MISGUIDED, MISLED, DECEIVED OR JUST UNEDUCATED.

Was the founding of the Nation of Islam just a response to Christianity's strong hold on Black America? Was it a ploy to prey on on Black America whose majority was not knowledged on such issues? Were Elijah Muhammad & his cohorts just living the good life off the Blacks? Stories of lechery, debauchery & life styles resembling the days of Caligula in Old Rome trickled out of their enclave.
They made the American blacks  believe that Islam is an African thing whereas Islam  & Christianity  both  originated from the middle East with Islam moving further East & Christianity moving West to Europe.
In the early times both religions spread their doctrines by force with Islam coming across the desert to Africa while Christianity sailed the coasts of Africa. Both traded in various goods but most lucrative for both was slavery. Most of all they lied to the Natives telling them about a greater life after death. Those who did not adhere were put to death. In no time they were bearing Arabic names or Jewish & European names. Many Africans started believing that their cultures were inferior to the European. They tried to speak these foreign languages like the owners of the language & even teased those who spoke with their native accents. This continues to happen to date. Africans discarded their religions, names & languages; 3 items which are most relevant in shaping your identity & building your confidence as an individual who is as important as the next. It pains me that in Nigeria today European & Arabic names are still predominant. In the North of Nigeria today almost every person is Mohammed (with variant spellings), Abubakar & Musa;  down south more so in the East, all you find are Mathew, Mark, Luke , John etc,etc. Peoples of the Western region(Yorubas in particular) have almost totally eradicated these foreign names. I do not think there is any law(canon or sharia) that mandates you adopt these foreign names.
When the great Cassius Clay was convinced by the Nation of Islam to change his name to Mohammed Alli, I thought it was the greatest fraud perpetrated against any one person. Regardless Alli has been an inspiration to all more so the Blacks. A great sporting icon with the gift of the garb; but as the young Cassius Clay, he was naive & gullible to the trickery of all whether christian, moslem or just the regular touts. He was always between the devil & the deep blue sea. Fortunately the World still salutes him not just(arguably) as the greatest boxer ever but also as a great human being.
I believe some of these issues are why Africa & Africans are in a quandry & so too are black Americans. I was watching a programme  on how Cambodian & Vietnamese businesses are doing so well in the USA just some 35yrs after the wars in South East Asia. Are the blacks still blaming slavery? The good thing is if you can identify your problem then you should be able to put it behind you.
There is no place for the weak in this world. The strong will always dominate the weak unles of course you are waiting for the christian/Islamic promise that the weak or is it the meek will inherit the earth.