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'''The Nation of Gods and Earths''', sometimes referred to as '''NGE''', the '''Five-Percent Nation''', or the '''Five Percenters''' is an American organization supposedly founded in 1964 in the [[Harlem, New York|Harlem]] section of the borough of [[Manhattan, New York|Manhattan]] in [[New York City]] by Clarence Smith. While Smith is known most commonly at large as [[Clarence 13X]], he is referred to by his contemporaries and students as [[Allah]] (a name he took on himself, the Arabic word for God) or the Father. The Nation of Gods and Earths angered religious and political leaders, who viewed the group as little more than an offshoot of the [[Nation of Islam]] (NOI). Adherents call themselves "five percenters". While the Nation of Gods and Earths can be characterized as an organization, an institution, a religion, or even a gang, representatives of the Nation teach that it is a way of living.
'''''''''The Nation of Gods and Earths''' ('''NOGE''') is one of the most unique Black Nations on this planet. Commonly known as the '''The Five Percent''', '''Five Percenters''', '''Allah's Five Percent''', '''The Five Percent Nation of Islam''' the '''NOGE''' was birthed on American soil. The NOGE was founded on October 19, 1964 in Harlem NYC by Almighty God Allah. Although his birth name was Clarence Smith, Allah was also known as Clarence 13X briefly in the time he was a Black Muslim. He came to the realization that the Blackman is God and his proper and respected name is Allah. He taught that Allah is his name seen through his Arm Leg Leg Arm Head not the arabic concept that Muslims and others hold fast to. He gave birth to a Nation of young Blacks and taught them the reality of God instead of making them religious or Muslims. The Nation of Gods and Earths is an independently existing people free from those who seek to claim or define them. The NOGE'S history is thier own and clearly they speak for themselves. The Nation of Gods and Earths can only be characterized as a legitimate Cultural path to God. They define themselves as a God Centered Culture that is constitiutionally protected from the slander and negative name calling of those who seek to marginalize them.

The NOGE teaches that thier God Centered Culture (GCC)is free from but equivalent to any mainstream religion others use as thier path to God. God is always first and is the centerpiece of the NOGE, as a God Centered Culture they love and honor God free from but equivalent to religions who subscribe to a mysterious unseen God. Mainstream religious society had no language to describe the NOGE whose men,women and children's lives are centered in the reality of God. This led to the NOGE being persecuted and subjected to theological discrimination at the hands of the government and clergy of the USA. Before the NOGE's birth in 1964, the world had never known any path to God other than a religious one. The Nation Of Gods and Earth's non religous, God Centered Culural pathway to God makes the NOGE one of the most unique Black Nations on this planet. Born King Allah *7) –Editor of the Five Percenter Newspaper
The Nation of Gods and Earths teaches that the Original Man, ("original" taught to mean reincarnated people of any human ethnicity capable of original skill) are from God, and the Original Woman is a personification and representation of the planet Earth, and through the inner esoteric powers of God people can transform and possess their true potential. God and the devil are represented tangibly in the nature of humanity. The NGE do not believe in a 'Mystery God' but rather believe the potential of becoming Devil and God exists within one.


==Founding==
==Founding==

Revision as of 23:18, 9 May 2011

''''The Nation of Gods and Earths (NOGE) is one of the most unique Black Nations on this planet. Commonly known as the The Five Percent, Five Percenters, Allah's Five Percent, The Five Percent Nation of Islam the NOGE was birthed on American soil. The NOGE was founded on October 19, 1964 in Harlem NYC by Almighty God Allah. Although his birth name was Clarence Smith, Allah was also known as Clarence 13X briefly in the time he was a Black Muslim. He came to the realization that the Blackman is God and his proper and respected name is Allah. He taught that Allah is his name seen through his Arm Leg Leg Arm Head not the arabic concept that Muslims and others hold fast to. He gave birth to a Nation of young Blacks and taught them the reality of God instead of making them religious or Muslims. The Nation of Gods and Earths is an independently existing people free from those who seek to claim or define them. The NOGE'S history is thier own and clearly they speak for themselves. The Nation of Gods and Earths can only be characterized as a legitimate Cultural path to God. They define themselves as a God Centered Culture that is constitiutionally protected from the slander and negative name calling of those who seek to marginalize them.

