Ali gave his followers a new sense of identity. Most of them wore
a fez which set them apart from the typical urban black. Many
were also bearded, and each one carried a membership card. Having
a different religion from that of the typical ghetto black
contributed further to their special sense of identity. Ali's
teaching also made them feel that they had a special and unique
heritage of which they could be proud. His emphasis on
separatism instead of on integration struck a harmonious note
with their disillusionment. Instead of leaving them in despair,
it permitted them to face white America boldly.
In 1929 a power struggle broke out between Noble Drew Ali and
Claude Green, one of his organizers. When Green was found
murdered, the Chicago police charged Ali with the crime. While
Ali was out on bond, he too died under mysterious circumstances.
While some claimed that he had been beaten by the police, others
said that he had been "mugged" by Green's followers. Before he
was released on bail Ali wrote a letter from prison to his
followers encouraging them to have faith in him and in their
future.
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