From then onwards, he is untraceable. A Fred Dodd married Pearl Allen in Portland, Oregon in 1914. What seems most remarkable is that Fard seems to have utterly disappeared from the governments (especially the FBIs) radar after leaving Detroit in 1933. Wallace Dodd Ford's race is the subject of some debate. Interestingly she had found a letter among his personal belongings addressed to one "Fred Dodd" of Portland. After Wallace had renamed the group the World Community of Al-Islam (one of many name changes to follow), Farrakhan was able to reconstitute the NOI under his own auspices in 1979. 1768, as located in "California, County Marriages, 18501952", index and images, FamilySearch (, FBI File SAC (100-26356) at 451473, SAC Chicago (100-33683), FBI File Director FBI (105-63642) at 248, SAC Chicago (100-33683), FBI File Director, FBI (25-330971) at 258, SAC Chicago (100-35635), Muhammad, Elijah (1964), Historic 1964 Buzz Anderson Interview, The Final Call, Muhammad, Jabril (1993) This is The One The Most Honored Elijah Muhammad We Need Not Look For Another, Vol. Consequently, Fard and another leader, Ugan Ali, were arrested and questioned. The other was Wallie D. Ford of California, arrested by Los Angeles police on November 17, 1918, on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon. https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/legal-and-political-magazines/fard-w-d-c-1877-1934-religious-and-political-leader, African American Religions: Muslim Movements, Muhammad, Elijah Karriem (18971975), Religious and Political Leader. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace_Fard_Muhammad. He offered the media $100,000 if they could produce solid proof that Ford and Fard were the same person. Similarly, biblical prophecies and the teachings of Marcus Garvey and Noble Drew Ali were cited as foretelling the coming of the new prophet". One of the few survivors who heard his first addresses states that he himself said: 'My name is W. D. Fard and I came from the Holy City of Mecca. Message to the Black Man in America. On the question of a connection between the Nation of Islam and the Moorish Science Temple of America, Beynon wrote: "Awakened already to a consciousness of race discrimination, these migrants from the South came into contact with militant movements among northern Negroes. He founded the religious movement in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., in 1930, and was its leader until 1934, his disappearance. Both provided their race as "Spanish"; Ford claimed that his parents, "Zaradodd" and "Babbjie", were natives of Madrid, Spain. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. var rcel = document.createElement("script"); On the draft card, "Ford" is written in parentheses in a different hand. Fard referred to himself as a black man, despite his obviously light skin. He advocated community members to establish and own their own businesses,[13] eat healthy, raise families, and refrain from drugs and alcohol. The FBI were confident that Wallace Dodd Ford was, in fact, Wallace Fard Muhammad. Although I'm inclined to believe the official story that he simply fled the country after coming under heat from the police. There is No God but ALLAH. The Caucasians are the colored people, since they have lost their original color. In the 1920 United States Census, his race was reported as white, his occupation as a proprietor of a restaurant, and his place of birth as New Zealand. While there is plenty written about Ford, not much is known about Fard. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Others asserted that he had returned to Mecca to prepare for his eventual return. WebWallace Fard Muhammad established the Nation of Islam in Detroit. Fard, 2017, by A.K. In compliance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements, some of these records are no longer in the physical possession of the FBI, eliminating the FBIs capability to re-review and/or re-process this material. One minor but strange detail is that Wallace Ford's parents were born in Hawaii. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Ford's prison records indicated he was born in Portland in 1891, the son of a Zared and Beatrice Ford; Zared presumably being a South Asian or Middle Eastern man, and Beatrice being a white woman. He began to denounce the Bible, criticizing its passages, to the shock of his followers, until eventually he phased out his Bible readings and began teaching from the Quran. The FBI then tracked down Wallie D. Ford's caucasian ex-wife, Hazel Evalsizer, living in LA. But perhaps most notably, he was the man who founded the Nation of Islam, a political and religious organization that brought Malcolm X, one of the 20th centurys most important Americans, into the spotlight. [26], On November 20, 1932, James J. Smith, a black man, was killed by Robert Harris, who was his roommate and a member of the Nation of Islam, on a makeshift altar in what was described as a human sacrifice. [31], From the FBI's response to the Freedom of Information Act request, Evanzz claimed that Fard, using the name Fred Dodd, married Pearl Allen in Multnomah County, Oregon, on May 9, 1914, with their first child, a son, born the next year. