Intro
Allegedly, Burnsteen Sharrief (aka Burnsteen Richardson) was born on July-14-1915 in Robinsville, Mississippi (See “
In 1920, Jesse James and Ella Steen Richardson moved to Detroit with their young daughter, Burnsteen Richardson (See “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
From 1921 to 1931, Burnsteen Richardson attended Detroit’s public schools (specifically Commerce High School) and got really good at typing (See “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
In 1932, Burnsteen Richardson’s father, Jesse James came in contact with Wallace Farad. By Oct-1932, Burnsteen alleges to have met Wallace Farad, as well as her mother (See “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025). Burnsteen Richardson’s name was changed to Burnsteen Sharrief. It seems that at age 17, Burnsteen Sharrief had either dropped out of High School or graduated. Nevertheless, by at least Oct-1932, Burnsteen Sharrief was an employee of Wallace Farad.
In Nov-1932, Farad was arrested with Robert Harris, Burnsteen Sharrief has never mentioned where she was and how this happened.
In July-1933, allegedly, Burnsteen Sharrief wrote a letter to Wallace Farad, in this letter she gives the impression that she hasn’t seen Wallace Farad for a long time. It should be noted that just 2 months prior, in May-1933, Wallace Farad was in fact in Detroit and Burnsteen Sharrief should have been able to meet him. Burnsteen specifically wrote that the school was growing and funds were being collected for a car so that Wallace Farad didn’t have to walk. Burnsteen seems to be an employee of Wallace Farad and regularly reported on the labors and teachers working at 100%. Burnsteen specifically wrote that they wanted to see Wallace Farad really bad and asked for hints about his whereabouts. Burnsteen’s English is not that good at all. Burnsteen also mentioned Eugan Ali (aka Ugan Ali) who had been arrested with Farad in Nov-1932. Burnsteen also mentioned how Elijah Mohammed was getting his articles published in some Afro American newspaper. In another letter dated as July-19-1933, Burnsteen Sharrief acknowledges receiving gifts from Wallace Farad and how they hadn’t seen Farad in a long time. In Aug-1933, Burnsteen Sharrief alleged that there were 86 students present in the school at Hastings St, in Detroit. She ends the letter hoping to see Farad soon. 15 dollars and 95 cents had been received for Farad’s car, 13 dollars and 55 cents of the Temple, a total of $29.50. In another letter from Aug-1933, Burnsteen alleged that $9.73 was received for Farad’s car and $12.71 for the temple. In another Aug-1933 letter, 99 students were alleged to be enrolled. $7.34 was received for Farad’s car, $11.19 for the temple “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
In 1934, 7 letters are published. The first letter is from Feb-3-1934, it is a simple note about the work that was done on typing out some of the famous problems (B #1 and #32). Kallat Mohammed is mentioned as “Head Investigator” and someone who hand delivered these problems. The letter dates as March-30-1934 is short and only refers to people working properly. The Apr-1-1934 letter mentions a lecture by Elijah Mohammed and additional work on the famous problems. The letter dated as Apr-6-1934 talks about a small error by Burnsteen. Burnsteen also tells of a lecture by Elijah Mohammed. The letter dated as April-8-1934, mentions a lecture by Willie Mohammed. The letter dated as Apr-13-1934 is uneventful, robotic and indicative of transactional relationship. What happened to the car? The letter dated as May-23-1934 is even less voracious, which is strange because on Apr-19-1934 there was a huge arrest, why wasn’t this mentioned?
There is also a letter by Farad dated as April-10-1934, wherein Farad tells his flock that he has been receiving daily reports (they aren’t daily). This was typed by B.S., Burnsteen Sharrief. Typed on Apr-13-1934.
In 1934 (Apr-17), Miss Burnsteen Sharrief (18 years old, living at 2301 Erskine St. Detroit) is mentioned as 1 of 13 teachers who were arrested at an illegal school (a Voodoo University) that was raided by Detroit police. 400 children were found to be enrolled at the school (See Detroit Free Press, 1934, Tuesday, Apr–17, Page 1). She was in jail roughly 9 days, she was released on Apr-26 (See Battle Creek Moon-Journal via Thu, Apr 26, 1934 ·Page 1).
In 1934 (See Detroit Free Press, 1934, Apr–19, Page 1), Burnsteen Sharrief was mentioned in the newspaper as one of the Negro’s that were arrested and is in custody, she is listed as 17 years old and living 2301 Erskine St, Detroit, MI. It seems that her brother or husband is also mentioned as among the arrested, David Sharrief, also 17 years old.
