John Ali, Former Nation of Islam Official and Central Figure in Malcolm X Split, Dies at 98
John Ali, a prominent official in the Nation of Islam during the 1960s who oversaw the group’s historic split with Malcolm X, died on Sunday at his home in Philadelphia at the age of 98, as confirmed by his son Jon Ali.
Early Life, Education, and Entry Into the Nation of Islam
Born John William Simmons Jr. on November 3, 1927, in Avery, Georgia, he moved to Philadelphia as a baby where his father worked as a chauffeur. Drafted into the Army at 18, he attended Bryant University in Rhode Island on a veteran program, graduating in 1950 with an accounting degree before joining the Nation of Islam in 1954 after hearing Malcolm speak, eventually rising to become national secretary and de facto second-in-command to Elijah Muhammad.
Controversies Surrounding Malcolm X’s Assassination and FBI Involvement
Mr. Ali served as the group’s spokesman and enforcer during intense friction with Malcolm X, enforcing suspensions and public denunciations following political fallout, while later facing persistent FBI informant accusations and intense scrutiny regarding his presence in New York City and his meeting with assassin Mujahid Abdul Halim the night before the February 21, 1965, shooting at the Audubon Ballroom.
Business Management, Later Career, and Surviving Family
Beyond his administrative duties, Mr. Ali managed financial operations and later served as business manager for Main Bout, overseeing promotional rights and earnings for Muhammad Ali during his rise to superstar status, and is survived by his children Jon, Sultan, Marie, and Clara, alongside numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his brother Michael, following decades of historical debate regarding the exact orchestration of the 1965 assassination.