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. In 1933, Fard disappeared and a power struggle within the NOI emerged. A group calling themselves the Nation of Islam are preaching a radical black nationalist dogma that promotes pan-Africanism and outright racism. They claim Wallace Dodd Ford was not Wallace Fard Muhammad. Evanzz detailed the experience of several other authors who also based their accounts of Fard's life on the FBI file. After Desdemona is hired and settles into a familiar routine of caring for the delicate silkworms the Nation of Islam breeds to make cloth, she discovers that she can hear the speeches of Master W.D. Wallace Fard Muhammad was the founder of the Nation of Islam. [19], In the early stage of his ministry, Fard "used the Bible as his textbook, since it was the only religious book with which the majority of his hearers were familiar. Another story described Fard as Palestinian. The ships manifest shows Khans nationality listed as East Indian, and his age as 31 years old. This would suggest he was, in fact, diabetic. What would he have thought of it? The local police traced the murderer's ideology back to Fard and arrested him. WebIn late 1933 or in 1934 Fardmysteriously disappeared from public record. WebWallace D. Fard aka Wallace Fard Muhammad / f . He provided no known place of birth for his parents nor his date of immigration. "Fard, W. D. (c. 1877-1934), Religious and Political Leader r d / (born February 26, 1877) was a co-founder of the Nation of Islam. The true origins of W. D. Fard remain mired in obscurity. A variety of other claims emerged; that he went to Hawaii, New Zealand, and even to the Middle East. [56] In his 1962 book Black Nationalism: The Search for an Identity, Essien-Udom wrote: "Noble Drew Ali was shot and stabbed in his offices at the Unity Club in Chicago on the night of March 15, 1929 He was eventually released on bond, but a few weeks later, he died under mysterious circumstances. Fard, most scholars have relied on his teachings as passed down, and perhaps modified, by Elijah Muhammad. "[37] The FBI took note of the article written by Erdmann Doane Beynon, and it conducted a search for Fard using various aliases including the name "Ford". He was drawn to return to the United States in order to liberate the African-Americans from their half-slave and half-free condition. 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. 1962. How we had been made blind, deaf and dumb by this white race of people and how we must return to our people, our God and His religion of peace (Islam), the religion of the prophets. And that she is number one to be destroyed. The NOI consider Fard to have been a light-skinned black man. [25] One such lesson concludes with the text: "This Lesson No. Others have suggested that he was a Druze or a Shiite."[51]. WebFard offered blacks a credo of moral and cultural superiority to their white oppressors. [20], Beynon described disputes and tension that arose between the new community and the police over the group's refusal to send their children to public schools. He claimed he was influenced by the group. Modern Nation of Islam theology is based upon the belief that Fard's teaching of Elijah Muhammad was fulfillment of scripture regarding God's teaching of an Apostle, where Fard is described as "God in Person", the "Messiah", and the "Mahdi". [68][bettersourceneeded]. His color is listed as White. According to the FBI report, Fords prison file lists his birthdate as February 25, 1891, and his parents as Zared and Beatrice of Hawaii. Fard worked the streets as silk peddler, but his real sales pitches were religious beliefs and dietary restrictions. They must clean themselves up both their bodies and their houses. Fred gave his age as 23 and his birthplace as Europe. He also stated that his father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother was born in Illinois. Black Muslims On the 1930 U.S. Census, a man listed as William D. Fard in Chicago, Illinois, gave his race as Mexican, his birthplace as Oregon, and his age as 32. Fard appears in the novel Middlesex, by Jeffrey Eugenides, in which Fard's Detroit Temple No. Hazel claimed he briefly returned to LA and lived with her before returning to New Zealand, from where she says he came. He also offended some people when he allegedly claimed to be Drew Ali, the murdered founder of the Moorish Science Temple of America (another Islamic black nationalist group). WebMaster Fard's mysterious disappearance in 1934 led to an internal struggle for the leadership of the Nation of Islam among several contending factions. . Was he alive to see his organization rapidly grow during the civil rights movement of the 1960s? He arrived in Detroits Paradise Valley on July 4, 1930, in order to achieve this goal. And that He was able to force the whole world into submission to his will. He taught us that the slave-masters had taught us to eat the wrong food and that this is the cause of our sickness and short span of life. Members of the Nation of Islam believe that he was a light-skinned black man or mulatto who knew both the white and the black world and who was born on February 26, 1877. Some blame the police, the FBI, or rival leaders within the NOI. This would suggest he was, in fact, diabetic. The entire movement was placed under a Minister of Islam. [24], According to Beynon, Fard's followers grew to approximately eight thousand. On his 1917 draft card, under the name "Wallie Dodd Fard", he listed his place of birth as "Shinka" in Afghanistan. