Louis Farrakhan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Minister Louis Farrakhan
Farrakhan in 2018
Leader of the Nation of Islam
Incumbent
Assumed office 1981
Preceded by	Warith Deen Muhammad
Personal details
Born	Louis Eugene Walcott (1933-05-11) May 11, 1933 (age 92) New York City, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Khadijah Farrakhan ​ (m. 1953)​
Children	9 (1 deceased)
Education	Winston-Salem State University
Occupation	Leader of the Nation of Islam Former calypso music singer

Louis Farrakhan (born Louis Eugene Walcott; May 11, 1933) is an American religious leader. He leads the Nation of Islam (NOI). This group focuses on black nationalism. Farrakhan is well-known for leading the 1995 Million Man March in Washington, D.C.

Before joining the NOI, Farrakhan was a calypso singer. He used the stage name Calypso Gene. Early in his career, he served as a minister in mosques in Boston and Harlem. The NOI leader, Elijah Muhammad, made him the National Representative of the Nation of Islam. He changed his name to Louis X before becoming Louis Farrakhan.

After Warith Deen Mohammed changed the original NOI, Farrakhan started to rebuild the group. He called it "Final Call" at first. In 1981, he officially brought back the name "Nation of Islam." He set up its main office at Mosque Maryam. In October 1995, Farrakhan organized the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. He led this large event. Due to health issues, he took on fewer duties with the NOI in 2007. However, Farrakhan still gives speeches and attends NOI events. In 2015, he led the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March: Justice or Else.

In 2019, Facebook banned Farrakhan. This happened along with other public figures who were seen as extremists.

About Louis Farrakhan

Early Life and Education

Louis Farrakhan was born Louis Eugene Walcott on May 11, 1933. He was born in The Bronx, New York City. His parents, Sarah Mae Manning and Percival Clark, came from the Anglo-Caribbean islands. His mother was from Saint Kitts, and his father was Jamaican. They separated before Louis was born. He never knew his biological father.

After his stepfather died in 1936, Louis's family moved to Boston. They settled in Roxbury, a neighborhood with many African-Americans.

Louis started playing the violin at age five. By 12, he toured with the Boston College Orchestra. A year later, he won national music competitions. In 1946, he was one of the first black performers on the Original Amateur Hour TV show. He also won an award there. Louis and his family were active members of the Episcopal St. Cyprian's Church in Roxbury.

Louis went to Boston Latin School. He later graduated from the English High School. He studied for three years at Winston-Salem Teachers College. He had a scholarship for track and field there.

Khadijah and Louis Farrakhan, 1996

In 1953, Louis Walcott married Betsy Ross. She later became known as Khadijah Farrakhan. He was still in college at the time. He left college after his third year to care for his wife and their first child.

Music Career

In the 1950s, Louis Walcott started his music career. He was a singer known as "The Charmer." He got this name while on tour in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. At this time, he earned $500 a week. He toured the northeastern and midwestern United States. Sometimes, he also used the name "Calypso Gene."

In 1953–1954, he recorded many funny songs. These were in a mix of mento and calypso styles. Some songs were "Ugly Woman" and "Stone Cold Man." He also sang calypso favorites like "Zombie Jamboree" and "Brown Skin Girl." This was before Harry Belafonte became famous with his Calypso album.

When Farrakhan joined the NOI, Elijah Muhammad asked him to stop his music career. Many years later, Farrakhan decided to play the violin again. This was mainly because of Sylvia Olden Lee, a famous classical musician.

On April 17, 1993, Farrakhan returned to the concert stage. He performed the Violin Concerto in E Minor by Felix Mendelssohn. Farrakhan said playing a piece by a Jewish composer was meant to help heal differences with the Jewish community. A music critic from The New York Times said Farrakhan's playing showed he was a true musician.

In 2021, Farrakhan performed Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 61. He played with the New World Symphony. This was to celebrate Beethoven's 250th birthday.

