Mein Ghetto Black Racism And Louis

Farrakhan Essay, Research Paper

Race can be defined in terms of physical features (skin color and other anatomical features), and sometimes also with respect to language, behavior, ideas, and other “cultural” matters. Racism is a belief in the superiority of a particular race; prejudice based on this or antagonism towards, or discrimination against, other races, especially as a result of this. (Goldberg, P. 58)

Racism, as it applies to Blacks against Whites, in North American society, has its roots in several hundreds of years of oppression and racism by Whites. In this sense, black racism almost qualifies as reverse discrimination (e.g. affirmative action plans established by governments and foundations to give preference to blacks when hiring). However, more radical attitudes towards Whites by Black North Americans have developed, primarily during this century, in response to, and as an off-shoot of, the civil rights movement and the emergence of groups such as the Black Panthers and the Nation of Islam.

Louis Farrakhan is a leader of a group of extremist. An African-American “preacher”, he has founded his own movement of black radicalism, based on Islamic fundamentalism, and incorporating his own brand of hatred against whites and other racial or religious or special interest groups.

This essay will examine some of the events that form part of the foundation of his philosophy, will examine essays written about Farrakhan by prominent academics, civil libertarians, and modern day economists, writers. Who is Louis Farrakhan, what does he preach, and why. This essay will attempt to shed some light on these questions, and as well Black radicalism itself.

Farrakhan was born the child of West Indian immigrants in the Bronx in 1933. He was born Louis Eugene Walcott, conceived during a rape. Farrakhan was brought up in Roxbury, Boston, a West Indian influenced black section of the town. Growing up with talents in music, Farrakhan enjoyed scholastic success. After graduating from high school, he attended the Winston-Salem Teachers College in North Carolina for a couple of years and got married to his high school sweetheart. Through continuing his love for music – especially calypso – Farrakhan gained local fame and, in 1955, was invited to a Savior’s Day convention to hear Elijah Muhammad (head of the Nation of Islam of the time). That was a turning point that saw him convert to the Nation of Islam (NOI). His natural gifts allowed him to rise steadily in the NOI, from being an assistant to Malcolm X to becoming the national representative for Elijah Muhammad. His popularity spread, even outside of NOI, with blacks from the around the country listening him, promoting his message of black rage. (Alexander, Pp. 132- 135)

However, three years Elijah Muhammad’s death, Farrakhan left the mainstream Islamic group and resurrected the Nation of Islam again in 1978. He then preached its members to his new interpretation of the old Nation beliefs: “that separatism is salvation; that black right is righteous; that the poor are not mere pariahs; that prisoners are potential princes; and that black folks are God’s real chosen people.” There was the promise of the transition of race into the language of black self-determination and a resistance to white supremacy. (Alexander, P. 136)

Farrakhan’s Beliefs incorporate the ideas that : black people are the Original People of the world, and of the universe; the world is in Allah’s hands and Allah is their only God; black people, who are the children of Allah, as being themselves divine. Therefore, the suffering of the black poor, “victims of the white racist violence,” black males, and blacks leaders are seen as having been victims of attempts by whites to harm God. (Alexander, P. 137) Farrakhan believes, therefore, that “God will destroy America by the hands of Muslims.” He also has a belief that self-help is the key to black redemption and he seeks to restore conservative cultural values in black families and in American society. His beliefs about black determination are rooted in West Indian Marcus Garvey’s separatist doctrines, and his desires to create the black ethnitopia are rooted in Garvey’s notion of black self-help and racial solidarity. Farrakhan sees self-help as key to translating ‘race’ into ‘black self-determination’. (Alexander, P. 130) Ultimately, he is also Anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, and anti-Christian. As he has said that, in defense of his brand of racist philosophy, “Christians preach love but practice hate and tyranny, and used God to cover up their corrupt and dirty practices.” (Louis Farrakhan: What Does He Stand For.) and that ” The Jews don’t like Farrakhan, so they call me Hitler. Well, that’s a good name. Hitler was a very great man.” (Louis Farrakhan: What Does He Stand For.) Mostly, he is anti-white. Evidences are shown in his speeches as such, ” Murder and lying comes easy for white people.” (Louis Farrakhan: What Does He Stand For.) and, ” Does the pope ask his white brothers and sisters to repent of their evils to our people before asking our people to forgive. What does this tell you about who he really represents. Does he really represent Christ, or does he represent originator of organized crime on this earth. Who represents Christ: Pope John Paul II or the Honorable Louis Farrakhan.” (Louis Farrakhan: What Does He Stand For.) Sexism also contributes towards his