Clara Evans Poole

          Clara Muhammad (born Clara Evans, aka Clara Poole, on November 2, 1899 and passed ,

August 12, 1972,  was born in Macon, Georgia, the daughter of Mary Lou (Thomas) and Quartus Evans. She was the wife of the Nation of Islam leader the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.They married in Georgia in 1917, when she was only 17 and he was 20 years old. before he changed his name from Elijah Poole. Between 1917 and 1939, Elijah and Clara Muhammad had eight children, six boys and two girls. 

           Known as the First Lady of the Nation of Islam, Clara is responsible for the first introduction to the teachings of founder W.D. Fard, whom they met after leaving Cordelle, Georgia. They were living at the time in Detroit Michigan due to hardship financially in Georgia with low wages. Despite leaving Georgia for better financial reasons things for Clara got worst for her. Not able to find work in Detroit Elijah began drinking and occasionally gambling. However, their situation changed when Clara met W.D. Fard.

         This encounter happened while she Clara attended lectures given by W.D.Fard. Fard gave his interpretation of Islam for African Americans during the Great Depression, attracting followers by promising a way out of racial misery and hardships. Clara would attend these lecture along with her brother who had also moved out of Georgia. Because of Clara's interest in the lectures she encouraged her husband join her. The attraction to Elijah by Fard is still not very clear. Elijah became the first minister to preach under Fard.  The meetings grew with new members joining and Elijah was their leadership up until he was arrested in 1946 for sedition during World War II.

        In Elijah's absence Clara established and maintained the University of Islam (school) and founded the MGT (Muslim Girls in Training) classes. Which provided education for Nation of Islam members. Clara is accredited for being one of the first  starters of 'Homeschooling". Clara  understood the importance of  education as a vehicle for success in a predominantly white society. Clara's education back in Georgia when up through High School, and would help often with Elijah's lectures. 

        Clara believed that the protection of her children from racism in public schools would be her first priority. She encouraged the teaching of math, science, and english, along with hygiene, astrology, and health. Parents of  these children often praised her for her caring. Her husband Elijah was responsible for their spiritual upliftment. This gave most if not all the students under her guidance a broader  perspective on how to maneuver threw the intercity and survive.

       Sister Clara Muhammad faced challenges, including legal harassment when authorities tried to force her children back into public schools. She defended her decision to educate her children at the University of Islam schools, even at the risk of facing legal repercussions.

       After the death of her husband Elijah Muhammad in 1975, her youngest son Warith Deen Muhammad took over the leadership of the Nation of Islam, in his mothers honor he renamed the University of Islam, The Sister Clara Muhammad School.