The NOGE teaches that thier God Centered Culture (GCC)is free from but equivalent to any mainstream religion others use as thier path to God. God is always first and is the centerpiece of the NOGE, as a God Centered Culture they love and honor God free from but equivalent to religions who subscribe to a mysterious unseen God. Mainstream religious society had no language to describe the NOGE whose men,women and children's lives are centered in the reality of God. This led to the NOGE being persecuted and subjected to theological discrimination at the hands of the government and clergy of the USA. Before the NOGE's birth in 1964, the world had never known any path to God other than a religious one. The Nation Of Gods and Earth's non religous, God Centered Culural pathway to God makes the NOGE one of the most unique Black Nations on this planet. Born King Allah *7) –Editor of the Five Percenter Newspaper

Founding

One of the few extant photographs of Clarence 13X, the founder of the Nation of Gods and Earths, date unknown.

The Nation of Gods and Earths was founded by Clarence 13X after he left the Nation of Islam's Temple Number Seven in Harlem, New York (the same temple where Malcolm X was a minister from 1960 to 1963). Multiple stories exist as to why Clarence and the NOI parted ways: some have him refusing to give up gambling; others have him questioning the unique divinity of Wallace Fard Muhammad, whom the NOI deified as the True and Living God in person; or questioning his position as God due to the fact that Fard was born of a Caucasian mother.[citation needed] The story states that Clarence was then disciplined by the NOI and excommunicated in 1963, but another version of events says that he left on his own free will along with Abu Shahid,[1] who agreed with Clarence's questioning of Wallace Fard Muhammad. That same year Clarence met James Howell, a sea merchant, who would later become Four Cipher Akbar (aka Justice) and Clarence's closest associate until his death.[2]

Clarence hit the streets of Harlem to teach others his views based on his interpretation of NOI teachings. After failing to reach elder adults whom he saw as already set in their ways, he found success with the disenfranchised street youth which, unlike the NOI, included whites and Latinos.[3][4][5][6][7][8] This young group formed the "first 9 born" of what officially became the 5% Nation on October 10, 1964. In December of that year, Clarence was shot in a basement gambling den called the Hole. After surviving the shooting, he assumed the name Allah, and, according to some, boasted that he was immortal.[1]

Clarence taught the 120 lessons to his young followers (who came to refer to him as the Father), but instead of teaching them to be Muslims, he taught them that they were God the same way he was. The women who came into Allah’s growing nation to study along with the males were taught they were symbolic of the planet Earth, because it is the planet on which God produces life (hence the female practitioners using Earth as their title). The NGE, then, is more of a cultural practice than a religious one and, in fact, the group does not call itself a religion at all. Its position is that it makes no sense to be religious or to worship or deify anyone or anything outside of oneself when adherents themselves are the highest power in the known universe, or Supreme Being, both collectively and individually.

In addition to the 120 lessons, the Father taught a system he developed called Supreme Mathematics, which can be compared to the Jewish mystical traditions of Kabbalah or even more closely Gematria, or the Arabic Abjad numerals. In this system, the numbers from one to nine, and zero all represent principles and concepts. Coming together to discuss the Supreme Mathematics is the most fundamental regimen of the NGE. Whenever Gods and Earths meet, they speak about the Supreme Mathematics and 120 Lessons. This dialogue is referred to by the Five-Percent as building, which is the eighth degree of the Supreme Mathematics, and it means to add on to the cipher, a completion of a circle of 360 degrees. Gods and Earths can build their minds, which means to elevate or add on to the knowledge one has. Building also refers to the building of their physical bodies, their financial status, or institutions, among much more that the principle of Build can represent.

