Malcolm X, a towering figure in the 20th century, remains an icon of Black empowerment and self-determination. While his political and social activism are widely recognized, his dietary choices and lifestyle, deeply intertwined with the Nation of Islam's (NOI) teachings, offer a fascinating lens through which to understand his commitment to transforming the lives of African Americans. Malcolm X’s approach to diet and lifestyle was revolutionary and transformative, reflecting a broader movement within the Nation of Islam to reshape African American identity and well-being.
Food as a Tool for Empowerment
Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, underwent significant transformations throughout his life, one of which was his approach to food. He saw food as more than just sustenance; it was a tool for empowerment, a means of reclaiming control over one's health and identity. In his book "Hog and Hominy," the author dedicates a chapter to "Food Rebels," identifying Malcolm X as one who actively challenged traditional African American culinary habits, particularly the consumption of pork and other Southern dietary customs.
According to Harlem native Roy Miller, whom the author interviewed for "Hog and Hominy," Malcolm X and the members of Temple 7 in Harlem spearheaded the Nation of Islam’s message about food in metropolitan New York starting in 1954. Miller noted that the Muslims were among the few African Americans he knew who were disciplined nutritionally, and Malcolm X publicly embodied this. Malcolm X spoke out against eating pork, raising awareness about dietary choices. Rudy Bradshaw, another Harlem native, recalled Malcolm X playfully ridiculing those who ordered pork, including Harlem intellectuals like John Hendrik Clarke and Dr. Benyohagen (aka Dr. Ben), reminding them that pigs are the dirtiest animals. Over time, he persuaded many to change their eating habits.
The Nation of Islam's Dietary Guidelines
The Nation of Islam, under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad, promoted a distinct dietary code that diverged sharply from the soul food traditions prevalent in many African American communities. This code emphasized healthy eating habits and abstaining from certain foods considered detrimental to physical and spiritual well-being.
Elijah Muhammad's teachings, which Malcolm X fervently promoted, encouraged followers to avoid pork, processed foods, and excessive sugar and salt. The Nation of Islam operated restaurants that served as alternatives to soul food establishments, offering meals featuring beef and fish, brown rice, fresh vegetables, bean soup, and the popular bean pies.
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The NOI’s dietary guidelines were rooted in the belief that proper nutrition was essential for the overall upliftment of the Black community. By adhering to these guidelines, members aimed to improve their health, increase their energy levels, and cultivate a sense of discipline and self-control.
The Bean Pie: A Symbol of Identity and Enterprise
The bean pie, a sweet custard pie made from navy beans, became a symbol of the Nation of Islam's culinary identity. Members sold these pies in various locations, turning them into a source of income and community enterprise.
The bean pie represents the NOI's resourcefulness and commitment to self-sufficiency. It provided a nutritious and affordable dessert option while also serving as a means of economic empowerment for its members.
Recipes
Here are a couple of recipes associated with the Nation of Islam's dietary practices:
Nation of Islam Navy Bean Soup Recipe
Ingredients:
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- 1 pound of small navy beans
- 1 large onion
- 3-4 bay leaves
- Ground parsley
- Ground peppers
- Salt (All of the above to taste)
Method:
- Soak beans overnight or quick soak by bringing beans to a boil for 2-3 minutes and soak for 1 hour. Soaking cuts cooking time by approximately 1/2.
- Rinse the beans thoroughly, discarding all of the water used for soaking and clean the remnants of the water from the pot used.
- Replace beans in a full pot of clean, cool water and place on top of the stove at a medium to medium high setting.
- Dice or thinly slice the onion. Add the whole bay leaves.
- Cook until beans are tender, then add spices, reduce heat and slow cook until the desired consistency of beans and bean stock is achieved.
Bean Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups navy beans (cooked)
- 1 stick butter (or butter substitute)
- 1 14-oz. can evaporated milk (or vanilla Vitasoy)
- 4 eggs (or egg substitute)
- 1 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 2 tsp. flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tbsp. vanilla
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In electric blender, blend together beans, butter milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon, and flour for around two minutes on medium speed.
- Put mixture in a large mixing bowl. Mix in sugar and vanilla. Stir well.
- Pour into pie shells.
- Bake for around an hour until golden brown.
Malcolm X's Personal Discipline and Lifestyle
Beyond dietary restrictions, Malcolm X exemplified a disciplined lifestyle that reflected his commitment to self-improvement and service to his community. Louis Farrakhan, his protégé, described Malcolm X as exceptionally disciplined: "I never saw Malcolm smoke. I never saw Malcolm curse. I never saw Malcolm wink at a woman. I never saw Malcolm eat in between meals. He ate one meal a day. He got up at 5 o’clock in the morning to say his prayers. I never saw Malcolm late for an appointment. Malcolm was like a clock."
Malcolm X's dedication to prayer, punctuality, and abstaining from unhealthy habits underscored his holistic approach to personal development. This discipline extended to his intellectual pursuits, as he was an avid reader and lifelong learner.
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Family Life
Those principles also nurtured a bond between Malcolm X and his wife, Dr. Betty Shabazz (Dean Sanders), whom he married in 1958. Born in Georgia and reared in Detroit, Shabazz trained as a nurse at Brooklyn State Hospital School of Nursing. Shabazz described her husband as gentle and kind, with a tremendous sense of humor, and an intellectual who read complex books in hours. She also noted Malcolm X’s courage in facing racism, divisions within the Nation of Islam, and a rising tide of racial and social unrest. “I am very grateful that I had the conference experience to be around him for years and experience a Black man who was goal-oriented and had a lot for his people. And made his contribution as he should and as we all should, but without fear. Dr. His fearlessness was witnessed by his daughters, who, while understanding the fight against injustice their father undertook, saw him first and foremost, as ‘Dad.’“The man we knew was warm, gentle, empathetic, with a famously electric smile. He was a family man. I remember his great sense of humor, and that he loved jazz music, literature and possibility. He studied history, nature and the arts. He had a butterfly collection! He read poetry to his wife. "Before we understood the icon that is Malcolm X, our mother made sure that we knew him primarily as "Daddy" or "Mommy’s husband" - the loving and compassionate man, that we knew about the importance of his love and compassion, about his intelligence and commitments! It was at school where I learned about him as one of the leaders in the civil rights movement.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Alex Haley, the American writer known for his 1976 book Roots: The Saga of an American Family assisted him in writing his autobiography. These were the first words Malcolm X shared when asked about his mother in a writing studio in New York. This was also the first time, Haley notes in the foreword to The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965), that Malcolm truly opened up about his life. In all their previous sessions the Muslim minister exhibited a deep mistrust towards Haley, even suspecting that the studio was ‘bugged’ by the F.B.I. with the author’s permission and cooperation.
Malcolm told Haley one night, “My whole life has been a chronology of changes,” and, in a few months, he would transform himself yet again, becoming El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, a Sunni Muslim.
The Power of Food
One aspect of our lives that people don’t take into account nearly enough is the role of food. More than that, your social standing influences what and how you choose to eat. And in that context, food can also be used to either subvert your values, or you can use it to your advantage. According to NOI doctrine and myths, white people fed slaves pork and other types of “soul foods” to ruin their lives in terms of disease, obesity, and high blood pressure. Moreover, Malcolm X often stated that controlling the desire for food was more difficult than controlling the desire for sex. So, in addition to their religiously dictated food commandments. Food, as you have seen, has a lot of power. The choice is not an easy one when it comes to what you must eat. So ask yourselves the hard questions, and make your diet fit you, not the other way around. And don’t buy into any classist, overblown, nonsensical hype. What is the purpose of your diet? There is no wrong answer.