Archivist Marvin X presents: The Papers of Nadar Ali, Nation of Islam Educator, Director of Imports

Sometime during 1966, Nation of Islam officials in Fresno, California asked Marvin X to "fish" Nadar Ali into the NOI since he was my friend. Nadar, aka Bobby Jones, was the first Black secondary school teacher who taught "across town" in segregated Fresno. He taught at the nearly all white Bullard High School. Marvin had seen Nadar perform in a local production of Loraine Hansberry's classic A Raison in the Sun. How appropriate for the Central Valley, raison capitol of the world. Sun Made raisons come from Selma, 13 miles south of Fresno. Anyway, when Marvin returned to Fresno to perform LeRoi Jones' (Amiri Baraka) Dutchman at Fresno State University, 1966, he recruited Nadar as a passenger on the subway train.

Marvin X's Fly to Allah, 1968,  is the seminal work in American Muslim literature. Muslim American literature begins with Marvin X! --Dr. Mohja Kahf

In the Black Arts Theatre tradition of using white faced black actors to represent white people, Marvin, who performed the role of Clay, used his girlfriend Ethna X. Wyatt (Ethna got her X in Fresno at this time, Marvin X didn't join the NOI until 1967, San Francisco Mosque #26) to perform as the white woman Lula. Ethna needed a wig so Marvin asked the town's biggest pimp, Marcel,  to loan him one of his white ho's wigs, which he did. More about Marcel later.
Marvin recruited Bobby Jones into the NOI. In 1967, Bobby wrote his M.A. thesis on education in the Nation of Islam for Fresno State University. Nadar became a director of educator for the NOI, setting up schools in Los Angeles, Fresno and Oakland. Because of jealousy and envy, Elijah Muhammad sat Nadar down from his post but soon he was selected by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad to become Director of Imports, answering to no one except Elijah. Elijah told him, "You answer to no one but me because there are too many rats around," meaning NOI officials, including some of his own children, i.e.sons. Nadar moved to Chicago and traveled internationally representing the NOI. A Japanese agent connected them with the Peruvians who sold Whiting fish. When Ali saw the fish came from Peru and that the Japanese were only middle men, Ali got the approval of the HEM (Honorable Elijah Muhammad) to make deals directly with the Peruvians. Ali became a world traveler for the NOI, making deals with Morocco for tons of Sardines. In 1973 he was on the balcony of his hotel in Chile when President Allende was overthrown at his presidential palace.

Recently, Marvin X was in Fresno for a little R and R and visited Nadar Ali at his family business Salaam Fish, a small cafe in Fresno's Chinatown. In his early eighties, Nadar told Marvin he was called to Chicago to meet with other Muslim officials and the Smithsonian Institute who wanted to establish a room at the Smithsonian for American Muslims. The Muslim officials were so elated, they agreed to donate their archives to the Smithsonian. Enter Marvin X, "Donate," he said to Ali, "By no means, if they want your archives, they must pay for them, Ali!" Ali said he had already agreed and that a truck was on the way from Washington, DC to pick up his archives. Marvin X said to hell with the truck, don't give them shit! Suddenly a light came on in Ali's brain. "Damn, Marvin, this is the second time in my life you had to awaken me, first when you recruited me into the NOI, now with my archives."

This weekend, Marvin was in Fresno due to a death in the family, but he arranged to meet with Ali before he departed. "Let me see what you got, Brother!" Ali invited him to peruse the archives stored at his cafe and Marvin was astounded. Ali has one of the most complete collections of Muhammad Speaks Newspapers. He has boxes of tapes of the Honorable Elijah Muahmmad and Imama Warithdeem Muhammad that he was ready to throw into the trash. But what shocked Marvin X was Ali's collection, though small, of letters from the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. As Marvin and his associate Rashid Ali read through the letters in the inimitable style of the man who raised Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Farrakhan, Warithdin, and millions of others in the greatest movement since the Honorable Marcus Garvey, Marvin X came upon two letters address to himself. Marvin X went into shock! since he doesn't possess the letters, though he remembered the first letter but not the second.

Letter #1

September 30,1969

From: Elijah Muhammad
Messenger of Allah
4847 South Woodlawn Ave.
Chicago, Ill.

To: Mr. Marvin X
1526 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA

As-Salaam-Alaikum

In the Name of Almighty Allah, the Most Merciful Saviour, our Deliverer, Who Came in the Person of Master of Master Fard Muhammad, to Whom Praises are due forever, Master of the Day of Judgment.
To Allah alone do I submit and seek refuge:

Dear Brother:

Your book of poems and proverbs, entitled "Black Man Listen", has been received.

Brother, words do not mean just what they are saying all of the time. If it is read, it may mean something else and you will be disgraced.

Remember that poems are a science and remember again, the Holy Quran warns against poets and their writings. They messed Muhammad up at Medina and Mecca with their writings, because when the poems were understood, it was found that they were against Muhammad and His Teachings. Read William Muir's and Washington Irving's writings on Muhammad. See what they said about these writers (poets). The Holy Quran condemns poetry, therefore, that which the Holy Quran condemns, we condemn.

I am only after the plainest way to the the dead to know of the Truth and not in any science way for them to later try to understand. Poetry is science.

May Allah Bless you and keep you on the Path of Righteousness.

As-Salaam-Alaikum,

Elijah Muhammad
Messenger of Allah
EM/sax
September 30, 1969

Letter #2

December 17, 1969

From:
Elijah Muhammad
Messager of Allah
4847 South Woodlawn Ave.
Chicago, IL

To: Mr. Marvin X
1526 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA

As-Salaam-Alaikum

In the Name of Almighty Allah, The Most Merciful Saviour, Our Deliverer, Who Came in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad, to Who Praises are due forever, Master of the Day of Judgment. To Allah alone do I submit and seek refuge.

Dear Brother:

This letter is in regard to the mimeographed copy, "The Myth of Black Studies",  and also the History lesson, which is written in a poem.

Brother, I am only interested in the plainest way to beth the Truth to my people.

Some Black people do not understand Poems. Words do/not mean just what they are saying all of the time. Poems are sciences.

May Allah Bless you with the Light of Understanding.

As-Salaam-Alaikum

Elijah Muhammad
Messenger of Allah

EM/j2x