Louis Farrakhan
Born	May 11, 1933 (1933-05-11) (age 74) The Bronx, New York
Occupation	Head of the Nation of Islam
Spouse	Khadijah Farrakhan
Children	Mustapha Farrakhan

Louis Farrakhan (born Louis Eugene Walcott, May 11, 1933), is the acting head of the Nation of Islam (NOI) as the National Representative of Elijah Muhammad. He is also well-known as an advocate for African American interests and a critic of American society. ^[1][2][3] Farrakhan currently resides in Kenwood, an affluent neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, and part time at a Nation of Islam farm in New Buffalo, Michigan. is the 131st day of the year (132nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring... Elijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad (October 7, 1897 - February 25, 1975) is notable for his leadership of the Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... Kenwood, located on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, is one of the official Chicago Community Areas. ... The Victory Monument in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... New Buffalo is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. ...

Farrakhan has been the center of much controversy, and critics contend that some of his views and comments have been racist, homophobic, and antisemitic.^[4] Farrakhan has categorically rejected these charges,^[5] and has stated that much of America's perception of him has been shaped by media sound bites. ^{[6] [7]} Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Ethnocracy Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial quota... Homophobia is a term used to describe: A culturally determined phobia manifesting as fear, revulsion, or contempt for homosexuality. ... Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism, also known as judeophobia) is prejudice and hostility toward Jews as a religious, racial, or ethnic group. ...

Early life

Farrakhan was born in The Bronx, New York and raised as Eugene Walcott within the West Indian community in the Roxbury section of Boston, Massachusetts. His mother, Sarah Mae Manning, had emigrated from Saint Kitts and Nevis in the 1920s; his father, Percival Clarke, was a Jamaican cab driver from New York, but was not involved in his upbringing. The Bronx is one of the five boroughs of New York City in the United States. ... Roxbury is a neighborhood within Boston, Massachusetts USA. It was one of the first towns founded in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 and became a city in 1846 until it was annexed to Boston on January 5, 1868. ... Boston redirects here. ... Jamaica is a country in the Caribbean Sea, located south of Cuba and to the west of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated. ...

As a child, he received training as a violinist. At the age of six, he was given his first violin and by the age of 13, he had played with the Boston College Orchestra and the Boston Civic Symphony. A year later, he went on to win national competitions, and was one of the first black performers to appear on Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour, where he also won an award. A central focus of his youth was the Episcopal St. Cyprian's Church in Boston's Roxbury section, a part of Boston which also produced Leonard Bernstein. Ted Mack (1904–1976) [born William Edward Maguiness] was an American television host, best remembered for Ted Mack and the Original Amateur Hour. ... The Original Amateur Hour was an American television program from the mediums early days. ... Leonard Bernstein in 1971 Leonard Bernstein (IPA pronunciation: )[1] (August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, and pianist. ...

In Boston, Walcott attended the prestigious Boston Latin School and English High School, graduating from the latter.^[8] He attended college for two years at Winston-Salem State Teachers College, where he went to run track, but left to be with his wife (born Betsy Ross) in Boston who was pregnant with their child. Due to complications from the pregnancy, Walcott dropped out of college to devote time to his wife. The Boston Latin School is a public exam school founded on April 23, 1635, in Boston, Massachusetts, making it the oldest public school in the United States. ... A sketch of the original Boston English School in the 1820s Founded in 1821, The English High School of Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest public high school in America. ...

In the 1950s, Walcott became an up-and-coming calypso singer. He recorded several calypso albums under the name "The Charmer." ^[9] In 1955, while headlining a show in Chicago entitled "Calypso Follies," he first came in contact with the teachings of the Nation of Islam. A friend from Boston, sometime saxophonist Rodney Smith, introduced him to the NOI's doctrine. He joined the Nation of Islam in July of 1955, becoming Louis X (the "X" being a placeholder for the unknown surname of his slave forefathers, and the Islamic name some Nation members are given later in their conversion). Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music which originated in Trinidad at about the start of the 20th century. ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring...

