Customer Reviews

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

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In 1995 Loius Farrakan was big news with his Million Man March, which he promised would bring black power to politics. Within a year his organization, The Nation of Islam, became a focus of controversy when one of his ministers said that Jews were responsible for the holocaust. Then Malcom X's daughter blamed Farrakan for his assassination, something he denied, but sort of apologized for on 60 Minutes.

This is the first good book on the "black muslims" since Louis Lomax wrote his aacout of Elijah Muhammad and Malcom X in the 1960's and is the only book written by someone who was a member of the NOI - except Malcom X's book - which is a classic.

White gives a penetrating acount into the NOI. To me his potrayal makes the organization look like a cult around Farrakan. Everything in it is geared to promoting his public image and money is raised to maintain that. Much of what the NOI does is just show. The Million Man March, accomplished nothing, except to raise Farrakan money. Farrakan talks - but really does few concrete initiatives. His trips to the Middle East with "world leaders" is an example of this - all show, but no real substance. Just acting to give the appearance of being more important than he really is and to keep his followers excited about what he might do or say next.

This is why Farrakan has a tendency to say something insulting - or anti-semitic from time to time - it gets him news coverage, attention, and makes him look like an important and contervsial figure. It gets him members, which is the bottom line.

One thing that surpised me in this book is the shabby financial condition that the NOI is in. I would guess that one day it will eventually go bankrupt - probably after Farrakan retires or passes away from the scene. I've never seen a detailed account of the NOI business structure and finances - but here it is in this book.

Although, White gives plenty of ammo for critics of the NOI I saw his book as a sensitive treatment of them. Adding some of his own story to the book is helpeful to show how/why someone would join the organization. Although some of the leaders may be rotten, many of the members are looking to improve their lives and make the world a better place, even if they have been misled.

This is an important book for people who want to understand the legacy of the nationalist strain in black America. From Marcus Garvey to Elijah Muhummad to the Black Panthers to Louis Farrakan there will always be a strain of black leaders of the nationalist bent. This book is one of the best sources for understanding this in contemporary times - and in the past 20 years.

Dr. White writes an interesting expose on the current political and financial status of the Nation of Islam. However, he fails to make his argument on why Black Muslims should follow orthodox Islam and not the NOI's teachings. He does a good job of showing Farrakhan's supporters how the Minister may not be staying true to the teachings of Elijah Muhammad, but fails to throw any meaningful criticism at the teachings themselves. Yet this doesn't stop Dr. White from waiting until the end of his book to suggest to Muslims that they follow Orthodox Islam. A religion is not a horse race who's credibility is determined by the number of followers who `bet' on it. So his argument that Black Muslims in America should practice and follow Orthodox Islam because this is what millions of other Muslims around the world are doing is not convincing. Orthodox Islam is filled with a lot of Arab culture and is therefore better suited for Arabs (I'm sure many Sunni Muslims disagree). But Black Muslims, and African Americans in general, still need a program that teaches them how to become spiritually, economically, politically, and socially empowered. Elijah Muhammad's program teaches this. Whether or not Farrakhan and today's NOI is teaching it remains to be seen and White's book does a good job showing this.

For the record, saying that `there is no God but Allah and Muhammad (PBUH) is his Messenger' (the Shahada) in one breath, and saying `Allah appeared in the person of Master Fard Muhammad and Elijah is his Messenger' in another breath is NOT a contradiction. White should know this. With true enlightenment, Allah appears in all of us. He (Allah) can have more than one Messenger (not to be confused with `Prophet'). Anyone who speaks the word of God is a Messenger as he is bringing God's message to the people. Hence, there is no contradiction in Farrakhan disseminating Elijah's teachings while taking his Shahada.

His excerpts and interpretation of Farrakhan's statements and speeches could have easily been copied from the New York Times who has always been biased against Min. Farrakhan and the NOI. I strongly suggest that if one wishes to learn more about Farrakhan's thoughts on certain issues, they listen to the speeches themselves and NOT get their interpretation from Dr. White's book.

White's poor editing also served as an intellectual turnoff. Earlier in the book, he talks about Khallid Muhammad's death while later envisioning him as a great leader in the future as if the man is still alive(???). In the same earlier chapter he mentions that Khallid received his doctorate from Xavier University (page 93) then turns around later (page 119) and questions his `Doctor' title by noting how the alleged university that Khalid received his doctorate from, Dillard University, has no record of Khallid ever receiving his Doctorate )???).

Nonetheless, White's book is useful information for the individual who considers joining or supporting the NOI without first questioning the organization's political and financial motives and practices.

