Sufi Abdul Hamid facts for kids
Sufi Abdul Hamid (born Eugene Brown) (January 6, 1903 – July 30, 1938) was an important African-American leader. He worked for workers' rights and was one of the first African Americans to become a Muslim. He is remembered for leading business boycotts in Harlem in the early 1930s. These boycotts aimed to stop unfair hiring practices by businesses that did not want to hire Black workers.
Hamid was born in Lowell, Massachusetts. He moved to New York City in 1932 and lived in Harlem. He used different names and titles, eventually calling himself His Holiness Bishop Amiru Al-Mu-Minin Sufi A. Hamid. He was known for his unique style, often wearing a purple turban and a gold-lined cape.
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Fighting for Jobs in Harlem
During the Great Depression, many people lost their jobs. In Harlem, about half of all Black people were unemployed. Sufi Abdul Hamid saw this problem and decided to act.
Organizing Boycotts
Hamid started a movement to encourage white business owners in Harlem to hire Black workers. He often led protests outside stores and gave speeches on street corners. His goal was to make sure that Black residents, who were a big part of Harlem's population, also had a chance to work in local businesses.
Author Claude McKay, who lived in Harlem at the time, wrote a lot about Sufi Abdul Hamid's efforts. McKay's writings helped people understand the challenges and the organizing work happening in Harlem.
Standing Up for Workers
Hamid's group changed its name several times, including the Negro Industrial and Clerical Alliance and the Afro-American Federation of Labor. He worked with other leaders, like Adam Clayton Powell Jr., to fight for fair employment. Their protests focused on businesses that refused to hire Black people.
Hamid faced some legal challenges related to his activism. Despite these difficulties, he continued his work. When he was no longer allowed to picket, he focused on his mosque, the Universal Holy Temple of Tranquility. There, he was called "the Black Mufti" and even welcomed Jewish members into his organization in 1937.
Personal Life and Legacy
Sufi Abdul Hamid married Stephanie St. Clair in July 1936. She was a well-known figure in Harlem. Their marriage involved a unique agreement about their shared resources.
In January 1938, Hamid was involved in a difficult personal situation concerning his wife. He died later that year.
A Tragic End
On August 1, 1938, Sufi Abdul Hamid died in a plane crash on Long Island. His private airplane ran out of fuel. His white secretary, Catherine Price, was seriously injured but survived.
Today, the building that was once Hamid's mosque at 103 Morningside Avenue is now the home of St. Luke's Baptist Church. Sufi Abdul Hamid's efforts helped bring attention to the need for fair employment and workers' rights in Harlem during a very difficult time.
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