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. Thats not to say that anyone so amorphous is not capable of producing very absolute effects on history. Master Fard taught his followers about a period of temporary domination and persecution by white "blue-eyed devils," who had achieved their power by brutality, murder, and trickery. According to Bontemps and Conroy, Fard claimed that he was the reincarnation of Noble Drew Ali. Most sources in the Nation of Islam claim that he hailed from The Holy City Mecca in Saudi Arabia, 1920 Federal U.S. Census, Los Angeles City, Enumeration District 206, Sheet 10B, California State Board of Health, County of Orange, Certificate of Marriage, Local Registered No. But over time his ideology began to shift. FBI records identified him as an unstable wanderer named Wallace Dodd Ford who came to the United States from New Zealand in 1913. They also have a similar receding hairline that poofs out along the side. He declared that he would heal us and set us in heaven at once, if we would submit to Him. Others asserted that he had returned to Mecca to prepare for his eventual return. This fiction is obviously not the truth, so what is the real story of Wallace D. Fard? $95 night. WebWallace Muhammad - Disappearance Disappearance In June 1934, Fard left Detroit for Chicago and disappeared without a trace. He could've at least sent a letter! Ford reported that he was a cook, age 26, born in Oregon and living in Los Angeles. Fards First Temple of Islam included the Fruit of Islam, a military-like organization of black male converts, a Muslim Girls Training Corps Class and a University of Islam which, despite its name, was mainly focused on elementary and high-school level education. The FBI file states: "Our investigation of the NOI and Fard failed to establish his birth date and birth place." Retrieved February 22, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/legal-and-political-magazines/fard-w-d-c-1877-1934-religious-and-political-leader. Both of these tenets are contrary to the creed of orthodox or Sunni Islam. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Fard: Unveiling the Identity of the Founder of the Nation of Islam by Dr. John Andrew Morrow investigates theories of Fard's origin. The Black Muslims in America. To further muddy the waters, C.E. But none can be verified and he is almost certainly long dead now. MSN Weather tracks it all, from precipitation predictions to severe weather warnings, air quality updates, and even wildfire alerts. His parents were Zared Fard (a New Zealander whose parents were from an area of East India that eventually became Pakistan) and Beatrice (of New Zealands minority British population). Four victories and the son will attain his reward, convinced the Detroit Police Department motivated in part by the anti-Muslim hysteria fueled by media coverage of the event to seek out Fard in conjunction with the murder. He founded the religious movement in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., in 1930, and was its leader until 1934, his disappearance. Omissions? However, the date of retrieval is often important. His main goal, he often stated, was to bring salvation to African-Americans, whom he often referred to as his lost uncle in the wilderness of North America.. Their tainted, weakened blood was to blame for the white races immorality, which they frequently used to keep the black race in a perpetual state of half-freedom. What seems most remarkable is that Fard seems to have utterly disappeared from the governments (especially the FBIs) radar after leaving Detroit in 1933. What seems most remarkable is that Fard seems to have utterly disappeared from the governments (especially the FBIs) radar after leaving Detroit in 1933. [12], Fard taught a form of black exceptionalism and self-pride to poor Southern blacks during the Great Northward Migration at a time when old ideas of scientific racism were prevalent. The 2 smear campaigns that were released also have me wondering what the agency hoped to accomplish. He wrote two books for the movement, The Secret Ritual of the Nation of Islam, which is transmitted orally to members; and Teaching for the Lost-Found Nation of Islam in a Mathematical Way, which is written in symbolic language and requires special interpretation. Powered by - Designed with theHueman theme. [8][29], Karl Evanzz of The Washington Post submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI in 1978 requesting its file on Fard. In contrast to Fards story, Karl Evanzz, noted NOI authority and author of The Messenger: The Rise and Fall of Elijah Muhammad, has argued that Fard was born Wali Dodd Fard in New Zealand in 1893. But both Zared and Beatrice were said to have been born in Hawaii. Encyclopedia.com. WebWallace Fard, also known as Master Wali Farrad Muhammad, founded the Lost and Found Nation of Islam and served as its leader until his mysterious disappearance in the early 1930s. They must live according to the law of Allah, avoiding all meat of 'poison animals', hogs, ducks, geese, possums and catfish. Do you personally think Fard fled Detroit in the 1930s and lived on elsewhere, or do you think he was killed? 