Farrakhan Condemns--or Does He?

At long last, Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan has disciplined an aide who made vicious remarks about Jews, Catholics, gays and others in a November speech at a New Jersey college.

Farrakhan suspended the speaker, Khalid Abdul Mohammad, from important posts in the Nation of Islam “until he demonstrates that he is willing to conform to the manner of representing Allah and the honorable Elijah Muhammad,” the late founder of the black religion.

Taking this overdue action was a significant step for Farrakhan. Still, what took him so long? And why the qualifications?

Farrakhan initially refused to condemn the speech. The Muslim minister, who himself has been an unrepentant hatemonger at times, was put off by the denunciations from the Anti-Defamation League and other groups. But as Khalid Abdul Mohammad’s bigoted and false remarks were publicized, a number of prominent black leaders issued rebukes; amongthem were U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun (D-Ill.), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), who heads the Congressional Black Caucus, William Gray of the United Negro College Fund, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., NAACP executive director.

Amid the growing firestorm, Farrakhan finally spoke: “I found the speech after listening to it in context to be in a manner repugnant, malicious, mean-spirited and spoken in mockery of individuals and people, which is against the spirit of Islam.” However, he undercut his point by also saying, “While I stand by the truth that he spoke I must condemn in the strongest terms the manner in which those truths were represented.” Huh? What truth?

Farrakhan can’t have it both ways. This controversy raises questions about what he is up to. How sincere is he?

What’s sad is the huge waste of energy. Solving the serious problems that beset many urban black areas would be easier with Farrakhan’s help, because the Nation of Islam performs much useful community work and has a following. But until Farrakhan and his aides stop spreading hatred, it will be impossible for many people to see this.