Thirty days after that, Elijah Muhammad stated that all musicians in the NOI had thirty days from the date of this announcement to give up the music world completely. Farrakhan did so after performing one last time at the Nevel Country Club.

Current health

Farrakhan announced that he is seriously ill in a September 11, 2006 letter to his staff, Nation of Islam members and supporters. The letter, published in The Final Call newspaper, said that doctors in Cuba discovered an ulcer. According to the letter, subsequent infections caused Farrakhan to lose 35 pounds. He urged the Nation of Islam leadership to carry on while he recovers. ^[10] The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring... The Final Call is a newspaper published in Chicago. ... Endoscopic images of a duodenal ulcer. ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring...

Farrakhan was released from his five-week hospital stay on January 28, 2007 after major abdominal surgery. The operation was performed to correct severe damage caused by side effects of a radiated seed implantation procedure that he received years earlier to treat prostate cancer. ^[11] A side-effect is any effect other than an intended primary effect. ... Brachytherapy for prostate cancer is administered using seeds, small radioactive rods implanted directly into the tumour. ... HRPC redirects here. ...

Following his hospital stay, Farrakhan released a personal public "Message of Appreciation" to supporters and well wishers ^[12] and weeks later delivered the keynote address at the Nation of Islam's annual convention in Detroit. ^[13]

Nation of Islam

Early involvement

He was inspired by Malcolm X and he accepted a friend's invitation to attend the Nation of Islam's annual Saviours' Day address by Elijah Muhammad. Walcott accepted Elijah Muhammad's teachings that day and was renamed "Louis X." He later became close friends with and a protegè of Malcolm X. Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, also known as Detroit Red and Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965 in New York City) was a Muslim Minister and National Spokesman for the Nation of Islam. ... Saviors Day is a holiday of the Nation of Islam (NOI). ... Elijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad (October 7, 1897 - February 25, 1975) is notable for his leadership of the Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. ...

Adoption of the "X" surname is a tradition within the Nation of Islam. In the purview of the Nation of Islam, followers accept the "X" surname as the rejection of their "slave name". Eventually, the "X" name is replaced by a proper Muslim name more descriptive of the individual's personality and character. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

After joining the Nation of Islam, Farrakhan quickly rose through the ranks to become Minister of the Nation of Islam's Boston Mosque. He was appointed Minister of the influential Harlem Mosque and served in that capacity from 1965 to 1975. The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... This article is about the Harlem neighborhood in New York City. ...

Leadership

In 1977, after wrestling with the changes and consequent dismantling of the NOI structure by Warith Deen Muhammad, Farrakhan walked away from the movement. In a 1990 interview with Emerge magazine, he expressed his disillusionment with the changes and said he decided to "quietly walk away" from the organization rather than cause a schism among the membership. In 1978 with no public notice, Farrakhan and a small number of supporters privately decided to rebuild the original Nation of Islam upon the foundation established by Wallace Fard Muhammad and Elijah Muhammad. Warith Deen Muhammad The Honorable and Eminent, al-Imam Warith Deen Mohammad (born Wallace D. Muhammad on October 30, 1933) is an influential American Muslim leader. ... Wallace Fard Muhammad (born circa 1891 – year of death unknown) was a preacher and founder of Faradian Islam, the Black-nationalist movement called the Nation of Islam (NOI), establishing its first mosque in Detroit, Michigan. ...

In 1979, the Nation of Islam's newspaper, Muhammad Speaks was reestablished by Farrakhan under the name The Final Call. In 1981, Farrakhan and supporters held the first annual Nation of Islam Saviors' Day convention in Chicago since 1975. At the convention's keynote address, Farrakhan made his first public announcement of the restoration of the Nation of Islam under Elijah Muhammad's teachings. ^[14] The Final Call is a newspaper published in Chicago. ...