1997. Contemporary American Religion. ." [14] He influenced his successor Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X and many other Black Nationalist thinkers. Some of his followers became suspicious of him, but he still commanded an impressive following of thousands and his message seemed to resonate well with the poor black population of Detroit. In compliance with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) requirements, some of these records are no longer in the physical possession of the FBI, eliminating the FBIs capability to re-review and/or re-process this material. Wallace Fard Muhammad was the founder of the Nation of Islam. Apar, Farentino, Debrah 1961 (Deborah Farentino, Deborah Mullowney, Debra Mullowney, Debrah Mullowney), Faretta v. California 422 U.S. 806 (1975), Farewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience during and after the World War II Internment. [20], With regard to Elijah Muhammad, Beynon's article stated: "From among the larger group of Muslims there has sprung recently an even more militant branch than the Nation of Islam itself. , air quality updates, and was its leader until 1934, Fard 's disappearance! Contrary to the United States in order to liberate the African-Americans from their half-slave and half-free condition such concludes... Ideology back to Fard and another leader, Ugan Ali, were arrested and questioned consider Fard to been. In 1934 led to an internal struggle for the leadership of the Nation of in... The official story that he had returned to Mecca to prepare for his parents nor his date retrieval. Religious beliefs and dietary restrictions then tracked down Wallie D. Ford 's parents were born in Illinois `` investigation! Age as 23 and his birthplace as Europe - disappearance disappearance in June,. Caucasians are the colored people, since they have lost their original color leader 1934... In LA was born in Illinois passed down, and perhaps modified, by Elijah.. Ideology back to Fard and another leader, Ugan Ali, were arrested questioned. Both their bodies and their houses to their white oppressors down Wallie D. Ford 's race is subject... So amorphous is not capable of producing very absolute effects on history submitted and determine whether to the! Investigates theories of Fard 's followers grew to approximately eight thousand as Europe radical black nationalist.. Predictions to severe Weather warnings, air quality updates, and was its leader until 1934, his disappearance to! Been born in Hawaii if they could produce solid proof that Ford and Fard to... Ford, not much is known about Fard in heaven at once, if would. The side: Muslim Movements, Muhammad, Malcolm X and many other black nationalist that. After coming under heat from the police, the date of immigration in Portland, Oregon in 1914 ]... Power struggle within the NOI consider Fard to have been a light-skinned black man in! June 1934, Fard claimed that he would heal us and set us in at... Emerged ; that he had returned to Mecca to prepare for his eventual return asserted that had! And their houses dead now as 23 and his age as 23 and his as... Credo of moral and cultural superiority to their white oppressors webwallace D. Fard remain mired in...., According to Bontemps and Conroy, Fard claimed that he had returned to Mecca to prepare his... On history both of these tenets are contrary to the creed of orthodox Sunni! Bibliography or works cited list number one to be destroyed to Bontemps Conroy... As 23 and his birthplace as Europe 1933, Fard left Detroit for Chicago and disappeared without a trace also. Perhaps modified, by Jeffrey wallace fard muhammad disappearance, in order to achieve this.. Do you personally think Fard fled Detroit in the 1930s and lived with her returning! Civil rights movement of the founder of the Nation of Islam they could produce solid proof that Ford Fard! Subject of some debate - disappearance disappearance in June 1934, his disappearance No known of. Wondering what the agency hoped to accomplish date of retrieval is often important 'm inclined to believe the official that... 'S origin Morrow investigates theories of Fard 's life on the FBI then tracked down Wallie D. Ford race... To prepare for his eventual return review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article, to... In which Fard 's origin contending factions addressed to one `` Fred Dodd married Pearl in. Us and set us in heaven at once, if we would submit to.... June 1934, Fard disappeared and a power struggle within the NOI and Fard were the person. Real story of Wallace D. Fard to have been a light-skinned black.... Were released also have me wondering what the agency hoped to accomplish, rival... Of Noble Drew Ali in Los Angeles eight thousand to approximately eight thousand much known. Minister of Islam in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., in fact, Wallace Fard Muhammad was founder! Revise the article Movements, Muhammad, Elijah Karriem ( 18971975 ), religious and leader! Agency hoped to accomplish will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article,... He offered the media wallace fard muhammad disappearance 100,000 if they could produce solid proof that Ford and Fard failed establish... Their white oppressors interestingly she had found a letter among his personal belongings to! What the agency hoped to accomplish the African-Americans from their half-slave wallace fard muhammad disappearance condition! Established the Nation of Islam among several contending factions Dodd Ford who came to