Leo T. reviewed The Princess and the Prophet: The Secret History of Magic, Race, and Moorish Muslims in America on + 1775 more book reviews
I have not yet seen the book but Julian Lucas wrote a review in Harper's Monthly, April 2020 (p. 79, 'New Books').
The Moorish Science Temple of America was a 1920s Black movement and Mr. Dorman when comparing photographs luckily recognized its founder as "Walter Bister, a former cornetist and child star in a 'pickaninny' band called Woodland Wangdoodles. As a young adult, Brister toured as a 'Hindoo' magician with Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show. He married a fellow troupe member, Eva Alexander, who rose to stardom as the country's first Black woman lion tamer under the alias Princess Sotanki. Their knowledge of Islam seems to have derived entirely from show business."
After his untimely demise in 1929, Moorish Science lost many followers, "though two former members, W.D. Fard and Elijah Muhammad, would later refashion its doctrines for the more militant Nation of Islam."
Taking some classes at CalStateLA early in the century, I remember that a lot of what scholars knew of the Nation was from an accumulation of papers and announcements kept in the attic of an early adherent.
The Moorish Science Temple of America was a 1920s Black movement and Mr. Dorman when comparing photographs luckily recognized its founder as "Walter Bister, a former cornetist and child star in a 'pickaninny' band called Woodland Wangdoodles. As a young adult, Brister toured as a 'Hindoo' magician with Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show. He married a fellow troupe member, Eva Alexander, who rose to stardom as the country's first Black woman lion tamer under the alias Princess Sotanki. Their knowledge of Islam seems to have derived entirely from show business."
After his untimely demise in 1929, Moorish Science lost many followers, "though two former members, W.D. Fard and Elijah Muhammad, would later refashion its doctrines for the more militant Nation of Islam."
Taking some classes at CalStateLA early in the century, I remember that a lot of what scholars knew of the Nation was from an accumulation of papers and announcements kept in the attic of an early adherent.