On January 12, 1995, Malcolm X's daughter, Qubilah Shabazz, was arrested for conspiracy to assassinate Farrakhan. It was later alleged that the FBI had used a paid informant, Michael Fitzpatrick, to frame Shabazz. After Shabazz's arrest, Farrakhan held a press conference in Chicago in which he accused the FBI of attempting to exacerbate division and conflict between the Nation of Islam and the family of Malcolm X. Nearly four months later, on May 1, U.S. government prosecutors dropped their case against Shabazz. is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, also known as Detroit Red and Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965 in New York City) was a Muslim Minister and National Spokesman for the Nation of Islam. ... Qubilah Shabazz (born 1960) is the daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz. ... is the 121st day of the year (122nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On May 6, 1995, a packed public meeting in Harlem, New York, termed A New Beginning, featured Louis Farrakhan and Malcolm X's widow, Betty Shabazz. Originally organized by community activists as a fund raiser for Qubilah Shabazz's legal defense, the meeting marked the first public rapprochement between Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam and the Shabazz family. is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

On October 16, 1995 Farrakhan convened a broad coalition of 870,000 men in Washington, D.C. for the Million Man March. Farrakhan, along with New Black Panther Party leader Malik Zulu Shabazz, Al Sharpton and other prominent black Americans marked the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March by holding a second march, the Millions More Movement on October 14, 2005 through October 17, 2005, in Washington. is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... The Million Man March was a Black march of protest and unity convened by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in Washington, DC on October 16, 1995. ... The New Black Panthers shot the sherrif, formally known as the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, is a group formed by breakaway members of the Nation of Islam. ... Current leader of the New Black Panther Party. ... Alfred Charles Al Sharpton Jr. ... Millions More Movement logo The Millions More Movement was launched by a broad coalition of U.S. Black leaders to mark the commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the historic Million Man March. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In a 2005 Black Entertainment Television (BET) poll, Farrakhan was voted the 'Person of the Year'. ^[15] BET redirects here. ...

In a February 2006 AP-AOL "Black Voices" poll, Farrakhan was voted the fifth most important black leader with 4 percent of the vote.^[16]

Orator

Though many of his pundits see him as "controversial", Farrakhan is widely recognized as an electrifying speaker with a powerful allure.^[17] In his prime, crowds all around the United States would throng to his speeches for moral uplift and entertainment. His orations typically last up to three hours. His charisma played a significant role in drawing an estimated 2.2 million people to the Million Man March. The Million Man March was a Black march of protest and unity convened by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in Washington, DC on October 16, 1995. ...

Praise for Barack Obama

Speaking to thousands of members of the Nation of Islam at their annual convention Sunday (February 24, 2008) in Chicago, Minister Louis Farrakhan said presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama "is the hope of the entire world, that America will change and be made better." “Barack” redirects here. ...

Farrakhan said the war in Iraq, the nation's faltering economy and the increased number of natural disasters were signs of "a nation in peril." He said those problems provide the broader context for Obama's rise. [7]

In response to Farrakhan's remarks, the Obama campaign promptly released a response distancing himself from the muslim minister:

"Senator Obama has been clear in his objections to Minister Farrakhan's past pronouncements and has not solicited the minister's support," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.[8] Obama himself denounced and rejected Farrakhan's support in an NBC debate.

Farrakhan subsequently denied his comments constituted an endorsement saying, he would not tell any one of his followers how to cast their vote, but that they should vote "their own self-interest." [9]

Controversy

For many years, Farrakhan's statements have sparked debate and controversy. Farrakhan has often insisted that critics take his comments out of context, thereby misrepresenting his beliefs. Religion scholar Mattias Gardell^[18] argues that that is at least partly accurate. When considered in the context of Farrakhan's typically lengthy lectures, Gardell argues that many of Farrakhan's controversial comments take on a more nuanced or thoughtful meaning that cannot be conveyed in a sound bite. For his part, Farrakhan has also stated that much of America's perception of him has been filtered by short media clips. ^[19] Mattias Gardell (born 1958) is a reader for religious history at the University of Stockholm. ... In film and broadcasting, a soundbite is a very short piece of footage taken from a longer speech or an interview in which someone with authority says something which is considered by those who edit the speech or interview to be a most important point. ...

