Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Louis Farrakhan" hosted by DJButterrock
Cx1DJs We Do Things Different Podcast "Untold Stories of Louis Farrakhan" hosted by DJButterrock Louis Farrakhan (born Louis Eugene Walcott, later Louis X; May 11, 1933) is an American religious leader who has been the head of the Nation of Islam (NOI) since 1981, an organization which combines black nationalism and Islamic teachings.[2][3][4] Prior to the NOI, Farrakhan was a calypso singer who used the stage name Calypso Gene from 1950 to 1955 and a violinist from 1939 to 1955. The longest-serving NOI leader, he also served as minister of several mosques in Boston and Harlem in the 1950s under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad. Farrakhan is most prominent for antisemitic statements and racist remarks directed at white people.
After the death of Elijah Muhammad, his son Warith Deen Mohammed reorganized the original NOI into the orthodox Sunni Islamic group American Society of Muslims. Farrakhan began to rebuild the NOI as "Final Call". In 1981, he officially adopted the name "Nation of Islam", reviving the group and establishing its headquarters at Mosque Maryam. In October 1995, Farrakhan organized and led the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. Due to health issues, he reduced his responsibilities with the NOI in 2007.[5] However, Farrakhan has continued to deliver sermons[6] and speak at NOI events.[7] In 2015, he led the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March: Justice or Else.
Farrakhan's antisemitic statements and views have been condemned by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL),[8][7] and other organizations.[9] Farrakhan has also been criticized for being homophobic and sexist.[10][11] He has denied assertions that he is antisemitic, racist, sexist, or anti-gay.[12][13][14][15] Farrakhan was banned from Facebook in 2019 along with other public figures Meta considered to be political or religious extremists,[16][17] and the official Nation of Islam YouTube channel was removed for "hate speech" in 2020.[18]
Early life and education
Farrakhan, who is Black,[19] was born Louis Eugene Walcott on May 11, 1933 in The Bronx, New York City.[1] He is the younger of two sons of Sarah Mae Manning (1900–1988) and Percival Clark, immigrants from the Anglo-Caribbean islands. His mother was born in Saint Kitts, while his father was Jamaican. The couple separated before their second son was born, and Walcott says he never knew his biological father.[20] Walcott was named after Louis Walcott, a man with whom his mother had a relationship after becoming separated from Percival Clark.[1] In a 1996 interview with Henry Louis Gates Jr., Walcott speculated that Percival Clark, "a light-skinned man with straight hair from Jamaica", may have been Jewish.[21][22]
After Walcott's stepfather died in 1936, the Walcott family moved to Boston, where they settled in the largely African-American neighborhood of Roxbury.[20]
Walcott received his first violin at the age of five. By the time he was 12 years old, he had been on tour with the Boston College Orchestra.[20][23] A year later, he participated in national competitions and won them. In 1946, he was one of the first black performers to appear on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour,[23] where he also won an award. Walcott and his family were active members of the Episcopal St. Cyprian's Church in Roxbury.[20]
Walcott attended the Boston Latin School, and later attended and graduated from the English High School.[24] He completed three years at Winston-Salem Teachers College, where he had a track scholarship.[23]
Khadijah and Louis Farrakhan, 1996
In 1953, Walcott married Betsy Ross (later known as Khadijah Farrakhan) while he was in college.[25] Due to complications from his new wife's first pregnancy, Walcott dropped out after completing his junior year of college to devote time to his wife and their child.[1][26]
After the death of Elijah Muhammad, his son Warith Deen Mohammed reorganized the original NOI into the orthodox Sunni Islamic group American Society of Muslims. Farrakhan began to rebuild the NOI as "Final Call". In 1981, he officially adopted the name "Nation of Islam", reviving the group and establishing its headquarters at Mosque Maryam. In October 1995, Farrakhan organized and led the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. Due to health issues, he reduced his responsibilities with the NOI in 2007.[5] However, Farrakhan has continued to deliver sermons[6] and speak at NOI events.[7] In 2015, he led the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March: Justice or Else.
Farrakhan's antisemitic statements and views have been condemned by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL),[8][7] and other organizations.[9] Farrakhan has also been criticized for being homophobic and sexist.[10][11] He has denied assertions that he is antisemitic, racist, sexist, or anti-gay.[12][13][14][15] Farrakhan was banned from Facebook in 2019 along with other public figures Meta considered to be political or religious extremists,[16][17] and the official Nation of Islam YouTube channel was removed for "hate speech" in 2020.[18]
Early life and education
Farrakhan, who is Black,[19] was born Louis Eugene Walcott on May 11, 1933 in The Bronx, New York City.[1] He is the younger of two sons of Sarah Mae Manning (1900–1988) and Percival Clark, immigrants from the Anglo-Caribbean islands. His mother was born in Saint Kitts, while his father was Jamaican. The couple separated before their second son was born, and Walcott says he never knew his biological father.[20] Walcott was named after Louis Walcott, a man with whom his mother had a relationship after becoming separated from Percival Clark.[1] In a 1996 interview with Henry Louis Gates Jr., Walcott speculated that Percival Clark, "a light-skinned man with straight hair from Jamaica", may have been Jewish.[21][22]
After Walcott's stepfather died in 1936, the Walcott family moved to Boston, where they settled in the largely African-American neighborhood of Roxbury.[20]
Walcott received his first violin at the age of five. By the time he was 12 years old, he had been on tour with the Boston College Orchestra.[20][23] A year later, he participated in national competitions and won them. In 1946, he was one of the first black performers to appear on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour,[23] where he also won an award. Walcott and his family were active members of the Episcopal St. Cyprian's Church in Roxbury.[20]
Walcott attended the Boston Latin School, and later attended and graduated from the English High School.[24] He completed three years at Winston-Salem Teachers College, where he had a track scholarship.[23]
Khadijah and Louis Farrakhan, 1996
In 1953, Walcott married Betsy Ross (later known as Khadijah Farrakhan) while he was in college.[25] Due to complications from his new wife's first pregnancy, Walcott dropped out after completing his junior year of college to devote time to his wife and their child.[1][26]
