The co-founders, Munir Muhammad, Shahid Muslim, and Halif Muhammad formed The Coalition for the Remembrance of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (C.R.O.E.) in 1987 to remember a man who was slowly being written out of history. No one was addressing the misinformation that was becoming increasingly prevalent not only in the streets, but also on the airwaves and in the newspapers. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s name and accomplishments were being written out of history with the aid and silence of even the Muslims. What had he done to cause such disdain? He had not robbed or killed anyone. On the contrary, he worked tirelessly on behalf of his people.

In order to address the increasing onslaught, the co-founders went through a process. In order to openly address the issues, they needed to prepare themselves for re-entry without the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. They began by conducting meetings in the basement of Munir Muhammad's home with believers and sympathizers. Information gained during these lively discussions reinforced what they knew and assisted them in assessing their direction based on the Messenger’s teaching.

The brothers quickly recognized that our people needed to be reacquainted with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Their next step was to acquire a building to conduct meetings with the community on the Honorable Elijah Muhammad in spite of rising attacks against the Messenger. They rented a storefront on Ashland Avenue. Slowly and quietly they acquired artifacts and unpublished works by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. With the books, writings, and tapes they kept, they aggressively began to address the misinformation whenever and wherever they could. Some people were pleased that someone began to attack the issues directly. Those attacks were heard primarily on overnight radio talk shows. A caller, who thought that no one would hear his 3:00 am disparaging remarks about the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, received a shock treatment with a swift response more passionate and serious than the sarcastic and demeaning remark that was initiated.

As the attacks continued, it became increasingly clear that a response could be expected and often times it was without equal response time. Nevertheless, the founders of C.R.O.E. used what they were given. Each public response brought distant yet curious observers to the emerging organization. People wanted to know, where did they come from and who was this group that stood steadfast against the “Goliath” like attack seemingly supported by the media. Nevertheless, C.R.O.E. took advantage of every opportunity in responding in the public arena or holding discussions in their office to educate the community about the Honorable Elijah Muhammad with as much fervor as they had. Just in case they never saw you again, they were going to make you think.

Word traveled throughout the country about this small organization. C.R.O.E. was becoming an institution sought out by psychologists, sociologists, educators, Hollywood producers, writers, and the average person who wanted to know about the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. All of this transpired as a result of an initial idea to purchase a billboard with a picture of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad that simply read, “Do You Remember This Man?” The founders of C.R.O.E. were building an “Institution of Higher Learning”. This institution serves not only as a place where Muslims could learn about the history of the Nation of Islam, but the novice could also benefit from learning about the Nation as well. Visitors receive a guided tour through the Nation of Islam via videotapes, audiotapes, and the writings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

C.R.O.E. is an institution dedicated to preserving the name, ideas, and accomplishments of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Today, C.R.O.E. receives calls from around the world seeking information on the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. The mission continues to be the same; to give you the unedited words of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and to let you decide (for yourself) how great he was and is. For the co-founders of C.R.O.E., providing those who would not otherwise know about the Honorable Elijah Muhammad is the single greatest achievement that they have individually and collectively accomplished.