I've Read this book and to be honest the author did state that in his writing, "these are my own personal views"; in which are alot of assumptions. We must remember that, "even though the teachings are perfect human beings are not, this is why we strive to be perfect". I have to say that this is good reading for those whom are considering joining the Nation of Islam in order that you may know that the Nation of Islam is not a perfect utopia but is striving to be.

If the author is correct then things in the NOI are not what they appear to be. Mr. White portrays th NOI as not so much a religion but a cult. His description of the FOI ( the military/security branch of the NOI) is particularly chilling.

After spending over a decade in the Nation of Islam, I found Mr. White's experiences to be true, unbiased and very factual.

What he has shared with the entire world has been the usual day to day operations of the NOI. The group is inclined to Black Nationalism and preaches a Christian mixed with Muslim mixed with Masonry mixed with Mysticism doctrine. Although the NOI has established a track record of turning around some of society's worst individuals, they ability to keep these individuals in the organization is an ongoing problem because of the verbal abuse, misuse of one's time, energy and resources. Simply put, people get tired of being used.

Mr. White give an excellent accounting of NOI business practices and its financial chaos and ruin. The average member in the NOI does not know of the financial mishaps and moreso, the ones that are responsible for such bad financial descision making.

This is an excellent read for anyone who wants to join the NOI or who is seriously considering.

I only wish this book was in print before I wasted many years inside that organization.

Bravo Mr. White.

I certainly have to say that this is an intriging and interesting book, but Dr. White has left some concerns that we as readers need to be careful of. For example, eventhough Dr. White has an upper hand of what goes on in both the general membership and the hierchy of the Nation of Islam, many of his views, beliefs and descriptions in the book have been flawed with anger and emotion. Due to this fact, he's doing nothing more than to continue to give Minister Farrakhan and other members and officials in the Nation injustice, eventhough some of the things that he said may have been true. When I saw that his book was forwarded by 60 Minutes host Mike Wallace, I knew that Dr. White's book on Minister Farrakhan and the Nation is biased because Mr. Wallace has been known for his bashing of the original Nation of Islam under the leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad when he and African-American Journalist, Louis Lomax made a show in 1959 called "The Hate That Hate Produced." Even some parts of both World Islamic History and Nation of Islam history are inaccurate. For example, Dr. White mentioned that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came from the tribe of Shabazz. This is false. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) came from a prominent Arab tribe called the Qur'aish. The tribe of Shabazz was a name given by both Nation of Islam founder from the East, Master W.F. Muhammad and his successor, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad referring to African-Americans. Another thing that Dr. White didn't make clear was that he didn't specify that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad's son, Imam Wallace D. Mohammed became the leader of the Nation of Islam in 1975 after his Father's death. Furthermore, Imam Mohammed continued to lead the Nation of Islam until his resignation from his leadership in August of 2003. During his leadership, Imam led his followers to practice Islam based on the Holy Qur'an and the model character of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Nation of Islam that Farrakhan leads was a new group that he formed in 1977. Farrakhan was a Minister and Imam (Muslim Minister) under Imam Mohammed for two and a half years, until he became dissatisfied with the changes that Imam Mohammed made when he became the leader. The original teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, which Minister Farrakhan's teachings are based on, dealt mainly with knowledge of self, some Muslim concepts and unIslamic beliefs such as the belief that Nation of Islam's founder, Master Fard Muhammad, is G'd. As Muslims we worship the Creator, not creation.

Overall, this is not a bad account, the only minor complaints are some inconsistencies (one section deals with Khallid Muhammad;s death and later in the book, White speculates on Khallid as a future NOI leader) and some historical errors here and there. That aside, White's description of the NOI (an organization which, as a believer in the brotherhood of humanity, I personally have little regard for), makes it clear that little has changed in this organization since Malcolm X (wisely) left it in the 1960s in regards to it's exploitation of angry, confused, and disfranchised Blacks. Some better editing would improve the book, but it's core lesson should be heeded to potential converts to groups like the NOI-"Those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Only Mr. White knows the validity of his personal experiences inside the Nation of Islam. However, anytime I am troubled by something Minister Farrakhan allegedly said, I attempt to obtain the video of the actual speech. Copies of most speeches are available via the internet. Time and time again, the Minister has proven he is not the vicious racist the media claims him to be.

Mr. White's book is full of the same half truths, one sided accounts, and statements taken out of context, which have been attributed to Minister Farrakhan for over 20 years.

If you want to know what Mr. White claims Farrakhan said , buy this book. If you want to know what Farrakhan said, visit the Nation of Islam's website.