Prophet Of Rage: A Life Of Louis Farrakhan And His Nation (Paperback)

~ Arthur Magida (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Promoted as the "first ever biography of Louis Farrakhan",; Arthur Magida traces the life of one of America's most mysterious yet influential leaders. Magida, editorial director of Jewish Lights Publishing, presents a fine portrait of Farrakhan's childhood days in Boston. Born in 1933 as Louis Eugene Walcott, the boy excelled in many areas. A musician and a singer, a track star and excellent student, he attended a school for gifted children and was a camp counselor in the summer. Magida also provides insights into Farrakhan's four decades in the Nation of Islam and chronicles Farrakhan's more recent political skirmishes, including those with Jewish organizations. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Magida, editorial director of Jewish Lights, has interviewed Louis Farrakhan often enough to have grounds to argue that the controversial Nation of Islam leader treats individual Jews with respect. But as he shows in this fair-minded study?more about the NOI than about Farrakhan himself?it is Farrakhan's public statements that matter. Magida first sketches Louis Gene Walcott's youth in Boston's Roxbury and his drifting into black nationalism and the Nation of Islam. He then delves into what he sees as the NOI's self-fabricated religion, arguing that its much-praised discipline was enforced by the paramilitary Fruit of Islam's strong-arm tactics. Magida contends that Farrakhan has glossed over, rather than repudiated, the incendiary language that pointed to Malcolm X's death. When the NOI in 1976 was folded into orthodox Islam, Farrakhan resurrected its nationalist role. While Magida describes the mythologies behind Farrakhan's religion, he stints on analyzing its business efforts and its prominence on American college campuses, and he does not capture the drama of Farrakhan's public appearances. Still, he solidly deconstructs Farrakhan's headline-grabbing rhetoric about Jews and even hints that the initial Jewish "defensive reflex" hindered rapprochement. It is black America's grievances that Farrakhan draws on, and his organizing of the Million Man March gave him new, if still tenuous, stature, the author shows. Magida concludes that Farrakhan's subsequent trip to embrace Middle Eastern dictators squandered much of his momentum. Author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (May 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 046506437X
• ISBN-13: 978-0465064373
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,604,771 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very slanted and biased presentation, June 9, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Prophet Of Rage: A Life Of Louis Farrakhan And His Nation (Hardcover)

Louis Farrakhan -- one of the most controversial people to emerge in recent American history -- demands the full attention of all people. The simple fact that such an individual commands our respect and attention further emphasizes the need for a complete study of him to be made accessible to all. Unfortunately "Prophet of Rage" by Arthur J. Magida does not fulfill this necessity.

Mr. Magida attempts to do too much in his journalistic -- not scholarly -- endeavor. Fully one-third of the book is dedicated not to Farrakhan, but rather to his predecessor the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. In this context, Magida's information gives nothing more than a cursory overview. Alas, with the recent (and outstanding) work "An Original Man" by Claude Andrew Clegg III available to give a full picture of this man, Magida's effort could have been ommitted. Another area that Magida should have only made a cursory reference to was the much-publicized rantings of Khallid Muhammad. Instead, the author dedicates a full chapter to a small, albeit noisy, facet of the Nation's recent history. Although these two incidents do contribute to the general history of Minister Farrakhan, Magida's emphasis does not meld easily into giving the reader an understanding of Farrakhan (afterall, the work is presented as a biography) beyond the newspaper headlines we all had easy access to.

Magida's slant and bias show through in a way that, although quite expectable, gives his entire work no credence. The author resorts to defending his religion where it has not been attacked (remember, this is HIS work). He displays a need to offer unwarranted explanations that sway away from the focus of the book -- Farrakhan. Had Magida desired to write a book on Black-Jewish relations, his opinions would have been valid. However, his apologetic style -- sometimes bordering on persecution -- leads the reader on an unwanted parallel. (Note: I do not wish to cite examples. However, please read the discourse on slavery towards the end of the book).

All said, Magida has not given us a deeper undertanding of Farrakhan than anyone even remotely familiar with the man previously possessed. Unfortunately, the presentation he gives to the complete novice is not only slanted, it is also quite unfair. M J Hales

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Louis Farrakhan, August 10, 2000

By	Darryl Boyd (USA San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

Prophet Of Rage by Arthur J. Magida, Julian Bond presents as rare and exclusive into the life and leadership of Louis Farrakhan. Louis Muhammed Farrakhan, was born in New York, to a West Indian mother. His birth name was Louis Euegene Walcott. As a child and an young man he was a track star, musician, and college student in North Carolina.