Antisemitism

Perhaps the most provocative aspect of Farrakhan's political philosophy are comments he has made that have widely been seen as antisemitic^[20]. The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Political philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about the state, government, politics, liberty, justice, property, rights, law and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why (or even if) they are needed, what makes a government legitimate, what... The Eternal Jew: 1937 German poster Anti-Semitism (alternatively spelled antisemitism) is hostility towards or prejudice against Jews (not, in common usage, Semites in general — see the Scope section below). ...

Anti-Defamation League's "Black Hitler"

During the 1984 presidential campaign of Jesse Jackson, Jackson referred to New York City as "Hymietown" in a discussion with a black reporter. Though Jackson thought he was speaking off the record, the reporter printed the quote. Jackson was widely criticized for the slur and received numerous death threats,^[21] leading Farrakhan to announce, "If you harm this brother, it'll be the last one you ever harm. If you want to defeat him, defeat him at the polls. We can stand to lose an election, but we cannot stand to lose our brother."^[22] Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. ...

In response to Farrakhan's speech, Nathan Pearlmutter, then Chair of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith (ADL) referred to Minister Farrakhan as the new "Black Hitler" and prominent Jewish journalist Nat Hentoff, while a guest on a New York radio talk-show, also characterized the Muslim leader as a "Black Hitler." The Anti-Defamation League (or ADL) is an interest group founded in 1913 by Bnai Brith in the United States whose stated aim is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. ... Bnai Brith Membership Certificate, 1876. ... Hitler redirects here. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... Nat Hentoff (born June 10, 1925) is an American civil libertarian, free speech absolutist, pro-life advocate, anti-death penalty advocate, jazz critic, historian, biographer and anecdotist, and columnist for the Village Voice, Legal Times, Washington Times, The Progressive, Editor & Publisher, Free Inquiry and Jewish World Review. ...

In response to the charges of being a "Black Hitler", Farrakhan responded during a March 11, 1984 speech broadcast on a Chicago radio station:

"So I said to the members of the press, 'Why won't you go and look into what we are saying about the threats on Reverend Jackson's life?' Here the Jews don't like Farrakhan and so they call me 'Hitler'. Well that's a good name. Hitler was a very great man. He wasn't great for me as a Black man but he was a great German and he rose Germany up from the ashes of her defeat by the united force of all of Europe and America after the First World War. Yet Hitler took Germany from the ashes and rose her up and made her the greatest fighting machine of the twentieth century, brothers and sisters, and even though Europe and America had deciphered the code that Hitler was using to speak to his chiefs of staff, they still had trouble defeating Hitler even after knowing his plans in advance. Now I'm not proud of Hitler's evil toward Jewish people, but that's a matter of record. He rose Germany up from nothing. Well, in a sense you could say there is a similarity in that we are rising our people up from nothing, but don't compare me with your wicked killers." ^[23] Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... The word Jew (Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or a member of the Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ...

Farrakhan was censured unanimously by the United States Senate for the speech. Censure is a process by which a formal reprimand is issued to an individual by an authoritative body. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States...

Jewish distributors

Farrakhan has alleged that in 1985, Jewish distributors blocked a major urban economic renewal initiative he championed which was dubbed "P.O.W.E.R." for People Organized Working for Economic Rebirth.

The initiative called for a joint enteprise of Black businesses and organizations to produce and distribute a line of cosmetics and toiletries sold under the Clean & Fresh label. Major black-hair-care companies, including Johnson Products Co. backed out of the initiative fearing retaliation from major Jewish dealers. Johnson Products owner George E. Johnson maintained that his company's distributors told him that any dealings with Farrakhan's P.O.W.E.R. project would lead to having his own products boycotted. We knew we could not offend our distribution channels, a Johnson spokesman, Dorothy McConner, said. "When I saw that," Farrakhan says, "I recognized that the black man will never be free until we address the relationship between blacks and Jews."^{[24] [25]}

Claim that he called Judaism a gutter religion

He has also been accused of calling Judaism a "gutter religion," although Farrakhan and his supporters deny this. An article in the NOI's periodical, Final Call, has responded by claiming that Farrakhan instead used the expression "dirty religion," and that "...in Minister Farrakhan’s vocabulary the phrase 'dirty religion' has a particular meaning... 'dirty religion' is the distorted faith which emerges from its manipulation by hypocrites or sinners."^[26] The Nation of Islam (NOI), also known as the Black Muslim Movement (although the term is discouraged by the NOI), is a spiritual and political black separatist movement founded in America in 1930 by Wallace Fard Muhammad (1877- ?). The Nation of Islam has a somewhat tenuous connection to mainstream Islam...

