Khalid Abdul Muhammad's 1993 speech at Kean College was so powerful that the US Senate passed a resolution condemning it — making him the only private citizen in American history to receive such a congressional condemnation.
The Story of Khalid Abdul Muhammad
Born Harold Moore Jr. in Houston, Texas in 1948, he became a minister in the Nation of Islam and one of Louis Farrakhan's most dynamic spokesmen. Known for his oratorical power and his willingness to say what other Black leaders would not, he became one of the most controversial figures in American public life.
In 1993, at Kean College in New Jersey, Muhammad delivered a speech on Black history, Jewish-Black relations, and white supremacy that was recorded and circulated. When the full speech became public, it generated enormous controversy. In January 1994, the US Senate passed a resolution condemning Khalid Abdul Muhammad by name — an extraordinary act that made him the only private citizen in American history to be formally condemned by Congress for a speech.
The condemnation only amplified his platform. He organized the Million Youth March in Harlem in 1998, attracting tens of thousands of young Black people and demonstrating his continuing ability to mobilize. The city of New York repeatedly attempted to block the march; courts ultimately upheld his First Amendment rights.
He died of a brain aneurysm in 2001 at age 53. Whatever one thinks of his rhetoric, his willingness to name white supremacy plainly and his ability to organize large numbers of young Black people marked him as a significant figure in the tradition of uncompromising Black resistance politics.
Color Khalid's Portrait
The Alphabet Book of Generals — Who Resisted White Supremacy and Won features a full-page coloring portrait of Khalid with a color guide and fun fact. Perfect for children ages 4–12 and Black history education.
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