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Moorish Science Temple of America — Part 10
Page 49
49 / 95
Chicago File lal
he possessed an eloquent tongue, a persuasive manner, and a native shrewi-.
ness which enabled him to sway the poor and unlettered people who listensd
to him, Most of them remembered the race riots of 1919; all of then had
experienced discrimination and other wrongs. Drew Ali wes offering them
pride of race and dignity. In 1927 a successful convention encouraged ,
Drew Ali to expand his proselytising activities to other cities. Jt is
difficult to ascertain just how many temples resulted, but those in
Pittsburgh; Detroits Charleston, West Virginia; Lansing, Michigan; and
Youngstom, Ohio are fairly well authenticated.
Drew Ali had written and published his "Koran," a slim pamphlet consisting
of a curious mixture of the Mohammedan holy book of the same name, the
Christian Bible and anecdotes of the Life of Jesus—the whole bound together
with the Prophet's own pronouncements and interpretations. The Prophet
began to do a profitable business in various nostrums and charms he had :
concocted, among them Oid Moorish Healing O11, Moorish Purifier Bath Compound
and Moorish Herb Tea for Human Ailments.
More and more "sAsiatics" flocked to the star and crescent standard. They
flaunted their fezzes on the street and treated the white man with undisguised
contempt, The Prophet announced that each devout Moorish American must carry
a card bearing his credentials and his real (or Asiatic) name, signed by the
Prophet with his seal. Often enough "slave*® nanes were transformed into
"real" ones by the simple addition of "Ei" or "Bey," these being titles sig-
nifying Moorish dignity. The membership card and button, when displayed to
Europeans, would convince them that the bearer was enlightened and a member
of an organization to be feared and respected.
To the Prophet this theory of new-found independence had been a more or less
purely ethical or theoretical point, and he had not reckoned on its practical
effect among his zealous followers. Alarming reports of street brawls,
threats, insults, and minor violence centering around Moorish Americans were
brought to his notice. Members were accosting the white enemy on the streets,
showing their membership cards and buttons, and proclaiming in the name of
their Prophet, Noble Drew Ali, that they had been freed of European domination.
Recalling the downfall of the militant Abyssinians and contemplating the
"I hereby warn all Moors that they mst cease ~
from all radical or agitating speeches while
on their jobs, or in their homes, or on the
streets. Stop flashing your cards before
Europeans as this only causes confusion. We
did not come to cause confusion; our work is
to uplift the netion."
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