Inside the Nation of Islam : A Historical and Personal Testimony by a Black Muslim

From the foreword: "Far and away the most personal and the most engrossing story I’ve read about Louis Farrakhan; and if the professor doesn’t solve the riddle of just who is Louis Farrakhan (and perhaps the Minister himself doesn’t know that for sure) he has given us a fascinating history of the nation, its various leaders, its accomplishments, its shortcomings, and—I’m afraid—a pessimistic look into its future."--Mike Wallace, CBS, 60 Minutes "The first truly ‘inside’ account of the present-day Nation of Islam from the perspective of one of its former ministers, a portrayal as fascinating as it is troubling. White’s gripping chronicle will invite renewed debate over the direction and prospects of Minister Farrakhan’s controversial leadership."--Ernest Allen, Jr., director, W.E.B. DuBois Department of Afro-American Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst This detailed study of the internal workings of the Nation of Islam under the leadership of Louis Farrakhan examines the evolution of the organization since 1977 and its strange ideological menu of Black Nationalism, political-economic development, anti-Semitism, and conservative Republican ideals. Vibert White maintains that Farrakhan’s Nation has become a cult that utilizes black nationalistic and religious dogma and its ability to create political and racial controversy to exploit poor and working-class black Americans for the leaders’ economic and political gain. At the heart of Inside the Nation is White’s chronicle of his own sojourn during the 1980s and 1990s as a registered Muslim--from his days as a foot soldier in the Fruit of Islam, the Nation’s military organization, through his rise to the status of minister and advisor to the leadership. Included are White’s dealings with such leaders as Louis Farrakhan, Akbar Muhammad, Khallid Muhammad, and Benjamin Chavis Muhammad and his involvement in such activities as the Million Man March. As one who traveled for the organization throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the United States, White was able to observe the leadership and the operation of the group at close hand. He reveals for the first time the detailed structure of NOI’s business and religious operation. He explores and separates the Nation of Islam, the religious arm that is incorporated only in Chicago, from the Final Call, its business center operated only by the Farrakhan family. As a professional historian, White was able to separate the passion of the group’s rhetoric from its real objectives, which centered on building a personal empire for Louis Farrakhan. Vibert L. White, Jr., is professor of African American Studies at the University of Illinois, Springfield. He has lectured extensively on the Nation of Islam and has published articles in the Journal of Caribbean Studies, Psychohistory Review, Journal of Illinois History, UCLA Black Law Journal, Chicago Defender , and Cincinnati Enquirer . From the "Far and away the most personal and the most engrossing story Ive read about Louis Farrakhan; and if the professor doesnt solve the riddle of just who is Louis Farrakhan (and perhaps the Minister himself doesnt know that for sure) he has given us a fascinating history of the nation, its various leaders, its accomplishments, its shortcomings, andIm afraida pessimistic look into its future."--Mike Wallace, CBS, 60 Minutes "The first truly inside account of the present-day Nation of Islam from the perspective of one of its former ministers, a portrayal as fascinating as it is troubling. Whites gripping chronicle will invite renewed debate over the direction and prospects of Minister Farrakhans controversial leadership."--Ernest Allen, Jr., director, W.E.B. DuBois Department of Afro-American Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst This detailed study of the internal workings of the Nation of Islam under the leadership of Louis Farrakhan examines the evolution of the organization since 1977 and its strange ideological menu of Black Nationalism, political-economic development, anti-Semitism, and conservative Republican ideals. Vibert White maintains that Farrakhans Nation has become a cult that utilizes black nationalistic and religious dogma and its ability to create political and racial controversy to exploit poor and working-class black Americans for the leaders economic and political gain. At the heart of Inside the Nation is Whites chronicle of his own sojourn during the 1980s and 1990s as a registered Muslim--from his days as a foot soldier in the Fruit of Islam, the Nations military organization, through his rise to the status of minister and advisor to the leadership. Included are Whites dealings with such leaders as Louis Farrakhan, Akbar Muhammad, Khallid Muhammad, and Benjamin Chavis Muhammad and his involvement in such activities as the Million Man March. As one who traveled for the organization throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the United States, White was able to observe the leadership and the operation of the group at close hand. He reveals for the first time the detailed structure of NOIs business and religious operation. He explores and separates the Nation of Islam, the religious arm that is incorporated only in Chicago, from the Final Call, its business center operated only by the Farrakhan family. As a professional historian, White was able to separate the passion of the groups rhetoric from its real objectives, which centered on building a personal empire for Louis Farrakhan. Vibert L. White, Jr., is professor of African American Studies at the University of Illinois, Springfield. He has lectured extensively on the Nation of Islam and has published articles in the Journal of Caribbean Studies, Psychohistory Review, Journal of Illinois History, UCLA Black Law Journal, Chicago Defender , and Cincinnati Enquirer . Contents......Page 10 Introduction......Page 11 1 Early American Islam The Building Blocks for the Nation of Islam......Page 13 2 Allah Meets His Messenger......Page 25 3 Malcolm Mentor, Rival, Enemy......Page 44 4 Personal Testimony......Page 52 5 Seventy-Ninth and Emerald......Page 71 6 Conflict, Religion, and the Ministry......Page 89 7 Farrakhan Speaks Conventions, Rallies, and Savior’s Day......Page 107 8 Cain and Abel Division in the Brotherhood......Page 153 9 The Story behind the Million Man March......Page 169 10 Farrakhan’s World Tours......Page 197 11 A New Nation The Millennium......Page 212 Epilogue Where Do We Go from Here?......Page 219 Notes......Page 233 Bibliography......Page 245 Index......Page 261 A personal, richly detailed study of the Nation of Islam under the leadership of Louis Farrakhan traces the development of the organization from 1977 to the present day, separating the group's rhetoric from its real objectives and condemning its exploitation of poor and working-class African Americans.