In 1935, it is alleged that Burnsteen Sharrief met with WD Fard in Detroit in early part of 1935, however, no reference is given (See “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
Also in 1935 (March-8), she married John Mohammed.
From 1936 til her death in 2002, she never wrote anything.
In 1976, when Elijah Mohammed died, Burnsteen Sharrief seems to have sided with WD Muhammad. However, her husband, John Muhammad did not!
In 2002, she died on Feb-28 (see Boyd).
In 2025, a daughter (Medina Mohammed) of Burnsteen Sharrief Muhammad published a small booklet on the life of her mother entitled, “
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1915
In 1920, Jesse James and Ella Steen Richardson moved to Detroit with their young daughter, Burnsteen Richardson (See “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
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1921-1931
From 1921 to 1931, Burnsteen Richardson attended Detroit’s public schools and got really good at typing (See “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
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1932
“The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
In Nov-1932, Farad was arrested with Robert Harris, Burnsteen Sharrief has never mentioned where she was and how this happened.
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1933
“The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
In July-1933, allegedly, Burnsteen Sharrief wrote a letter to Wallace Farad, in this letter she gives the impression that she hasn’t seen Wallace Farad for a long time. It should be noted that just 2 months prior, in May-1933, Wallace Farad was in fact in Detroit and Burnsteen Sharrief should have been able to meet him. Burnsteen specifically wrote that the school was growing and funds were being collected for a car so that Wallace Farad didn’t have to walk. Burnsteen seems to be an employee of Wallace Farad and regularly reported on the labors and teachers working at 100%. Burnsteen specifically wrote that they wanted to see Wallace Farad really bad and asked for hints about his whereabouts. Burnsteen’s English is not that good at all. Burnsteen also mentioned Eugan Ali (aka Ugan Ali) who had been arrested with Farad in Nov-1932. Burnsteen also mentioned how Elijah Mohammed was getting his articles published in some Afro American newspaper. In another letter dated as July-19-1933, Burnsteen Sharrief acknowledges receiving gifts from Wallace Farad and how they hadn’t seen Farad in a long time. In Aug-1933, Burnsteen Sharrief alleged that there were 86 students present in the school at Hastings St, in Detroit. She ends the letter hoping to see Farad soon. 15 dollars and 95 cents had been received for Farad’s car, 13 dollars and 55 cents of the Temple, a total of $29.50. In another letter from Aug-1933, Burnsteen alleged that $9.73 was received for Farad’s car and $12.71 for the temple. In another Aug-1933 letter, 99 students were alleged to be enrolled. $7.34 was received for Farad’s car, $11.19 for the temple “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
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1934
Detroit Free Press, 1934, Tuesday, Apr–17, Page 1
In 1934 (Apr-17), Miss Burnsteen Sharrief (18 years old, living at 2301 Erskine St. Detroit) is mentioned as 1 of 13 teachers who were arrested at an illegal school (a Voodoo University) that was raided by Detroit police. 400 children were found to be enrolled at the school (See Detroit Free Press, 1934, Tuesday, Apr–17, Page 1).
1. John Muhammad, (24 years old), head of the cult, 4182 Dubois St.
2. Tadar Ali (age 25), 1344 E. Lafayette, Secretary of the school.
3. Abbas Rassouln (age 24), 558 Alfred St. Assistant Secretary.
4. James Mohammed (age 36), 2209 Macomb St.
5. Mrs. Mary Rozier, (age 33) of 5714 Twenty Eighth St.
6. Allar Cushmeer (age 38), of 558 Alfred St.
7. Ravell Shah (age 44), of 1948 Alfred St.
8. Azzad Mohammed (age 53), of 1309 E. Lafayette Ave.
9. Willie Mapjied (28), 4182 Dubois St.
10. Mrs. Mary Almanza (31) of 1839 Brewster St.
11. Jan Sharrieff (age 25), of 660 East Warren Ave.
12. Miss Alberta Sharrief (age 20) of 660 East Warren Ave.
13. Burnsteen Sharrieff (age 18), of 2301 Erskine St.
Scan
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1934
Detroit Free Press, 1934, Apr–19, Page 1
In 1934 (See Detroit Free Press, 1934, Apr–19, Page 1), Burnsteen Sharrief was mentioned in the newspaper as one of the Negro’s that were arrested and in custody, she is listed as 17 years old and living 2301 Erskine St, Detroit, MI. It seems that her brother is also mentioned as among the arrested,
David Sharrief, also 17 years old.
