Mother of the Nation: Clara Evans Muhammad: Wife of Elijah Muhammad, Mother of Imam W. Deen Mohammed (THE LATTER YEARS: 1930 -1972)

Mother of the Nation: Clara Evans Muhammad (THE LATTER YEARS: 1930 -1972) details the second half of the life of Clara Evans Muhammad, a Black woman who became the center of an unprecedented racial and religious transformation in the US.

Skillfully constructed to illustrate 20th-century racial conditions in America, this thought-provoking biography by Dr. Zakiyyah Muhammad recreates the life and times of an illustrious woman who, in promoting the cause of social justice, became, in the process, the "Mother of the Nation of Islam." It is a superbly researched and fast-moving narrative based on primary sources and interviews with those who knew her personally, exploring Clara's public and private life, including her relationships with her husband, family, and friends.

The latter years of Sister Clara's life (1930-1972) are documented in this volume as she begins to live by the Teachings given to her by Wallace D. Fard, her spiritual teacher. Clara Muhammad, the wife of a formidable spiritual leader, eventually developed an edifying program for Black women focusing on cultural changes in diet, dress, etiquette, and racial pride. It would transform Black womanhood and family life and erase the staggering effects of racism on their psyche. Her lifelong struggle for the dignity and self-respect of African American women makes for memorable reading.

Of particular interest is the description of Clara's "stand" against authorities who visited her when she refused to send her children to "the Devil's schools." A forerunner of Home Schooling, Clara initiated an independent Black educational institution. Later, she would administer the "Nation" during her husband's imprisonment and introduce the Holy Qur'an into the US prison system.

From the biggest questions about American history to the most intimate concerns of a mother for her husband, children, and people, Mother of the Nation offers an insightful perspective for understanding our nation's racial history and current social crisis.