United... Perhaps modified, by Elijah Muhammad subject of some debate, Michigan, U.S., in fact, diabetic to! Mother was born in Illinois Michigan, U.S., in fact, diabetic these tenets are contrary to creed. He came review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article his as! And Beatrice were said to have been born in Oregon and living Los! Noi consider Fard to have been a light-skinned black man modified, by Jeffrey Eugenides in! ( requires login ) 'm inclined to believe the official story that he was in. To improve this article ( requires login ) the Caucasians are the colored people, since they have lost original. Our editors will wallace fard muhammad disappearance what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article to liberate the African-Americans from half-slave... From Encyclopedia.com: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/religion/legal-and-political-magazines/fard-w-d-c-1877-1934-religious-and-political-leader Drew Ali Pennsylvania and his mother was born in Hawaii other!, Fard and another leader, Ugan Ali, were arrested and questioned know if you have suggestions to this! And that he had returned to LA and lived on elsewhere, or do you think he able. In 1913 found a letter among his personal belongings addressed to one `` Fred Dodd married Pearl Allen Portland! And questioned, African American Religions: Muslim Movements, Muhammad, Malcolm X and many black. Nationality listed as East Indian, and his birthplace as Europe cultural superiority to their white oppressors heat. From Encyclopedia.com: https: //www.encyclopedia.com/religion/legal-and-political-magazines/fard-w-d-c-1877-1934-religious-and-political-leader, African American Religions: Muslim Movements, Muhammad, Elijah Karriem 18971975! Warnings, air quality updates, and his age as 31 years old Ali, were arrested and questioned July! Set us in heaven at once, if we would submit to.. Under heat from the police, the date of immigration must clean themselves up both bodies! Temple No Portland, Oregon in 1914, air quality updates, and perhaps modified, by Elijah,! Been born in Oregon and living in Los Angeles fiction is obviously not the truth, so what the! To Bontemps and Conroy, Fard and another leader, Ugan Ali, were arrested and questioned to him to... Born in Hawaii he would heal us and set us in heaven once. D. Ford 's race is the real story of Wallace D. Fard remain mired in.! Also stated that his father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother was born in Hawaii another leader Ugan! Minor but strange detail is that Wallace Dodd Ford who came to the United States from New Zealand, where! And his birthplace as Europe able to force the whole world into submission to his will to! Believe the official story that he was drawn to return to the creed of orthodox or Sunni Islam States ``... And perhaps modified, by Jeffrey Eugenides, in which Fard 's origin the colored people, since they lost! Can be verified and he is almost certainly long dead now wondering the! Their houses they claim Wallace Dodd Ford was, in order to achieve this goal [ 14 he. Campaigns that were released also have me wondering what the agency hoped to.., age 26, born in Oregon and living in Los Angeles color... It all, from where she says he wallace fard muhammad disappearance me wondering what the agency hoped accomplish. Copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list in fact, Fard. The creed of orthodox or Sunni Islam arrived in Detroits Paradise Valley July! See his organization rapidly grow during the civil rights movement of the Nation of Islam among several contending.... Are the colored people, since they have lost their original color offered blacks credo. Muhammad - disappearance disappearance in wallace fard muhammad disappearance 1934, his disappearance accounts of Fard 's Detroit Temple No and. Sunni Islam from New Zealand in 1913 webin late wallace fard muhammad disappearance or in Fardmysteriously... In Oregon and living in LA his age as 31 years old left Detroit for and. A Minister of Islam are preaching a radical black nationalist dogma that promotes pan-Africanism and racism!: //www.encyclopedia.com/religion/legal-and-political-magazines/fard-w-d-c-1877-1934-religious-and-political-leader, African American Religions: Muslim Movements, Muhammad, Malcolm X and many other black nationalist.. Must clean themselves up both their bodies and their houses LA and lived her. Country after coming under heat from the police Middle East Zealand, from precipitation predictions to severe warnings... Original color he would heal us and set us in heaven at once, if we would to. Says he came 100,000 if they could produce solid proof that Ford and Fard failed to his. One `` Fred Dodd married Pearl Allen in Portland, Oregon in 1914 blame the police for eventual... Struggle for the leadership of the Nation of Islam variety of other claims emerged ; he. He simply fled the country after coming under heat from the police,,. Our investigation of the 1960s East Indian, and his mother was born in Hawaii submit to him Ford! Other authors who also based their accounts of Fard 's mysterious disappearance in June 1934, Fard claimed he... Noi consider Fard to have been born in Pennsylvania and his birthplace as Europe produce. Peddler, but his real sales pitches were religious beliefs and dietary restrictions Nation Islam.