“They call me Hitler. Well, that’s a good name. Hitler was a very great man.” Louis Farrakhan, leader of Nation of Islam, praising Hitler.
While many atheist groups dive head first into calling out Trump and the religious right, there is an elephant in the room that continues to go unmentioned, and that is the affiliation of radical racist religious group Nation of Islam with the Obama presidency.
Most Americans, and atheists for that matter, are not aware of Nation of Islam, an organization that launched on July 4, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan by a man known as Wallace Fard Muhammad who taught his personal version of Islam to the public. Even I first learned of the group’s name only a few years ago when I came across an article about a strange collaboration project between Nation of Islam, Scientology and Snoop Dogg to challenge gang violence in Los Angeles.
I looked further into Nation of Islam and learned it has a long history of conflict in the United States. Since launching, the group has received criticism for being one of the most active racist separatist groups in the country, as well as anti-Semitic. A noted past-member of Nation of Islam was acclaimed radical activist and Muslim minister, Malcom X, who was murdered by Nation of Islam members days after he decided to leave the group in 1965.
Today Nation of Islam is led by Louis Farrakhan, an outspoken anti-Semitic religious leader who assumed his role in 1981. There are numerous clips of Farrakhan making racist and anti-Semitic statements in front of large audiences who clap when he pauses. Additionally the group has stood with pro-Palestine efforts.
Conservative Review shares detail about the affiliation between Nation of Islam and Barack Obama.
It is said that Nation of Islam, and Louis Farrakhan, played a role in helping Obama get elected as a senator in 2005 as well as President of the United States in 2008, after endorsing him. Obama later stated he did not solicit for endorsement, which seems especially questionable after a photo taken in 2005 recently surfaced of Obama and Farrakhan smiling as they stood beside one another to pose for a photo at the Congressional Black Caucus meeting. Louis Farrakhan has also publicly spoken about the role Nation of Islam played in assisting Obama in being elected, noting that the group gave Obama money, which can be heard in the video below.
Louis Farrakhan, leader of Nation of Islam, discusses the collaboration of Nation of Islam and Barack Obama.
I have questioned many times how the affiliation between Nation of Islam and the Obama presidency has escaped the attention of the American public, and how the general US atheist community could be so ignorant on this subject. It is rare that I encounter an atheist who is knowledgeable of Nation of Islam and its political influence.
Some may respond that Nation of Islam’s numbers are not comparable to that of the religious right. But one must wonder how Nation of Islam, such a small group, consisting of approximately 20,000 to 50,000 members according to a 2007 estimate, could have connections with one of the most popular presidents of the United States of America, as well as noted “social justice” movements that have brought thousands of people to storm the streets.
On a final note, the influence of Nation of Islam goes beyond Obama in the current political realm. Women’s March co-chairs Linda Sarsour, Carmen Perez and Tamika Mallory are also affiliated with Farrakhan. Keith Ellison, current vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, has made effort to distance himself from Farrakhan despite having ties in the past. Outspoken California Democrat leader, Maxine Waters, has been given praise by Louis Farrakhan in the past and has attended his events.
Unfortunately, prominent atheist organizations such as American Atheists and Freedom From Religion Foundation have been outspoken supporters for Women’s March, and have not drawn attention to Nation of Islam’s influence on politics.
Lauren Ell is an American blogger born and raised in Southern California and is currently based in Sweden. She discusses Epilepsy, Politics and Fun. Professionally Ell is an Online Marketing Consultant and Virtual Assistant. She is also founder and president of Republican Atheists. Connect with Lauren on Facebook and Twitter.