This book is probably the most profound writing in the 20th century. The book reads simplistically so that the average reader can understand, but yet it has such tremendous depth that a scientist can grow from Elijah's teachings. Some whites may be offended by his words, but they need not be. Because, he gives justice to blacks and whites in this book. He actually critizes blacks more in this book!
You must remember Elijah was standing up since the 1930's. A time that blacks were hung for looking at or commonly called "eye balling" a white woman. Coupled with segregation, and only being maybe 100yrs from chattel slavery. Elijah the master psychologist put a mirror to white people with a writing on it labeled devil, and did to whites what they had been doing to blacks since coming on the shores of America. He keep whites out of their Sunday meetings, which angered whites even though they kicked blacks out of their restaurants and kept them out of their churches. And, at the same time he put up a mirror to blacks and labeled that mirror God. This was to give confidence and definition to a people who for 300yrs were oppressed by slavery, and 100yrs after slavery suffered church bombings, lynching, segregation etc.
So, after analyzing his teaching he was simply was putting in check white superiority, and putting in check black inferiority. In essence, giving justice to both races. Some may disagree with Elijah's teaching of the making of the devil, but I say the truth is stranger than fiction.
The Nation of Islam often lambasted for teaching a ghetto religion only verifies what Elijah was teaching, and what the Bible teaches. Jesus was not a rich man as a matter of fact he was from the ghetto. According to the bible the rulers at that time asked, "what good can come out of Nazareth." Historically, most if not all great leaders rise from the most oppressed people. Examples range from Jesus,Muhammad, Gandhi, Jesse Jackson, Moses, etc., etc.