The Educational Philosophy of Elijah Muhammad

Book excerpt: This work is the first to examine the educational philosophy of Elijah Muhammad, the founder of the Nation of Islam and a pivotal leader in America's history. This timely book outlines Elijah Muhammad's educational ideas in relation to critical pedagogy, multicultural education, and critical white studies, a branch of "critical race theory"- which is a scholarly theory popularized in the mid-1970s and reaches across disciplines to explore the relationship among race, the justice system, and society. In this seminal work, Professor Pitre introduces several key components of Elijah Muhammad's educational philosophy, such as the knowledge of self; the purpose of education; education for a new world; and the role of teachers. Professor Pitre's presentation of these facets of Elijah Muhammad's philosophy is used as the basis for the development of a new educational paradigm that is universal in scope. This is a must-read book for those dedicated to creating a new paradigm that can transform individuals, schools, societies, and the world.