Black Muslim Leader Plans Tour to ‘Counter’ Farrakhan

Black Muslim leader Wallace Deen Muhammad, denouncing rival leader Louis Farrakhan, says he plans a nationwide speaking tour to try to counter Farrakhan’s “rhetoric of hate,” according to a published report.

Farrakhan is a “frightening man” whose racist comments have divided the black community and led to public misunderstanding of Black Muslims, Muhammad told the Washington Times in an interview published in today’s editions.

“His words are wrong. His philosophy is wrong. His position is wrong, and his strategy is wrong,” said Muhammad, the son of Nation of Islam founder Elijah Muhammad.

Farrakhan’s anti-Semitic remarks were widely reported during the last presidential campaign, in which he supported Jesse Jackson’s unsuccessful bid for the Democratic nomination.

Muhammad, 51, describes himself as the spiritual leader of about 100,000 Black Muslims in America.

He said he will begin a nationwide speaking tour next summer, aimed at countering a recent 10-month, 14-city tour by Farrakhan. Farrakhan’s speeches focused on black self-help, but included anti-white and anti-Jewish remarks as well.

“I feel a desperation inside of me to set the record straight,” Muhammad said. “We Muslims have a sense of moral responsibility and commitment. We are not radicals. We are not against any religious group. We are not against any race. And that should be our message.”