The article below represents the thoughts and opinions of it's writer Tony Norman. I personally don't care about Loius Farrakhan but I do agree with Mr. Norman's opinion on black leadership and the fact that African Americans are not a monolithic group. George Cook AAreports.com. Author of the Kindle book Let's Talk Honestly: One Black Man's Thoughts $1.50
By Tony Norman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
There's always been something bogus about the notion of top-down black leadership. It's been decades since a black leader was capable of rallying folks to protest anything other than police brutality.
There have been plenty of spokesmen for the race over the years, though -- some self- appointed, most anointed by others, including the mainstream media.
In the pre-Obama age, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were the go-to guys for black leadership as far as the press was concerned. A few years ago, Bill Cosby started getting those calls because he was a contrarian when it came to many forms of black popular culture.
Read more: Louis Farrakhan is nobody's leader
5 comments:
With all due respect, the title of this article is enough to assign it to the trash bin.
Minister Farrakhan is in fact not only a leader in name but a leader with a large constituency. One may or may not like this fact but it is reality.
* He is the leader of one of the longest existing and largest Black organizations in America, the Nation of Islam.
* He is in fact recognized by a large constituency outside of his organization as a source of guidance and yes, leadership.
* The Nation of Islam's influence within and without their immediate constituency is undeniable. To say otherwise is rather silly.
I agree. This is real talk. The article was VERY slanted and shallow. Peace.
I skimmed through all the comments and I think each one is entitled to their opinions same as Brother Norman, but I think the commentary should be, "Louis Farrakhan is no Leader of Mine( meaning Tony Norman)" Apparently Mr. Norman has many Jewish brothers and sisters that he has bonded with more so than with his own kinsmen in the Black community. Ha! Who says that because we have the same color skin that we are brothers and sisters? I guess that's Mr. Normon's philosophy. It appears that his article is to state for the record and prove to his Jewish brothers that the Hon. Min. Farrahkan is no friend of his and he repudiated any ties to him for the sake of the Jewish community.
Perhaps Mr. Norman has been brain washed or something like so many others by the American media to believe that the Hon. Min. is the enemy of American government. Who knows, but the Zionist state is no friend of Immigrants especially African ones. Look at how it treats its own non Jewish citizens who live and work in Israel!
Those poor Palestinians, I won't even go there. From what I've heard of the Hon. Min. he speaks out against the brutality of the Zionist and that is what they (Jewish people and American media which is owned by Jewish) call Anti-Semetic!
Recently I read a Ny Time's Article regarding the Oscar Winning Documentary "Strangers No More" which follows the story of three Immigrant children at a Tel Aviv school: Mohammed Adam, a refugee who escaped the genocide in Sudan's Darfur region; Johannes Mulugeta, whose first day at school is captured in the film; and Esther Aikpehae, a girl who fled South Africa with her father after her mother was killed in unclear circumstances. Karen Goodman and Kirk Simon's documentary shows how Israel is dealing with the plight of suffering asylum seekers by trying to erect more fenses and deporting children that have no parents or home to go to.
While I think that we are all brothers and sisters, I do not call people such who do not want to be ....Black. Perhaps the Hon. Min. isn't welcomed as a leader of Mr. Norman, but he is the most visible leader besides President Obama right now to not only NOI mbrs, but lots of disenfranchised Blacks all over this country.
Jen Fad from BIA
This has to be one of the weakest "Opinion" pieces I have ever read in my life. What is Mr. Norman's opinion really? He makes not point!
As one who has worked in newspaper, I know that there are times when the author of an article will write a piece & someone else will give it the headline. This certainly seems to be the case.
If Farrakhan were not "some" kind of a leader, Mr. Norman would not have written the article nor had to address the issue in the first place.
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