Posted on 10/15/2008 10:46:06 PM PDT by iowamark
CHICAGO (NNPA) - As the message of “change” resonates throughout America, the African-American Muslim community may be in line for a change of its own.
That's when the Nation of Islam (NOI) will reportedly extend its membership to Whites, Hispanics, Asians and other ethnic groups under the leadership of Minister Louis Farrakhan. The announcement is set to take place Sunday, October 19th when the NOI leader hosts a special dedication service at his South Side worship center.
The move comes six weeks after the Sept. 9 death of Imam Warith Deen Mohammad, who denounced the teachings of his famous father, Elijah Muhammad, when he took over the helm of the organization in 1975. The reforms, which included renaming it the World Community of Al Islam in the West (and later American Muslim Mission), relaxing its dress code, removing its paramilitary infrastructure and renouncing Whites as “blue-eyed devils,” were replaced with efforts to move the faith toward orthodox Islam. The measures angered some converts of the man they called “The Messenger,” and according to a 1996 NOI press release “disoriented many of the followers and lead to the Nation’s financial ruin.”
In 1977, Farrakhan - the former national spokesman for Muhammad - reestablished the traditional NOI and begin reuniting disillushioned members. His passionate rhetoric of Black self-help and resistance to White supremacy enamored him in the eyes of many African-Americans, including many who were not members of his group.
The Muslim leader’s rebuilding efforts flew under the radar of those who would become his staunchest critics – Jews and the American government —until he drew national media attention for comments made in reference to attacks against Rev. Jesse Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign.
Ironically, 20 years later, the corporate media took complementary remarks Farrakhan made about Illinois Senator Barack Obama at his international Savior’s Day in what some viewed as an effort by the media to sabotage the Democrat’s historic presidential run by linking him to the controversial Muslim.
Today, the man once known as “The Charmer,” will not talk about the race for the White House for fear his words will be distorted and used by Sen. John McCain as a disruptor. Using guarded language, he would only talk about his plans to expand the NOI’s vision, the loss of Mohammad and the legacy of his mentor. He did not indicate he would implement any other reforms or details about plans about wooing non-Blacks to his faith community.
When asked why make the announcement now, the leader responded: “Everything is done in the right time,” Farrakhan told reporters from the conference room in his South Side home. “This is the right time. It represents a new beginning.”
The Muslim orator, wearing White garments and looking the picture of health, made known his intentions to a small group of Black reporters inside the lavish confines of his sprawling estate on the city’s South Side. Located a block away from the Obama’s Hyde Park mansion, Farrakhan’s estate resembles a palace with its winding driveway, majestic fountain and expert landscaping including hedges sculpted to resemble gigantic, green marshmallows.
The exterior’s burnished, golden color was accented by the multi-hued leaves falling to the grounds as Hispanic workers painted a stone carving in the front yard.
“We have invited a broad-cross section of people to this rededication ceremony,” Farrakhan explained. “We expect a diverse representation from all three branches of the Abrahamic Faith (Judaism, Christianity, Islam). I hope people will see the growth of the Nation not as abandonment but as moving us toward our place as truly universal people.”
The organizer of the historic Million Man March, which drew nearly two million Black men to the nation’s capitol, also expressed deep-rooted sadness as the death of Mohammad, who once took great lengths to distance himself from Farrakhan. However, in 2000, marking the 70th anniversary of the NOI’s founding, the two held a public reconciliation.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a former NOI member told this reporter, “We don’t know what anyone’s intentions and what the true impact will be on the masses, if any. If this happens then what the Minister is doing is exactly with the Imam attempted in ’75,” he said referring to Mohammad, who drew tens of thousands of people to his funeral.
“I think the Imam worked hard to reverse the image of the Black Muslim in America. With what’s going on with Obama, and how he’s changing the face of how we look at race, it’s probably the right move –politically and otherwise.”
In addition to unveiling his plans to open the doors of the NOI to all faiths, Farrakhan is expected to highlight renovations to its flagship mosque on Stony Island Ave. In February 1988, the mosque was rededicated and reestablished as the National Center of the Nation of Islam and renamed Mosque Maryam in honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Øbama lives in a very radical neighborhood, literally.
They smell $$$money with an Obama victory! $$$Free money!$$$
God Save The Republic!
What a BBQ...Jesse Jackson, Bill Ayers, Farrakkan, Obama and Rev. Wright...all preaching the Marxist dreams of equality from million dollar mansions...
Sounds like Beverly Hills to me...
Funny, NRA membership has moved in lockstep porportion with the rise of the Nation of Islam.
Must be those black members haven't been bringing in the money lately.
How wonderful. They aren’t racist anymore. Terrific, now I really want to join! /sarc
“As the message of ‘change’ resonates throughout America”
Oh yes, it’s on everyone’s at lips. At the grocery store, at the ATM, at the gym, work, school, and around my family, all I hear is “change, change, change.” Amen.
The 19th? Wasn’t Calypso Louie’s million mug march speech riddled with sinister references to the number 19?
I meant, “Oh yes, it’s on everyone’s lips.”
Louie believes a UFO carrying 1500 bombers is coming and each one carries 3 bombs. Why is Louie still walking the streets?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTBiWxN4BlM&feature=related
I thought black-face was supposed to be offensive?!?
Same here!
Spare change, Mister?
$17.50 out of $20; that's $2.50 change sir; have a nice day, and hope you enjoyed shopping with us today!
Your locker is over there; change and hit the track for laps!
Rewrite this contract; I hope this is the last change we need to make in it!
Tell me again WHY you want to change your major to Queer Studies?!?
"Honey, you need to change the cat box more often. I can't do everything around this place!"
“Tell me again WHY you want to change your major to Queer Studies?!?”
Because I don’t want to do any actual work.
Seems to me it might make it more difficult to know who one’s “enemy” might be. Smart move on his part.
LOL!
“Because, instead of being a boy, I want to become a male lesbian, and meet girls!”
I heard about this last night. I assume it’s because he believes Islam is coming to power in America and he wants his share of it.
Nation of Islam is like a sect of Islam I think. By dropping its racist practices, Nation of Islam can perhaps be seen as mainline Islam.
Recently, I read about a rabbi that was urging aliyah because he fears what is coming in this country. If he’s right, then Christians that will not submit should be concerned as well.
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