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C. Eric Lincoln's seminal study of the Nation of Islam, The Black Muslims in America, appeared in 1961. One of the book's most enduring legacies was the introduction of the term "Black Muslims" into the American mainstream. Despite the vehement objections of Malcolm X and other hierarchs of the Nation, the media quickly adopted "Black Muslims" as its moniker for members of the Nation. The term was widely used by both Blacks and whites in subsequent years. Members of the Nation rejected the appellation, considering themselves merely "Muslim." "Black Muslim" was a loaded term, as "Negro" was overwhelmingly used as a designation for African Americans. The qualifier "Black" had confrontational, radical, even separatist connotations, and contributed to what was perceived as the Muslims' threatening aura.
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