Page:1965 FBI monograph on Nation of Islam.djvu/62

 While serving as their main propaganda organ, the cult's weekly newspaper, "Muhammad Speaks," is another money-making enterprise. FOI captains regularly emphasize to members that "the number-one program is selling the newspaper." Though the number to be sold varies in individual temples, each FOI member is required to purchase and resell from 50 to 300 copies of each issue of the paper. Contests are held by the various temples. Teams are made up to cover certain areas of each city and prizes are awarded to top salesmen. A winning team of two young salesmen of one temple sold 1,800 copies of a particular edition. Currently, the paper is running a nationwide contest in which the winner, who "circulates" the most cult papers before June 30, 1965, is promised a new 1965 automobile.

Sales by the NOI's unpaid "newsboys" plus income from advertising net the cult approximately $30,000 from each weekly edition of "Muhammad Speaks."

Most of the larger temples of the cult operate restaurants, grocery or meat stores, clothing stores, or service-type enterprises; and, in nearly all other areas where the cult is active, many additional businesses are owned and operated by cult members. Because these businessmen derive most of their income from sales to other cult members, they buy advertising space