Progressive Land Developers Corp.
The Progressive Land Developers Corp. was a company founded by the Nation of Islam in 1963 to promote self-sufficiency. The leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad, provided funds to the corporation, which held some properties in trust for him. He controlled 14.5 percent of the corporation's stock, but was not an executive in its administration. The corporation purchased apartment buildings and developable lots in Chicago, Illinois and farmland in Michigan and Georgia before coming to Alabama in 1969.
That June the corporation purchased 917 acres in St Clair County to raise produce and livestock and operate a meat-packing plant and cannery. Ray Wyatt, a businessman and former state senator with a Ford dealership in Pell City, served as agent for the transactions. The first parcel, 541 acres in southern St Clair County, was sold by dentist Robert McClung. Wyatt purchased the second 376 parcel in the northern part of the county himself and then sold it, for $10,000 more, to the corporation.
Wyatt later claimed that he did not know that the corporation had ties to "Black Muslims", but did know the owners were African American, and that he was assured that the farm and proposed $2.5 million food processing business would employ local workers. At one point, Wyatt indicated that he would be involved with the operation as a personnel manager. He said that once he got to know the group, he admired their high morals, as well as the commitment they shared with him that the races should remain segregated and independent.
Progressive Land Developers public relations director Walter Lee Turner organized a visit, by chartered airplane, to an existing "Muhammad Farms" operation in Terrell County, Georgia. He explained that the farm was operating successfully and contributing to the community's economy without any trouble from neighbors. Wyatt hoped those efforts would help win public support.
Those hopes were unfounded, though, as the possibility of a large "Black Muslim" presence in the area raised fears, and retaliation against Wyatt and McClung. After first learning of the connection with Black Muslims in October, Wyatt's brother, Wallace co-founded, with two area ministers, a group called "RID" for "Restore Integrity to Development" which opposed the project. One of the ministers, J. H. Bishop, told a gathering of 2,000 white residents that he was 'willing to lay down my life for the cause if need be." Ku Klux Klan imperial wizard Robert Shelton, who had just been released from federal prison, came to the county to support the opposition. He claimed that the proposed business was "a threat to Christianity" and "part of a concentrated effort to take over the eight states of the Bible Belt."
On December 4 local district attorneys had Ray Wyatt arrested and charged with representing an out-of-state corporation doing business in Alabama without a license. Attorneys for the corporation said the land sale was legal and that they planned to get the appropriate business licenses before operating as a business.
The farm never became a major operation. The land was sold again to private owners.
Progressive Land Developers, Inc. did incorporate in Alabama, and was registered as dealers in cattle and feed from February 3, 1972 until dissolving on December 10, 1976. The incorporators were Ronald Clements, W. Earl Jones and Richard Thomas, and the registered place of business was Greensboro in Hale County.
Progressive's land holdings in Alabama were sold, with the money going back into its land trust.
References
- "Black Muslim Project Charged, Denied." (November 16, 1969) The Anniston Star
- "Northern Alabamians Resent Muslim Move." (December 9, 1969) United Press International
- Oberts, Bill (January 27, 1970) "Alabama Man's Life in Turmoil Since Selling Land." Associated Press