Farrakhan, however, has denied that he used the word dirty either. In a June 18, 1997 letter to a former Wall Street Journal editor, Jude Wanniski, he stated:

Countless times over the years I have explained that I never referred to Judaism as a gutter religion, but, clearly referred to the machinations of those who hide behind the shield of Judaism while using unjust political means to achieve their objectives. This was distilled in the New York tabloids and other media saying, "Farrakhan calls Judaism a gutter religion." As a Muslim, I revere Abraham, Moses, and all the Prophets who Allah (God) sent to the children of Israel. I believe in the scriptures brought by these Prophets and the Laws of Allah (God) as expressed in the Torah. I would never refer to the Revealed Word of Allah (God) -- the basis of Jewish Faith -- as "dirty" or "gutter." You know, Jude, as well as I, that the Revealed Word of Allah (God) comes as a Message from Allah (God) to purify us from our evil that has divided us and caused us to fall into the gutter. Over the centuries, the evils of Christians, Jews and Muslims have dirtied their respective religions. True Faith in the laws and Teaching of Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad is not dirty, but, practices in the name of these religions can be unclean and can cause people to look upon the misrepresented religion as being unclean.^[27]

The transcript from the (then aired) Phil Donohue support Min. Farrakhan's response to this accusation of anti-Semitism.

Neturei Karta

Farrakhan has had friendly relations with leaders of the Neturei Karta, a Jewish group that is well-known for its association with and support for anti-Zionists. Neturei Karta stressed that "Minister Louis Farrakhan is an extraordinary force for good in the Black community. His followers are responsible, industrious, modest and moral. And for this he and they have our respect." ^[28] Neturei Karta synagogue and study hall in Jerusalem Neturei Karta (Aramaic: , Guardians of the City) is a Haredi Jewish group formally created in 1935, that opposes Zionism and call for a peaceful dismantling of the State of Israel, in the belief that Jews are forbidden to have their own state... Anti-Zionism is opposition to Zionism, an international political movement that supports a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine[1][2] Anti-Zionism takes many forms, ranging from political or religious opposition to the idea of a Jewish state, to rejecting Israels right to exist and the legitimacy...

Cycle of hatred

During Christmas of the same year Farrakhan met with Catholic leaders and rabbis at a gathering in Chicago where he called on all peoples of the world to "end the cycle of hatred".^[29] For other uses, see Christmas (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Chicago (disambiguation). ...

"Wicked and false Jews"

At an NOI-sponsored event in February 2006, Farrakhan provoked accusations of antisemitism in Illinois by stating that "These false Jews promote the filth of Hollywood. It's the wicked Jews, the false Jews that are promoting lesbianism, homosexuality, [and] Zionists have manipulated Bush and the American government [on the war in Iraq]" ^[30] Antisemitism (alternatively spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism, also known as judeophobia) is prejudice and hostility toward Jews as a religious, racial, or ethnic group. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ...

Homosexuality

In his speech in Boston in August 1997, Farrakhan made the following statement about homosexuals: Homosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love, or sexual desire exclusively for another of the same sex. ...

