Kelly, B. & Jaffe, H. (1990, January). The Farrakhan fiasco. Regardie’s Magazine, p. 46.

OVERVIEW

Not realizing the disturbance it would cause, a Washington, D.C. council member proposed to honor the Nation of Islam with a ceremonial resolution. The dilemma over the passing of the resolution is summed by council member Jim Nathanson, a Jew:

If I vote no, I’m a hero in my own community. But then the blacks would perceive it as the white community refusing to let them honor people who’ve done some good things. I’m very aware that parts of this town are under siege and that the Muslims have made an improvement.

When Harry Thomas made the proposal, he did not weigh it on a political level. His main concern was saving his community from a crack epidemic tearing it apart. Thomas was quoted as saying, "I’d honor the Devil himself if he’d help get rid of drugs."

The proposal was passed, and the decision was front-page news in The Washington Post. The situation ignited great hostility between blacks and Jews. One line of the resolution was especially controversial:

Minister Louis Farrakhan has inspired courageous, committed, and dedicated men and women to address truthfully the evils that plague our communities through economic and spiritual leadership.

The article explains that, in the past, blacks and Jews were allies because they had both experienced endless suffering. The relationship began to unravel in the late 1960s, a result of numerous riots in which hundreds of Jewish merchants lost their stores. South African and Palestinian situations have only aggravated the relationship:

The point is made that "some Jews refuse to concede that Farrakhan’s hateful words can be separated from the Nation of Islam’s positive deeds." But many blacks, while applauding Farrakhan’s results, still reject his negative remarks. Still, as one Jewish speaker is quoted, "There isn’t such a thing as being partially pregnant, and that’s how we see Farrakhan."

The authors of the article do not view the Nation of Islam as a "major force":

But the true significance of the Farrakhan episode isn’t the Nation of Islam’s power or potential power but the desperation of the city’s black community that it reflects.

The authors also believe that the dilemma over the resolution may have positive results:

At its root, the black community’s support of Farrakhan is a scream of rage. The fact that it’s directed at Jews makes it all the more powerful, and the situation all the more troubling, because blacks and Jews here have had a kinship for years. The harmony can only be restored if the Farrakhan resolution provides and opportunity for dialogue.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

1. How powerful a force is the Nation of Islam? Should others fear their racial views in which the white person is evil? Is it merely rhetoric?
2. If the majority of those responding to Farrakhan do not follow all of his theological or racist views, is there still a danger in the negative aspects of what he preaches? Explain.
3. The article weighs the power of the Nation of Islam’s rhetoric. Council member Nathanson states:

Jews understand that at first Hitler didn’t hurt anyone, but his rhetoric laid the basis. This kind of rhetoric can lead to only one thing: some kind of harm. These spasms of hate lead to a physical response.

IMPLICATIONS

1. If youth workers work with members of the Nation of Islam in any capacity, they need to understand each other. Both must share the best of both faiths and exhibit a real desire to care for one another. The controversial beliefs of the Nation of Islam must be addressed. If followers truly believe that the whites (and others) are evil, then how can there be trust? If we can give them a positive example of someone who is willing to be their friend, then perhaps trust can develop.
2. The article ends, "But racial hostility won’t stay where it is. It’s a cancer, and unless people come together, it will spread." The Nation of Islam expresses the anger of people who have been and are victims. They are crying out, and they must be heard. The only way to stop the anger from exploding is to address what lies behind it. People must join together.

Paul Paris cCYS