Clara Muhammad facts for kids
Clara Muhammad (born Clara Evans; November 2, 1899 – August 12, 1972) was an important leader in the Nation of Islam movement. She was born in Macon, Georgia. Clara was married to Elijah Muhammad, who became the leader of the Nation of Islam. They got married in Georgia in 1917. Together, they had eight children, including their son Warith Deen Muhammad.
Clara Muhammad is often called the First Lady of the Nation of Islam. She played a key role in introducing her husband to the ideas of the Nation of Islam's founder, W.D. Fard. She also helped lead the organization when her husband was away from 1935 to 1946. During this time, he was away for safety reasons and later faced legal challenges during World War II.
Clara Muhammad helped start and manage schools for children of Nation of Islam members. These schools were called the University of Islam and Muslim Girls Training. They offered a special kind of religious education, similar to early homeschooling. Sometimes, there were disagreements with authorities in Detroit, Michigan and Chicago, Illinois about how these schools operated.
Clara Muhammad's Lasting Impact
Clara Muhammad passed away on August 12, 1972, after a long illness. Her son, Warith Deen Mohammed, took over leadership of the Nation of Islam in 1975. To honor his mother, he renamed the University of Islam schools the Sister Clara Muhammad Schools. Today, there are about 75 Sister Clara Muhammad Schools across the United States. These include schools in Boston and Atlanta, Georgia.