It seems like being gay or whatever sin you wish to be a part of is okay ... but I have the duty to lift that gay person up to the standard to ask if they want to live the life that God wants them to or live the lifestyle that they want to live." ^[31]

Farrakhan's Vision Experience

On October 24, 1989, at a Washington, DC. press conference, Louis Farrakhan described a 1985 vision he had while in Mexico. In his vision, he said he was carried up to "a Wheel, or what you call an unidentified flying object" to a "human built planet" known as the "Mother Wheel" as referenced in the Bible's Book of Ezekiel 1:15-18. During this Vision experience he said he heard the voice of Elijah Muhammad informing him that the President was planning a war and instructed him to "announce their plan and say to the world that you got the information from me, Elijah Muhammad, on the Wheel." Farrakhan concluded that the war was against the people of Libya and Muammar al-Gaddafi to whom he traveled to warn in February of 1986. The U.S. launched bombing strikes against Libya in April 1986. ^[32] He said he later came to realize that the war extended to "an even more significant and consequential war, .. "a war against the black people of America, the Nation of Islam and Louis Farrakhan." ^[33] is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... In religion, visions comprise inspirational renderings, generally of a future state and/or of a mythical being, and are believed (by followers of the religion) to come from a deity, directly or indirectly via prophets, and serve to inspire or prod believers as part of a revelation or an epiphany. ... Book Of Ezekiel is rapper Freekey Zekeys debut album and debut on Diplomat Records/Asylum. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ... Elijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad (October 7, 1897 - February 25, 1975) is notable for his leadership of the Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. ... Muammar Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi1 (Arabic:   ) (born c. ...

In a December 1, 2001 letter to President George W. Bush which was made public, Farrakhan disclosed that his Vision experience is what inspired him to "tour the country talking to Black men urging them to stop the killing of one another, and what eventually led to the Million Man March on October 16, 1995."^[34][35] George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the forty-third and current President of the United States of America, originally inaugurated on January 20, 2001. ... The Million Man March was a Black march of protest and unity convened by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in Washington, DC on October 16, 1995. ...

Race

Louis Farrakhan made several controversial statements about race, including "White people are potential humans — they haven't evolved yet" in March 2000. ^[31]. In full context, Farrakhan further expounded by saying, "If you look at the human family -- now, I'm talking about black, brown, red, yellow and white -- we all seem to be frozen on a subhuman level of existence. In Islam and, I believe, in Christian theology and Jewish theology as well, there are three stages of human development. The first stage is called the animalistic stage of development. But when we submit to animal passions, then we can do evil things to one another in that animalistic stage of development. But when moral consciousness comes and we have a self-accusing spirit, it is then that we become human beings. Right now, we have the potential for humanity, but we have not reached that potential, because we are functioning on the animalistic plane of existence." ^[36] Whites redirects here. ...

^[37] He has also alluded to a figure called "Yacub" (or "Jacob") with reference to whites. According to Farrakhan's mentor, Elijah Muhammad, blacks were "born righteous and turned to unrighteousness," while the white race was "made unrighteous by the god who made them (Mr. Yacub)." According to the Nation of Islam (NOI), Yakub (also spelled Yacub or Yakob), was an evil scientist responsible for creating the white race — a race of devils, in their view. ...

In an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, Farrakhan defended the position that black people are the original people of the earth and clarified that, "It doesn't suggest that we are superior or that you are inferior. Superiority and inferiority is determined by our righteousness and not by our color." In the same interview Farrakhan stated that, "any human being who gives themself over to the doing of evil could be considered a devil".^[38] This article is about the television network. ... Meet the Press (MTP) is a weekly television news show produced by NBC. It started as a radio show in 1945 as American Mercury Presents: Meet the Press, originating from WRC-AM in Washington. ...

Hurricane Katrina

In comments regarding the decimation of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Louis Farrakhan stated that there was a 25-foot (7.6 m) hole under one of the key levees that failed, and implied that the levee's destruction was a deliberate attempt to wipe out the population of largely black sections within the city. Farrakhan later said that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin told him of the crater during a meeting in Dallas, Texas. ^[39] Farrakhan further claimed the fact that the levee broke the day after Hurricane Katrina is proof that the destruction of the levee was not a natural occurrence. Farrakhan has raised additional questions and has called for federal investigations into the source of the levee break.^[40][41] New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ... fuck you // Fuck you Fuck you fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you Fuck you btw Mister Nagin, don`t be angry. ... Dallas redirects here. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ...

