Louis Farrakhan is an American religious leader who has a net worth of $5 million. Farrakhan earned his net worth through his leadership and brief musical career. He made a name for himself as the leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI) movement. Louis joined the organization in 1955, and he was instrumental in preserving the original teachings of the longtime NOI leader, Elijah Muhammad. Farrakhan’s controversial political views and outspoken rhetorical style have been either praised or widely criticized, and the Southern Poverty Law Center branded him an anti-Semite. Louis led the Million Man March in Washington, D.C., in 1995 and the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March: Justice or Else in 2015. Today, Farrakhan continues to be active in the NOI, but he has dramatically reduced his responsibilities due to health issues.
Who is Louis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan is an American religious leader, political activist, and former leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI), a black nationalist and Islamic religious organization. Born on May 11, 1933, in The Bronx, New York City, Farrakhan rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s as a dynamic and controversial figure known for his fiery oratory and focus on issues related to black empowerment, racial justice, and civil rights.
Louis Farrakhan Age
Louis Farrakhan, born on May 11, 1933, in The Bronx, New York City, is currently 91 years old. Despite his advanced age, Farrakhan has remained an influential and active voice in various social, religious, and political circles throughout his life. Over the decades, he has maintained his commitment to the causes of black empowerment and justice, continuing to speak and engage with his followers well into his 90s. His long-standing leadership of the Nation of Islam and his ability to galvanize large audiences highlight his enduring presence on the American sociopolitical stage.
Louis Farrakhan Early Life
Louis Farrakhan was born Louis Eugene Walcott on May 11, 1933, in New York City. He was raised by his mother, Sarah, and didn’t know his biological father, Percival, who left the family before he was born. Sarah began living with Louis Walcott as her relationship with Percival was ending, and he became stepfather to Louis and his older brother. The family moved to Boston after Walcott passed away in 1936. Louis began playing violin when he was five years old and toured with the Boston College Orchestra by the age of 12. He also won national competitions and performed on the “Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour.” Louis studied at Boston Latin School and the English High School, and he won a track scholarship to Winston-Salem Teachers College. He got married while attending college and dropped out after his junior year to spend more time with his new wife and baby.
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Louis Farrakhan Career
In the 1950s, Louis began touring the United States as a singer, calling himself “The Charmer” and “Calypso Gene,” and recorded several calypso tracks. He first became aware of the Nation of Islam in 1955 through his friend Rodney Smith and was invited to the group’s Saviours’ Day address, which was given by Elijah Muhammad. In July of that year, Louis became a member (also known as a “registered Muslim/registered believer/registered laborer”) of the NOI, and he was called Louis X until he received his Islamic name, Farrakhan. The following summer, Louis gave up his lifelong passion after Muhammad made all of the group’s musicians choose between NOI and music. Farrakhan became a member of Boston’s Temple of Islam and soon was appointed Malcom X’s assistant minister; he became the temple’s minister after Malcolm X was transferred to a temple in New York City. After Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965, Louis was appointed to a few of his former positions and became minister at the influential Harlem Mosque (serving until 1975) as well as the NOI’s national representative and spokesman.
Louis Farrakhan Personal Life
Louis married Betsy Ross (now known as Khadijah Farrakhan) in 1953, and they welcomed 9 children together: Louis Jr., Mustapha, Donna, Abnar, Joshua, Betsy-Jean, Maria, Khallada, and Fatimah, Sadly, Louis Jr., who suffered from a heart condition, passed away in 2018 at the age of 60. Farrakhan has been publicly endorsing Dianetics since 2010 and has urged NOI members to take part in the Church of Scientology’s auditing process; the NOI also hosts Dianetic courses and graduation ceremonies.
In 1991, Farrakhan was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and it was treated with hormones. When the cancer reoccurred in 1994, it was treated with brachytherapy seed implants, and in 1999, he had emergency surgery due to complications from another reoccurrence of the cancer. In September 2006, Louis announced that he had a peptic ulcer and lost 35 pounds due to multiple infections. He stayed in the hospital for five weeks and had abdominal surgery to correct the damage that the brachytherapy seed implants had caused. In October 2013, Farrakhan had a heart attack and received stent implants.
Louis Farrakhan Controversy
Farrakhan’s critics have said that his beliefs are anti-Semitic and racist. The Southern Poverty Law Center has classified the Nation of Islam as a hate group, and Louis has said that whites are a “race of devils” and that they “deserve to die.” The Chair of the Anti-Defamation League, Nathan Pearlmutter, called Farrakhan “Black Hitler,” and Louis later said that “Hitler was a very great man.” In 2019, Farrakhan was banned from Facebook for life due to his anti-Semitic statements on the social media platform. The family of Malcolm X accused Louis of being involved in his assassination; Farrakhan stated that he didn’t order the murder but admitted that he “created the atmosphere that ultimately led to Malcolm X’s assassination.”
FAQs
Who is Louis Farrakhan?
Louis Farrakhan is an American religious leader, political activist, and former leader of the Nation of Islam (NOI), a black nationalist and Islamic religious organization. He became well-known in the 1960s and 1970s for his outspoken and often controversial views on black empowerment, racial justice, and civil rights.
When and where was Louis Farrakhan born?
Louis Farrakhan was born on May 11, 1933, in The Bronx, New York City.
What is Louis Farrakhan’s net worth?
Louis Farrakhan has an estimated net worth of $5 million, primarily earned through his leadership of the Nation of Islam and a brief musical career.
What was Louis Farrakhan’s role in the Nation of Islam?
Farrakhan became a member of the NOI in 1955 and was later appointed as the national representative and spokesperson. He rebuilt the organization after its dissolution and is credited with preserving the original teachings of Elijah Muhammad.
Conclusion
Louis Farrakhan has had a significant impact as a religious leader and political figure, especially through his leadership of the Nation of Islam and his advocacy for black empowerment and social justice. Though his career has been marked by both praise and controversy, particularly due to his outspoken views on race and religion, Farrakhan’s influence within the African American community and beyond is undeniable. Despite facing health challenges and reducing his responsibilities in recent years, his legacy as a dynamic orator and a polarizing figure remains prominent.
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