NOI Series: Diogenes Muhammad, Minister of First Latino Mosque in NOI & USA

The History of the NOI Series

Min. Diógenes Muhammad

The Minister of the First "Latino" Mosque in the Nation of Islam and the United States of America

Bro. Diógenes was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and moved to New York City in 1961 at the age of 14. In 1969, he accepted the teachings of the Most Hon. Elijah Muhammad and was one of the first "Latinos" to join Mosque No. 7 under NOI National Representative Minister Louis Farrakhan and Captain Yusef Shah. Brother Diogenes started the mission selling Muhammad Speaks and networking with the Community Leaders in El Barrio. When Minister Louis Farrakhan initiated the expansion of the temple through the opening of new satellites, Bro. Diogenes rented a vacant storefront on Lexington Avenue. Subsequently Brother Skelse X (from Guatemala who became the Captain) returned to active Mosque duties and joined him, as well as Brother Sujon X, of Chinese/African heritage, who became the first Secretary, subsequently Hubert 5X from Costa Rica in 1973 became the Secretary. Brother Investigator Calvin X McKnight built a "Steak-N-Take" from the ground up on 110th & 3rd Avenue, and sold it to the “El Barrio” Believers on monthly installments. The restaurant prospered under the name “Fish-N-Shake”, on account of its then famous tropical milk shakes. The Team attracted new Believers from Puerto Rican, Dominican, Colombian, Panamanian, Cuban, Costa Rican, Venezuelan and Ecuadorian descent and brought Islam to Spanish people and neighborhoods in NYC. In 1975, Bro. Diogenes became the Bilalian News translator under Imam W.D. Mohammed, helping translate Islamic materials into Spanish. After the Rebuild of the NOI, Bro. Diogenes became the first National Latino Minister under the Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan and re-established the 1st “Latino” Study Group after the Rebuild.

Host - Wakeel Allah