These accusations, however, are countered by many experts, including the Independent Levee Investigation Team from the University of California, Berkeley. The findings of this panel are that the overtopping of the levees by flood waters, the often sub-standard materials used to shore up the levees, and the age of the levees contributed to these "scour holes" found at many of the sites of levee breaks after Hurricane Katrina.^[42] Sather Tower (the Campanile) looking out over the San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais. ... This article is about the Atlantic hurricane of 2005. ...

Malcolm X's death

After a May 2000 CBS 60 Minutes interview which aired on Sunday May 14, 2000, CBS Evening News, Farrakhan said that his "incendiary rhetoric played a role in the 1965 assassination of civil rights leader Malcolm X." ^[43] This article is about the broadcast network. ... This article is about the CBS news magazine. ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963. ... Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, also known as Detroit Red and Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965 in New York City) was a Muslim Minister and National Spokesman for the Nation of Islam. ...

On May 20, 2000, Farrakhan publicly rejected CBS News' characterization of the interview stating, "It appears that the aim of 60 Minutes, CBS and Mike Wallace was to make the American public believe that I, Louis Farrakhan, ordered the assassination of Malcolm X. It in no way reflected the spirit of Miss Shabazz and myself and our attempt to continue the path of reconciliation started by Dr. Betty Shabazz and me in 1994 and 1995." ^[44] is the 140th day of the year (141st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mike Wallace can refer to: Mike Wallace, the long-time television correspondent for CBS. Mike Wallace, the historian. ...

In a June 5, 2000, interview titled 'Setting the Record Straight' with Jet Magazine, Farrakhan said "the interview was edited in such a way to give viewers the impression that Farrakhan had a role in Malcolm's death". ^[45] Of the full 4 hour interview, CBS edited the broadcast portion down to 12 minutes.^[46] is the 156th day of the year (157th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Jet magazine is a popular African-American publication founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1951 by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company. ...

In a February 21, 1990 speech at Malcolm X College in Chicago, IL, Farrakhan gave a presentation on "The Murder of Malcolm X" and the lingering effects of the assassination. ^[47] is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

Other controversial quotes

• "The same year they set up the IRS, they set up the FBI. And the same year they set up the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith… It could be a coincidence… [I want] to see black intellectuals free… I want to see them not controlled by members of the Jewish community."^[48]
• "Dewey, Kant and Hegel, and the rabbis that wrote the Talmud, make blacks inferior."^[49]
• Farrakhan has referred to Jews, Palestinian Arabs, Koreans, and Vietnamese collectively as "bloodsuckers" and maintains that "Murder and lying comes easy for white people." [10]

Seal of the Internal Revenue Service Tax rates around the world Tax revenue as % of GDP Part of the Taxation series        IRS redirects here. ... F.B.I. and FBI redirect here. ... The Anti-Defamation League (or ADL) is an interest group founded in 1913 by Bnai Brith in the United States whose stated aim is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. ... John Dewey (October 20, 1859 – June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer, whose thoughts and ideas have been greatly influential in the United States and around the world. ... Immanuel Kant Immanuel Kant (April 22, 1724 – February 12, 1804) was a Prussian philosopher, generally regarded as one of Europes most influential thinkers and the last major philosopher of the Enlightenment. ... Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (August 27, 1770 - November 14, 1831) was a German philosopher born in Stuttgart, Württemberg, in present-day southwest Germany. ... The Talmud (Hebrew: ) is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history. ... A Palestinian Arab (or Arab Palestinian) is an Arab of Palestine - either the historical region of Palestine or any of the political divisions designated as Palestine. Journalists, historians and some diplomats or government officials frequently refer to Palestianian Arabs as Palestinians for short. ...

Farrakhan and classical music

When Farrakhan first joined the NOI, he was asked by Elijah Muhammad to put aside his musical career. After 42 years, Farrakhan decided to take up the violin once more, particularly due to the urging of prominent classical musician Sylvia Olden Lee. Elijah Muhammad Elijah Muhammad (October 7, 1897 - February 25, 1975) is notable for his leadership of the Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... Sylvia Olden Lee (29 June 1917 - 10 April 2004) was a renowned vocal coach and accompanist, and the first African-American to be employed by the Metropolitan Opera. ...

