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Adversity In Harlem

The following brief article appeared in the April-May 1956 issue of "The Street Speaker," and is being reproduced here to shed some light on the social and economic situation in that area of New York City where the followers of Mr. Elijah Muhammad hope to bring about, with the help of Allah, "a happy change in the general condition."

"If one had the time, he or she could walk on Fifth Avenue at 135th Street and see our people at their lowest state. Men and women lying in doorways asleep or confused on cheap wine or dope; most of them are on Relief, and are too sorry to put their money to good use.

"Turn west as you come to 133rd St., and you will see houses being torn down so that new ones can be erected but they are not being built by the people who live in them. When you get to Lenox Avenue, the things you will see make a man that loves himself and his people sick; countless men and women sitting on ash cans eating watermelons and drinking bad wine.

"Start down Lenox Avenue. The first and last thing you will see are young girls that could make some man a nice mate. Their arms are covered, so you can't see the long line of dark marks on them--the tell-tale mark of the dope addict; some are so sick from the urge for dope, it makes you wonder what man or woman could sink so low as to sell it.

"If you think this is not so, visit the skid row we call 'Harlem' and see for yourself; men coming from work with the money they have worked so hard for during the week, stopping off for crap games and some of them leaving the game, broke.

"The streets and sidewalks look like the city dump. You don't believe it! Well, just take a look at it, if you have the guts. Six-thirty in the morning women are throwing garbage out of the front and back windows.

"Go into one of Harlem's countless Bars and hear the drunks brag abuot how they will go to jail when it gets cold. Go next door into the basement or up two flights and Rev. P.C. Chicken Eater tells a long tirade about some great white god that will one day come and save us all. 'Pass that collection cup one more time, Brothers'."
--James Dancy

colm X. fully understands the problems, hopes and aspirations of "the so-called Negroes" among whom he preaches and seeks prospective members of the Temple.

Mr. Malcolm X. is one of the busiest person we have known in any walk of life. His many duties (he is also in charge of the commercial enterprises connected with the Temple) keep him literally hopping between his Long Island home, the Temple in Manhattan and "numerous other places of call," and he loves every bit of it. "The arduousness of my work can never be greater than the importance of my mission," or so it seems to him.

A second (but, of course, equally good) reason for the rapid growth of Islam in New York City is the meaning and message of Islam itself. In the words of a recent convert, "For us--the so-called Negroes -- acceptance of Islam means total elimination of the race problem and our immediate elevation to a status in society hitherto entirely unknown to us It also means new and high moral standards for our people. When we turn Moslem, we are taught never to indulge again in drinking, gambling, or narcotics. We are made to stop eating the wrong food--pork, ham and bacon--forbidden by God Himself, whose proper name is Allah. We are also taught to stay away from dancing halls and night clubs, and 

22   MOSLEM WORLD & THE U.S.A.

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[[image - black & white photograph of men and women in front of the Temple No. 7 Luncheonette]]
[[caption]] The Temple No. 7 Luncheonette in New York City, located on Lenox Avenue at 120th Street, is a favorite meeting place for all the local followers of Mr. Elijah Muhammad. Brother Lonnie, a Temple member, (with finder pointing to camera) seems to be reminding readers of this magazine "to drop in and have some of that wonderful Moslem food" for which the little restaurant is well-known in local Moslem circles. [[/caption]]

to respect our women and treat them like we would treat our mothers and sisters. Frankly, sir, I can't say that we were taught the same thing when we were Christians or members of churchs."

To another new Moslem New Yorker, "Islam means that we do not have to wait for the Kingdom in Heaven to reach our goals in life . Basically, we strive to obtain Freedom, Justice and Equality for our people, and Islam gurantees these to us. As Moslems, we do not feel that we are a minority of any kind .We know, instead, that we are a part of the vast Moslem world."

And yet another follower of MR. Elijah Muhammad recently told us, "My ancestors in Africa were of the Islamic Faith when they were brought here by John Hawkins as slaves. By turning Moslem I have only returned to our 

(Continued on page 36)

[[image - black & white photograph of three women sit around a table and smiling]]

[[photograph credit - Curt Clemons]]

[[caption]]Excellent food, prepared in the Luncheonette shown above, was served at the "Moslem Feast" mentioned earlier in this article. Three visitors from Washington, D.C., members of the Temple of Islam in that city, are seen here enjoying their "plentiful share."[[/caption]]

AUGUST-SEPT. 1956    23