press.
— Examines the political and religious influence of the Nation of Islam and its relationships with the wider Black community, including Christian leaders.
Garrow, D. J. (1986). Bearing the Cross: Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. HarperCollins.
— Offers detailed historical accounts of King’s work, collaborations, and strategies rooted in Christian teachings.
Curtis IV, E. E. (2002). Islam in Black America: Identity, Liberation, and Difference in African-American Islamic Thought. SUNY Press.
— Traces the intersections of Black identity, Islam, and resistance throughout U.S. history.
DeCaro Jr., L. A. (1996). On the Side of My People: A Religious Life of Malcolm X. NYU Press.
— An exploration of Malcolm X’s spiritual development, including his evolving views on unity with Black Christians.
Nation of Islam. (n.d.). Our History. https://www.noi.org/about-us/
— Official documentation of the NOI’s historical formation and role in the Black community.