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13 Policemen Hurt Battling j Voodoo Band Cult Backers March on Headquarters to Protest Arrests Motor and Mounted Forces Join in Fight Thirteen policemen were injured and several rioters were hurt when a horde of Negroes, aroused to frenzy bv the teachings of a voodoo cult calling itself Mohammedan, marched on Police Headquarters Wednesday to protest the arrest of, their leaders. i Onlv a handful of policemen at first tried to break up the demonstration. They were quickly overwhelmed, and before the baltl ended all available offlceis wete engaged, squad cats were drawnlnto’ the fight and the mounted forte was railed upon. Police reported that 41 Negroes were arrested during the disturbance. Sixteen men were held on charges of Inciting a riot.
Mne men and 12 women were held for investigation. Four boys, from 14 to 17 years old, were held at the Juvenlie Detention Home. An hour after the riot the lit Negroes whose arrest In the cult a headquarters at 3408 Hastings St Inspired the protest parade were arraigned before Recorder’s Judge Arthur E. Gordon. Accused of Causing Truancy They were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor by causing Sally Allah, 15 1 years old, to play truant from the public schools to attend the cult s “university.” Lined up before the bench, handcuffed to each other and closely watched by a dozen detectives, they pleaded not guilty and were held in $500 bonds each for examination next Wednesday.
After theiot the police took precautions to guard against further outbreaks. Numerous patrolmen were stationed throughout the neighborhood and detectives were .placed at all strategic points in the Recorder’s Court. All police on the day shift were ordered to extra duty Wednesday night, reporting at Headquarters.
Give Mohammedan Name Those arraigned gave t h I e names: Mary Rosier, 33 years old, 5714 Twenty-eighth St.; Albert Sharrief, 20, of 660 E. Warren Ave.; Mary Almanza, 31, of 1839 Brewestcr St.; Burnsteen Sharrief, 17, of 2301 Erskine St.; John Mohammed, 24, of 4182 Dubois St.; Wall Mohammed, 33, of 504 Woodslde Ave., Ferndale; James Mohammed, 36, of 1344 E.
Lafayette Ave.; David Sharrief, 17, of 2301 Erskine St.; Ocier Zarrief. 29. of 1309 E. Lafayete Ave.; Tadar All, 25, of 1344 E. Lafayette Blvd.; Willie Majied, 25, of 4128 Dubois St;.
Rozell Shah, 44, of 1948 Alfred St.; Abbass Rassoull, 34. of 558 Alfred St.; Allar Cush-meer, 38, of 558 Alfred St.; Willie Mohammed, 68, of 4182 Dubois St.; Kallatt Mohammed, 29. of 283 E. Hancock Ave.; Elijah Mohammed, 36, same address; Azzad Moham- med, 51, of 1309 E. Lafayette Ave., and Jim snarner, 2b, of 660 K.
Warren Ave. The roundup of the defendants was begun Monday and was accom- pushed without any serious violence occurring until Wednesday s out- break. Cry, ‘Get The Coppers!’ When the rioters first appeared, Inspector William G. Rick and a few patrolmen met them in Clinton St. and tried to turn them back.
A cry from the crowd of “Get the coppers!” stsrted the action. Inspector Rick and his men were quickly driven back and the fight swirled up to the main entrance of Headquarters. Feet, fists, clubs, stones and knives were being used by the time reinforcements arrived. Even a heavy can of green paint, rictise Turn to Page 3 Column 6 of to it car-r at up optl-m.
Scans
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1935
(See “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
It is alleged that Burnsteen Sharrief met with WD Fard in Detroit in early 1935, however, no reference is given (See “The Reformer: Wisdom Revealed to me by Master Fard Muhammad the Founder of the Nation of Islam” by Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad, Medina Mohammed, Adrienne Muhammad, Natasha Manning, 2025).
Also in 1935 (March-8), she married John Mohammed.
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1976
In 1976, when Elijah Mohammed died, Burnsteen Sharrief seems to have sided with WD Muhammad. However, her husband, John Muhammad did not!
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https://amsterdamnews.com/news/2017/04/06/sister-burnsteen-sharrieff-mohammed-secretary-and/
In 2002, she died on Feb-28 (see Boyd).