Leading the Nation of Islam

In February 1955, Walcott was performing in Chicago, Illinois. His show was called Calypso Follies. There, he first learned about the Nation of Islam (NOI). A friend invited him and his wife to the NOI's annual Saviours' Day event. This event featured a speech by Elijah Muhammad.

In 1955, Walcott became an official member of the NOI. He learned and recited 10 questions and answers. He then wrote a special letter to the NOI's headquarters in Chicago. After his letter was approved in July 1955, Walcott received his "X." This "X" showed that his original African family name was lost. It also meant that European last names were seen as slave names. NOI members used "X" while waiting for their Islamic names.

So, Louis Walcott became Louis X. Later, Elijah Muhammad gave him the name Farrakhan. This name comes from an Arabic word meaning "The Criterion." In 1960, Louis X recorded two songs. They criticized racism. The summer after Farrakhan joined, Elijah Muhammad said all musicians in the NOI had to choose between music and the Nation of Islam.

Early Roles in the NOI

After nine months in the NOI, Farrakhan became an assistant minister. He worked at Muhammad's Temple of Islam in Boston. Malcolm X was the minister there. Farrakhan later became the main minister after Malcolm X moved to Harlem.

After Malcolm X's death in 1965, Elijah Muhammad gave Farrakhan two important roles. These roles were previously held by Malcolm X. Farrakhan became the national spokesman for the NOI. He also became the minister of the important Harlem Mosque. He served there until 1975.

Warith Deen Mohammed, Elijah Muhammad's son, became the new leader of the Nation of Islam in February 1975. He made big changes to the group. He moved most members closer to traditional Islam. He renamed the group the "American Society of Muslims." He also welcomed white people as equals.

Farrakhan joined Mohammed's movement. He served as a Sunni Imam under him for three and a half years. In 1978, Farrakhan left Mohammed's movement. He disagreed with the idea of working with white people to solve problems for black people.

In 1979, Farrakhan's group started a weekly newspaper. It was called The Final Call. It was meant to be like the original Muhammad Speaks newspaper.

The Million Man March

In October 1995, Farrakhan organized a large gathering in Washington, D.C. It was called the Million Man March. He and his supporters hoped for one million men to attend. The National Park Service estimated about 440,000 people were there.

Farrakhan and other speakers asked black men to renew their promises to their families and communities. Farrakhan spoke for two and a half hours. He quoted from spirituals and the Bible. He called himself a prophet sent by God. Many civil rights and religious groups helped organize the event. Men and their sons came from all over the United States.

Many other famous African Americans spoke. These included Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, and Jesse Jackson. In 2005, Farrakhan held a second gathering. It was called the Millions More Movement. This marked the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March.

Succession

It is not known who will lead the Nation of Islam after Farrakhan. Ishmael Muhammad is thought to be a possible future leader.

Personal Life

Family

Farrakhan has been married to Khadijah Farrakhan since 1953. They have nine children. He is also the grandfather of basketball player Mustapha Farrakhan Jr. Farrakhan's oldest son, Louis Farrakhan Jr., passed away on June 2, 2018.

Health

Farrakhan announced he was seriously ill in September 2006. He wrote a letter to his staff and NOI members. The letter said doctors in Cuba found a peptic ulcer. Farrakhan lost 35 pounds due to infections. He asked the NOI leaders to continue their work while he recovered.

Farrakhan left the hospital in January 2007. He had major surgery to fix damage from a past radioactive treatment for prostate cancer. After his hospital stay, Farrakhan thanked his supporters. Weeks later, he gave the main speech at the NOI's yearly meeting in Detroit.

In December 2013, Farrakhan said he had not appeared publicly for two months. This was because he had a heart attack in October.

Awards

• 2005, a Black Entertainment Television (BET) poll voted Farrakhan the 'Person of the Year'.

See also

In Spanish: Louis Farrakhan para niños