The story follows the life of a young African American man from his early days, witnessing his father's violent death and his mother's subsequent mental breakdown. As he grows up, he falls into a life of crime and is known by his nickname, Detroit Red. Engaged in burglaries, drug dealing, and pimping, he is eventually arrested and sentenced to a long prison term. Behind bars, he undergoes a personal transformation, ignited by his encounter with a fellow inmate who introduces him to the teachings of the Nation of Islam.

Embracing the Nation of Islam's principles, he adopts a new name and begins to advocate for black empowerment and the rejection of victimhood. As a charismatic and eloquent spokesperson, he captures the attention of the community and rises quickly within the organization. His increasingly radical views on race and his critique of the civil rights movement's methods begin to shape the dialogue on race relations in the United States, setting the stage for significant conflict within the society and even within the Nation of Islam itself.