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2017
Sister Burnsteen Sharrieff Mohammed, secretary and reformer of NOI
Much of this history, for so many years missing, came to light after Mohammed’s siblings found the documents in the house where their mother lived. (She died Feb. 28, 2002.) Six years ago, they took the rare documents, including letters from W.D. Fard, plans and a syllabus for a University of Islam and policies governing the organization, to Detroit attorney Gregory Reed. Reed helped the family secure the documents and prepare them for exhibit and a national tour.
Reed also began the process of creating a The Fard Center for Research and the possible publication of some of the more relevant documents.
The discovery was a trove of information about the early years of the NOI and the life and times of W.D. Fard, particularly his relationships with Mohammed and Elijah Muhammad.
According to her brief autobiography, Mohammed first encountered Fard in October 1932 in Detroit’s Black Bottom when she was 17. “Every Tuesday we had a picnic with Muslims only,” she related after noting the location of the Temple of Islam over the Castle Theater on Hastings Street. “We danced, played games, especially baseball. At the picnic, we would win prizes.”
But beyond the games and recreational activity was her commitment to help Fard transcribe and circulate his dictations. “I converted from long hand into typing,” she continued, something she could do with great speed and accuracy after studying at the city’s Commerce High School. “Of the first nine laborers chosen by Master W.D. Fard, I was the only female laborer.”
She recalled that Fard wrote her lines at the bottom of his notes and letters. “‘Always re-read what you type,’” he insisted. “‘Don’t close your eyes and trust in God!’ Now he taught us that the Black people were the god, so when I would say my prayers, I’d shut my eyes and envision that great mass of people as God.”
Not much is known of Mohammed’s early years, other than she was born July 14, 1915, and attended Commerce High School, where she was among the best students in acquiring secretarial and clerical skills, including her ability to type nearly 100 words a minute without errors.
Her proficiency was so important that Fard made her his secretary and gave her the title of “The Reformer.” And even with her great skills and insight, it must have been a challenge at times to fully discern all of Fard’s ideas and creativity. Consider this problem that was part of the papers discovered by attorney Reed and transcribed by Mohammed:
“The uncle of Mr. W. D. Fard lives in the wilderness of North America, and he is living other than himself; therefore, he weighs more than his height and his blood pressure registers more than 31. This killed him at the age of 44 years. The average person breathes three cubic feet of air per hour, but the uncle of Mr. W. D. Fard breathes three and seven-tenths of cubic feet of air per hour. How many cubic feet of air did Mr. W. D. Fard’s uncle breathe in 44 years? How many atoms does he breathe in all of his 44 years when one one-hundredth of a cubic inch contains two hundred million atoms?”
And this problem was one of the easiest of the exam questions that converts had to answer and memorize, questions that required basic comprehension of calculus, algebra and trigonometry. Students at the University of Islam were required to remember the lessons without referring to the texts, and Reed has in his possession an original copy of “The Secret Ritual of the Nation of Islam,” which converts never actually saw but memorized in certify their membership and grades from the University of Islam,
At a news conference in the summer of 2010, Reed said, “The collection illustrates how the Nation of Islam was created … and the items are being secured in a vault, scheduled for exhibition, and preserved for scholars and others interested in learning about this great organization.”
Mohammed was 20 when she married John Muhammad, Elijah’s brother, in 1935. John, who was born Herbert Poole in Cordele, Ga., and was the first assistant principal at the University of Islam and taught the beginners’ class, died May 3, 2005. He was 95. He and Mohammed produced 14 children and had 34 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.
The ingenuity and structuring of the University of Islam, the development of the curriculum, largely based on the dictations Mohammed received from Fard, was formatted and designed into departments, according to the documents in Reed and his Keeper of the Word Foundation. Among the possessions are rare signed and handwritten documents detailing the internal departmental process: Application to be a member, the department of justice and court discipline methods that were later exercised when Malcolm X was disciplined and silenced, as well as what was required of students to complete their graduation from the university.
All of this work was facilitated by Mohammed, and we are still waiting to see if the research center project will be completed and the extent to which her role in the history of the NOI will be duly recorded.
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2025
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Links and Related Essay’s
Who is John Muhammad aka John Poole? – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
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Sister Burnsteen Sharrieff Mohammed, secretary and reformer of NOI – New York Amsterdam News
Sister Burnsteen Sharrieff Mohammed, secretary and reformer of NOI
Who is Wallace Farad? Aka W.D. Fard aka Fard – ahmadiyyafactcheckblog
High School of Commerce — Historic Detroit
https://historicdetroit.org/buildings/high-school-of-commerce
The Reformer – Honorable Burnsteen Sharrieff Muhammad
https://www.thenoireformer.com/
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