Arthur J. magida, and Julian Bond tells the readers how Farrakhan went from being "The Charmer" to being the National represenative of Elijah Muhammed's Nation Of Islam. After the bitter split between Malcolm X and Mr. Muhammed, Louis Farrakhan became Elijah's biggest supporter. Farrakhan charged with being a hypocrite. He is noted for saying in his speeches that Malcolm X was "A triator worthy of death, and would have meet his death if it was not for the Honorable Elijah Muhammed".

From Malcolm death (Febuary 21, 1965) and before the death of Elijah Muhammed in 1975, Farrakhan became the National represenative of the NOI. Mr. Muhammed praised Farrakhan for his faithfulness, and appointed him as the New York Minister. Louis Farrakhan in a sense was the "new Malcolm", and there is no doubt the he patterned his talking style to his former mentor.

The death of Elijah Muhammed lead Farrakhan to evaluate his direction and purpose, then build a new nation based on the teachings of Elijah Muhammed. On Febuary 26, 1975 the Nation of Islam celebrated it's Savior's Day Celebration. "Master" Farad Muhammed birthday ( Febuary 26) is celebrated as Saviors Day. On Savior's Day 1975, the Nation of Islam announced Wallace D. Muhammed as it's new leader. Farrakhan vowed his loyality to the new Leader. Inspite of his plague of devotion to Wallace, the new leader made far to many changes for Farrakhan to handle. Wallace Muhammed had rapidly moved the Nation of Islam to Orthodox Islam. Wallace also denounced his father, and refuse to reconize Farad as "G-d in person". Wallace also destroyed the Nations race based policy. He changed the organizations name twice first it was the "World Community of Al-Islam in the West", and the "American Muslim Mission". It is clear that Wallace's decision proved to be heavy for Farrakhan. Farrakhan left Wallace's leadership to seek his own platform.

Louis Farrakhan with fellow Muslims who also left Wallace Muhammed, built the "Nation of Islam". The Nation of Islam, headed by Farrakhan was based on the old mystical teaching of Elijah Muhammed. Farrakhan brought back the Fruit of Islam army, the Muslim girls trianing, dress code, and everything that was first created by his Mr. Muhammed.

The wild, crasy, and unorthodox speeches and positions of Louis Farrakhan made him the controversal leader that he is today. In the late 1980's Farrakhan began to attack the Jewish community. He charged them as the "Most powerful people in the World". He has even denounced fellow black leaders as cowards, who are always bowing down the the white man. He has also called himself the "only freed Black man in America". He is also one of the most complex, and has proven to be the most complex.

The arthurs have done an excellent job in there presenation of Louis Farrakhan. It should be required reading for anyone who wants to understand him, and the Nation of Islam.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars THE HATE THAT HATE PRODUCED!, February 27, 2006

By	andre insan-muhammad "Marcus Garvey Home Scho... (AKEBULAN!) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Arthur J. Magida's presentation of Louis Farrakhan does provide an over-lapping glimpse into the formation and attraction of the Nation of Islam to the reader. For all of the attacks against the NOI as a so-called hate group, deliberate dis-information put out to the public, particularly the jewish public, the Nation of Islam has emerged as the principal converter to Islam and voice for BLACK people in america!
It would be wise to first read the Original Man by Claude Clegg III in establishing a basic understanding for the NOI and its attraction to and for BLACK people. Claude Clegg's book would also provide the reader with insight as to why the government of america and its so-called law enforcement agencies began to harass in 1930, and today, the Nation Of Islam. Many outside of the NOI refuse to deal with the actual facts of the crimes perpetuated against BLACK people that Elijah Muhammad posited for 44-years, and the necessity of BLACK people to separate themselves from their 6,000 year old open enemy who has murdered, maimed, tortured, lied on, and destroyed the reputations of BLACK people for simply wanting freedom, justice and equality.
Another book to read before this one is The Secret Relationship Between BLACKS and Jews. This book, while having been denonced by certain zionist groups, has been researched from actual jewish archives, letters, commerce information and jewish scholars.
Finally, as to Louis Farrakhan's alleged remark that judaism is a gutter religion, he did not say that. His actual quote was, "to practice judaism, which is following the doctrine of the law of moses the lawgiver in the old testament of the bible, according to orthodox jews is the true judaism. To exploit people, particularly BLACK people, feeding on them and taking money out of the BLACK community charging exorbitant prices for cheaply made goods and services, is someone that is practicing a gutter religion by using BLACK people to enrich the jewish community." Let us deal with truth and not lies put out by the ADL and Daniel Pipes! Go purchase the tape of the lecture that Louis Farrakhan allegedly made those statements to corroborate the authenticity of what he said instead of spectulation!
Arthur Magida's book is good for what it's worth.