Teachings

Basis

Representatives of the Nation of Gods and Earths view themselves (men of their Nation) as their own God (both individually and collectively as the Original Man).[4] Gods and Earths sometimes refer to themselves as scientists, implying their search for knowledge and proof, and not beliefs in theories.[9] The teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths are passed on through oral tradition, much like the griots of West Africa. The advancement of a God or Earth is based on his or her memorization, recitation, comprehension, and practical application of the Supreme Mathematics and the Supreme Alphabet—both developed by Father Allah—and also the 120 Lessons, sometimes referred to as degrees, a revised version of the Supreme Wisdom lessons of the NOI, originally written by Wallace Fard Muhammad and Elijah Muhammad.[3][6][10]

Origin of Five-Percent title

The term Five Percent comes from NOI doctrine that sees the world population divided into three groups: 85% of the people are blind to the knowledge of themselves and God, while 10% of the people know the truth but teach a lie for their personal gain; seen as part of this 10% are religious leaders that teach that God is an incorporeal being (hence the term "mystery God"). The 10% also includes the governments and corporations of the world that deceive and mislead the majority of the world through most of the available media outlets. The remaining 5% are the poor righteous teachers — those who do not subscribe to the teachings of the 10% as they know and teach that God is the Man of Asia. Asia refers to the whole planet Earth, or Pangaea.

The Universal Language

Supreme Mathematics

The Supreme Mathematics is a system of understanding numerals alongside concepts and qualitative representations that are used along with the Supreme Alphabet.[6][10] The Supreme Mathematics is taught to be the highest system of mathematics, used to give qualitative value to numbers in addition to quantity. For example, the numeral 1 symbolizes Knowledge, 2 symbolizes Wisdom, and 3 represents Understanding. The system (similar to numerology), is claimed to maximize a person's logical thinking in order to solve life's problems.

Supreme Alphabet

Main article: Supreme Alphabet


The Supreme Alphabet is a system of interpreting text and finding deeper meaning from the NOI Lessons by assigning actual meanings to the letters of the Roman alphabet. For example, the first letter, A, stands for Allah; the 12th letter, L, stands for Love, Hell, or Right; and the 13th letter, M, stands for Master. The corresponding mathematical number of each letter is also important to the alphabet's use. This symbolic alphabet was developed with assistance from Justice by Father Allah after splitting from the Nation of Islam, after which he developed his Supreme Understanding.[3][4][6][10][11]

The Twelve Jewels

The Twelve Jewels are a variant of the Supreme Mathematics and the Supreme Alphabet, which are axioms by which one should live.


1. Knowledge 2. Wisdom 3. Understanding 4. Culture of/or Freedom (applied to 40 or more) 5. Power 6. Equality 7. God 8. Build or Destroy 9. Born 0. Cipher

Universal Flag

The Universal Flag is the group's official trademark, which consists of a sun, moon, star, and the number seven. According to its doctrine, it represents the Original Family as the following:

  • Seven—The number held sacred in many ancient and modern traditions. In Supreme Mathematics, the number seven represents Allah.
  • Sun—Another symbol of the male, Knowledge, the Truth, and the Light. The points around the sun symbolize the expanding consciousness.
  • Moon—The crescent moon symbolizes the women and wisdom.
  • Star—The five-pointed star symbolizes understanding and children as the beginning of a new sun.

The eight-pointed sun also represents the Nation of Gods and Earths’ Lessons of Self-Awareness:

  1. The Supreme Mathematics
  2. The Supreme Alphabet
  3. 1–10
  4. 1–36
  5. 1–14
  6. 1–40
  7. Actual Facts
  8. Solar Facts

The last six of these bodies of lessons (1–10 through Solar Facts) are collectively called 120.

