Louis Farrakhan: Million Man March Pledge

Questions for Further Study

• 1.: In your opinion, was it a mistake for the Million Man March to exclude women?
• 2.: On the one hand, Farrakhan chastised African American men for “having allowed the community to embark on the path of self-destruction.” On the other hand, he chastises the white community for the history of enslavement and white supremacy. Do you see these views as inconsistent? Or do you see them as complementary views, both of which are valid?
• 3.: In the twenty-first century, Louis Farrakhan is regarded by many people as a somewhat frightening figure because of his outspokenness and militancy. Further, his position as leader of the Nation of Islam renders him suspect in the eyes of some because of instances of Islamic terrorism, including the September 11, 2001, attack on the United States. Do you believe that this characterization of Farrakhan is fair? Do you believe that it is “possible to separate ‘the message from the messenger’”?
• 4.: Farrakhan called for members of his audience to support black institutions such as newspapers, businesses, and cultural figures. Do you believe that it is possible for the black community to solve problems of unemployment and poverty by the establishment of and support for exclusively black organizations?
• 5.: What do you think Elijah Muhammad, Stokely Carmichael, or Malcolm X would have thought of the Million Man March and its pledge? For help, see Malcolm X’s “After the Bombing,” Stokely Carmichael’s “Black Power,” and the FBI Report on Elijah Muhammad.