The Supreme Wisdom: Solution to the So-Called Negroes' Problem

Newport News, VA: The National Newport News and Commentator, 1957 [but ca.1981]. Later Printing (dated from ads, despite copyright page stating "First Edition – February 26, 1957). Slim octavo (20.25cm); original photo-illustrated wrappers, stapled; [2],3-56 + [5]pp ads; illus. Light wear and a few tiny creases to wrappers, with a few fingernail-sized indentations to front cover; contents clean; Very Good+ or better. First of two parts of one of the earliest works by Black separatist and Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975). The slim pamphlet distills the essence of Muhammad's early teachings, much of it drawn from highly-popular column "Mr. Muhammad Speaks," which appeared weekly in the Pittsburgh Courier. Contents are comprised of teachings, sayings, and aphorisms on various subjects – all directed at members of the Nation to orient them toward "right living." Contains an introduction by Abdul Basit Naeem (editor-publisher of Moslem World & The U.S.A.), with a five-page list of "essential" books in the end matter, which included works by Muhammad and other Nation ministers, alongside works by W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, Alex Haley, Angela Davis, and others.