Gorgeous Yakub

I don't know if you know much about the Nation of Islam, a black nationalist religious organisation founded in 1930, but after reading James Baldwin's tale of meeting their leader and his criticism of the group in his fabulous short book The Fire Next Time, I wanted to know a bit more about them and primarily their mythology claiming that white people were created by a specific servant of the devil.

The whole thing is that, y'know, white people are unnatural creations brought about by the experiments of a naughty scientist working under the devil. White people are, according to this exciting doctrine, essentially a special new race of devils. That's all great, but what really tickles me is this scientist. You see, the scientist who created white people is called Yakub, and he must have a crazy thick brain, because he looks like this:

At least, according to noted crank and founder of a related organisation, the recognised hate group Nuwaubian Nation, Dwight York, whose 'Holy Tablets' this incredible image is taken from.

mObviously, Yakub is quite reminiscent of Megamind, and that's part of why he's so appealing. Perhaps you would have to have a huge, bulging brain to invent white people. I don't know. But I just look at Yakub here and can't help but adore him. Maybe this is just my natural affinity, as a white person, for my beloved creator, or maybe it's just the undeniable swag of Yakub.

Predictably, white supremacists quite like Yakub (and have historically gotten pretty down with the Nation of Islam, largely due to a shared goal of racial seperatism), and of course, his big funny head is perfect fodder for hyper-online right-wing meme-lovers. How could they resist?

Nevertheless, I enjoy him as a baffling creation and a beautifully weird image. There is something lovable about him, to me. Just a weird-looking, big-brained guy who looks a little bit sad. Maybe he regrets creating white people, in some small way, even though he did it on purpose for evil reasons.

I just wanted you to know about Yakub. So now you know. You're welcome.