Five Percenters Allah & Justice Square (Manhattan)
Present name:None
Location:Northwest corner of 126th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard
Honoree: "Allah, The Father" was born in Virginia as Clarence Edward Smith and moved to Harlem in 1946. "Justice" was named James Howard and was born in Harlem. He was a Merchant Marine in the 1940s and '50s, gaining valuable world experience. In 1959, Clarence joined the Nation of Islam's (NOI) Mosque #7, then headed by Minister Malcom X. While studying under Malcom X, he was known as Clarence 13X, being the 13th man named Clarence to join the organization. In the early 1960s, Justice and Allah the Father met and joined forces to educate inner-city youth. To distinguish their new movement from the Nation of Islam, they announced that it would be known as The Five Percenters. The Five Percenters spread their teachings beyond Harlem and formed alliances with former Mayor John V. Lindsay and other elected officials. In April 1967, The Five Percenters conducted their first monthly parliament in Mount Morris (now Marcus Garvey) Park. In June of that year, the Urban League turned over property the City had recently acquired. The Allah School of Mecca has educated thousands of young African-Americans in Harlem. On June 13, 1969, Allah, The Father was assassinated. Justice continued guiding the youth for several years until his passing in July 1978. (Perkins)
LL:2019/24