Customs

Gods and Earths hold events known as Universal Parliaments in various cities—usually once a month—to build on their interpretation of the Supreme Mathematics, lessons, and to discuss business concerning the Nation. These Parliaments usually take place in public parks and in schoolyards.

The Show and Prove is an annual event that takes place in the Harlem section of Manhattan every second weekend in June (on or before the June 13 anniversary of the Father's assassination). Gods and Earths converge from all over the world at Harriet Tubman Elementary School for this gathering, which includes a marketplace, performances, and speeches in the school's auditorium and a science fair in which children participate.

The Nation generally does not recognize traditional holidays, most notably those associated with religion such as Christmas or Easter. However, some regions where the Nation is active may hold events close to dates in honor of the Father's birthday (February 22) or the official founding of the Nation (October 10).

Dietary laws of the Five Percent dictate that adherents are forbidden to eat pork or any pork-based by-products. Many take further steps and eschew meat altogether, often opting for veganism or even a stricter diet of raw fruits and vegetables.

Influence and interactions

City Hall and the Urban League

The Five Percent established a headquarters in the Harlem section of Manhattan. The Allah School in Mecca, previously known as the Street Academy, was founded in 1966 through the Urban League, with the help of the Republican mayor of New York, John Lindsay, and his assistant, Barry Gottehrer. The agreement reached between The Father and the Urban League was a payment of one dollar a day.

The first programs instituted in the school contained 10 to 30 youth, state certified teachers, and three street workers. Graduates of the street academy would transfer to an academy of transition and then on to college preparatory school. The Father disagreed with the program originally instituted at the Urban League, and so the curriculum was later turned over to him to manage, while the daily programs switched to math, English, and self defense.[3]

There is another academy, the Allah School in Medina, located in Brooklyn.

Conflicts

The schism between The Father and the NOI led to numerous confrontations. The murder of Father in 1969 remains unsolved, but it has been widely blamed on the Nation of Islam, Moorish Americans believe the FBI and the New York Police Department were heavily involved. The murder was a blow to the movement, but according to the direct orders of Clarence before his death, some of his earliest disciples, a group of nine men who were called the First Nine Born carried on the teachings, and an acting leadership role was assumed by his good friend Justice. In the years to follow, the Gods and Earths gained a varied reputation, from being known as outstanding members of and contributors to their communities who at one time quelled a potential rebellion when Martin Luther King was assassinated, to being called an unruly and confused group of African-American teenage thugs and even categorized as a gang by some.[3][5]

The gang label has caused much trouble for adherents to the teachings in the United States. As the Nation has either gained students within the prison system or seen those who at least allege adherence to NGE teachings become incarcerated, the preceding gang reputation brought those with even remote NGE affiliation to be designated as security threats in states such as Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and South Carolina.[12] Literature has been banned from institutions in these and other states, and inmates have been denied privileges enjoyed by those of other persuasions. Such rules were relaxed in 2004 in New York to allow registered sincere adherents to study teachings personally but not share with unregistered inmates as they do time.[13]

There have even been problems for Nation members interested in changing their legal names. In July 2008, a man in Staten Island, New York already known in the Nation as Black Cream Allah was denied a legal adoption of the name because a judge felt it was sacrilegious and sounded like the name of a hip hop record. He has since filed a second petition for the amended name Original Kreeam Shabazz.[14]

Hip-Hop

From the early 1980s, Gods and Earths have established the teachings in the American East Coast, West Coast, and Midwest, as well as abroad. This spread was in part due to early adherents teaching when away at college or in the military, and more famously due to the rise of Hip-Hop music. The main theme of the NGE doctrine spoken on hip-hop records were the teachings that Black people were the original, or first, human life to walk the planet, Black man is God, the Black woman is Earth, and through the inner esoteric powers of the Gods and Earths, the youth can transform and possess its true potential, which seems to overthrow the overbearing oligarchy by becoming just rulers of themselves. This especially meshed well with conscious themes found in other golden age Hip-Hop recordings.

