During the 1950s, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad began to reap the benefits of the seeds planted in prison and his journeys throughout the east coast. Muhammad’s Temples of Islam began to spring up in Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, Hartford, New York, New Jersey, Cleveland, and San Diego to name a few. In 1957, he published an easy to read booklet, The Supreme Wisdom. He continued to write his column, “Mr. Muhammad Speaks”, in the Pittsburgh Courier and Chicago Crusader newspapers while on the road. His teachings had taken root in the lives of his followers. The Messenger’s program for self-development and his economic blueprint had come into fruition. The opening of a variety of small businesses such as dry cleaners, clothing shops, barbershops, restaurants, and bakeries demonstrated the faith and work of the followers.
Prior to 1959, the masses of Blacks in America viewed the Muslims as strange people in America. They dressed differently; lived clean lives, didn’t use tobacco or alcohol, and didn’t eat pork. That image changed following an address at the Uline Arena in Washington, D.C. on May 20, 1959. He returned to a city that the police arrested him 17 years earlier. The city provided him with a presidential escort down Pennsylvania Avenue by the capital police; an honor never given to a Black man. In a thunderous and authoritative voice, he delivered an electrifying speech to a capacity crowd of ten thousand Black men and women. He challenged the manhood of Black leadership in America: “Don’t demand a job! Demand some earth!” he exclaimed.
Alarmed by the growing number of blacks attending Muslim rallies and conventions, the Nation of Islam became the victim of an onslaught of attacks launched by the government and the mainstream media. Many in the white media began to label Muhammad and his followers as hate-teachers. Leading the charge was journalist Mike Wallace, hosting the television special “The Hate That Hate Produced”. Other programs soon followed, such as specials on News Magazine, and NBC’s “No Whites Allowed”. Orthodox Muslims and Negroes received forums for the sole purpose of denouncing him.