Final answer:
Wallace Fard founded the Nation of Islam to focus on the economic empowerment of African Americans, advocating for racial separation and self-sufficiency through business ownership and traditional social norms. Malcolm X became one of the group's most influential figures, emphasizing the need for Black empowerment and the possibility of violence in self-defense.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wallace Fard and the Nation of Islam
In founding the Nation of Islam, Wallace Fard focused on the economic empowerment of African Americans. The Nation of Islam had a clear mission to improve the lives of African Americans through various means, including emphasizing capitalist enterprise, supporting Black ownership of businesses, and maintaining traditional conservative social structures. At its core, the movement aimed for racial pride and self-determination.
The teachings within the Nation of Islam under Elijah Muhammad and popularized by spokesperson Malcolm X advocated for the separation of White Americans and African Americans. This was due to the belief that African Americans could not flourish in an environment rife with White racism. This perspective was a distinct contrast to the nonviolent strategies of other civil rights activists of the time.
Furthermore, the Nation of Islam promoted a set of conservative gender and family norms, and encouraged following a version of the Muslim faith tailored to the African American experience. The organization's influence grew significantly through the charisma and leadership of figures such as Malcolm X, who preached the necessity of Black empowerment and potentially using violence as a means of self-defense against racial oppression.