Early Hip-Hop acts affiliated with the Five Percenters, and who spread its teachings through Hip-Hop, include two highly regarded MCs of the late 1980s–early ’90s conscious rap era, Rakim of Eric B. & Rakim and Big Daddy Kane. These two acts, as well as some of their other contemporaries, infused Five Percent teachings and symbolism throughout their music and videos. This reputation brought fans of Rakim in particular to refer to him as "the God MC." Not soon after Rakim and Kane's heyday rose acts who were even more explicit with allegiance to the NGE, most notably Brand Nubian, Poor Righteous Teachers, and the Wu-Tang Clan,Godbliss also (as well as Jedi Mind Tricks). The popularity of these acts sparked a boom of new NGE students.

Many terms that originated as Five Percent jargon have been adopted into hip hop slang. Popular terms such as word is bond, while having significantly older roots than the Nation of Gods and Earths[citation needed], were believed to have gained prominence through its use of the term, referring back to the original Nation of Islam's and the Five Percent's shared 120 Degrees.[3]

The Nation of Gods and Earths in New York City were even known as a visible presence at parties around town during hip hop's formative years of the 1970s. Scene pioneer DJ Kool Herc recalled that while there was a heavy gang presence in attendance, the Five Percenters were also there as a de facto peace-keeping element.[11] Other examples of 5 percenters include Busta Rhymes, J-Live and Nas.[15] Recent up and coming artist, also new signee to Jay-Z's Roc-a-fella records, Jay Electronica has released a series of songs with very direct references to elements of the teachings of the 5 Percenters, most notably the popular song "Exhibit C".

Supreme Allah is a fictional character of the HBO drama Oz, a five percenter who is serving time for murdering a man who laughed at him during a dice game. He often preaches Five Percent philosophy while simultaneously dealing drugs. He is portrayed by Lord Jamar of the hip-hop group Brand Nubian.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Allah, Wakeel (2007). In the Name of Allah: a History of Clarence 13X and the Five Percenters. Atlanta: A-Team Publishing. Cite error: The named reference "ITNA" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  2. ^ http://www.thetalkingdrum.com/nge.html
  3. ^ a b c d e f Knight, Michael Muhammad (2007). The Five Percenters: Islam, Hip Hop, and the Gods of New York. Oxford, England, UK: Oneworld Publications.
  4. ^ a b c Jane I. Smith (1999). Islam in America. Columbia University press. pp. 101–103, 206.
  5. ^ a b Mattias Gardell (1996). In the Name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. Duke University Press. p. 225.
  6. ^ a b c d Juan Williams (2003). This Far by Faith: Stories from the African American Religious Experience. Amistad/HarperCollins Publishers. pp. 286–288.
  7. ^ Aminah Beverly McCloud (1995). African American Islam. Routledge Publishing. pp. 59, 60.
  8. ^ Knight, Michael Muhamad. The Five Percenters: Islam, Hip Hop, and the Gods of New York. Oxford, England, UK: Oneworld Publications, 2007. Chapter 16
  9. ^ Ronald L. Jackson & Elaine B. Richardson (2003). Understanding African American Rhetoric: Classical Origins to Contemporary Innovations. Routledge Publishing. pp. 174, 179.
  10. ^ a b c Jeff. Chang (2005). Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-hop Generation. St. Martin's Press. pp. 258, 259.
  11. ^ a b Felicia M. Miyakawa (2005). Five Percenter rap: God hop's music, message, and black Muslim mission. Indiana University Press.
  12. ^ "Ra'heen M. Shabazz, #170474 vs. SCDOC". SC Administrative Law Court. 2001-11-29. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  13. ^ Ed White (2009-09-08). "Judge: No sign that Nation of Gods is prison risk". Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  14. ^ Phil Helsel (2009-04-05). "Staten Island man goes to court to seek name change". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  15. ^ Five Percenter rap: God hop's music, message, and black Muslim mission Felicia M. Miyakawa, Page 4
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