On 17 April 1993, Farrakhan made his concert debut with performances of the Violin Concerto in E Minor by Felix Mendelssohn. Farrakhan said that in part, his performance of a concerto by a Jewish composer was an effort to heal a rift between himself and the Jewish community. The New York Times reported that "Mr. Farrakhan's sound is that of the authentic player. It is wide, deep and full of the energy that makes the violin gleam."^[50] He has gone on to perform the Violin Concerto of Ludwig van Beethoven and has announced plans to perform those of Tchaikovsky and Brahms. is the 107th day of the year (108th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Portrait of Mendelssohn by the English miniaturist James Warren Childe (1778-1862), 1839 Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, born and generally known as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3, 1809 – November 4, 1847) is a German composer, pianist and conductor of the early Romantic period. ... “Beethoven” redirects here. ... “Tchaikovsky” redirects here. ... Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (May 7, 1833 – April 3, 1897) was a German composer of the Romantic period. ...

See also

• Millions More Movement
• Nation of Islam

Millions More Movement logo The Millions More Movement was launched by a broad coalition of U.S. Black leaders to mark the commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the historic Million Man March. ... The Nation of Islam (NOI) is a religious and social/political organization founded in the United States by Wallace Fard Muhammad in 1930 with the self-proclaimed goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, economic condition of the black man and woman of America and belief that God will bring...

Footnotes

This article or section needs to be wikified to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please help improve this article with relevant internal links. (February 2008)

Image File history File links Wikitext. ... Beliefnet or Beliefnet. ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... TIME redirects here. ... is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... For other uses, see Guardian. ... is the 212th day of the year (213th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Cable News Network, commonly known as CNN, is a major cable television network founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. ... is the 290th day of the year (291st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 287th day of the year (288th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Sather Tower (the Campanile) looking out over the San Francisco Bay and Mount Tamalpais. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Further reading

• Muhammad, Jabril, Closing The Gap: Inner Views of the Heart, Mind & Soul of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, FCN Publishing Co. (2006) ISBN 978-1-929594-99-3
• Gardell, Mattias, In the Name of Elijah Mohammed: Louis Farrakhan and The Nation of Islam, Duke University Press (1996) ISBN 978-0-8223-1845-3
• Farrakhan, Louis A Torchlight for America, FCN Publishing Co. (1993) ISBN 0-9637642-4-1

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Louis Farrakhan

• Nation of Islam's Official Louis Farrakhan Bio Sketch
• Final Call Newspaper, founded by Louis Farrakhan
• Louis Farrakhan's weekly news column
• Farrakhan Speaks Podcast
• Nation of Islam's Women Committed to the Truth
• Minister Farrakhan's Letter to President George W. Bush
• Tim Russert interview
• "Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad" for the WGBH series, Say Brother
• Farrakhan in His Own Words A selection of quotes from Farrakhan's speeches prepared by the Anti-Defamation League
• Islam or Farrakhanism: What Does the Nation of Islam Believe?
• 2006 Friends of Mankind Award

Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Wikiquote is one of a family of wiki-based projects run by the Wikimedia Foundation, running on MediaWiki software. ... The Anti-Defamation League (or ADL) is an interest group founded in 1913 by Bnai Brith in the United States whose stated aim is to stop, by appeals to reason and conscience and, if necessary, by appeals to law, the defamation of the Jewish people. ...

Farrakhan videos

• March, 2006 Havana, Cuba Press Conference
• May, 2004 Washington, D.C. Press Conference on U.S. Government's War on Terrorism
• April, 2002 Press Conference on Arab, Muslim/Israeli Conflict
• Let us make man Part I - africanconnections.com
• Let us make man Part II - africanconnections.com
• BBC Video
• FOX News Interview on Millions more movement
• Farrakhan Webcast: The Murder of Malcolm X
• Mike Wallace interview on CBS with Farrakhan and Atallah Shabazz
• birth of a nation