The Nation of Yahweh is predominantly a Black Hebrew Israelite religious movement which was founded in 1979 in Miami by Hulon Mitchell Jr., who went by the name Yahweh ben Yahweh. (Yahweh is one of the proper names of the Abrahamic god, so Yahweh ben Yahweh essentially means "God, son of God".) Its goal is to move African Americans, who it believes are the original Israelites, to Israel. The group accepts Yahweh ben Yahweh as the Son of God. In this way, its beliefs are unique and distinct from those of other Black Hebrew Israelite groups.[1][2]
Its founder, Hulon Mitchell, was indicted on federal racketeering and extortion charges and convicted of conspiracy to commit murder.[3] The group is classified as a black supremacist cult by the Southern Poverty Law Center[4] and as a cult by The Miami Herald.[5]
The organization describes itself as follows: "In 1979, Yahweh Ben Yahweh came to Miami and became the Spiritual Leader and Founder of The Nation of Yahweh. Although he took a vow of poverty, in seven years he guided The Nation to amass a $250,000,000 empire. Under his direction, The Nation has grown to encompass disciples, followers, and supporters in over 1,300 cities within the U.S. and 16 other countries."[6][better source needed]