Farrakhan, Louis (1933– )

African-American religious and political figure. Leader of the Nation of Islam, Farrakhan preached strict adherence to Muslim values and black separatism. His outspoken views against Jews, homosexuals, and whites caused outrage. In 1995 he organized the ‘Million Man March’ in Washington, DC; an estimated 400,000 people attended.

Born in the Bronx in New York, Farrakhan studied to be a teacher and worked as a singer before he was recruited to the Black Muslims by Malcolm X. When the group was dissolved in 1985 he remained faithful to its original principles, forming a splinter group using its original name, the Nation of Islam. A powerful leader and impressive speaker, he increased the group's membership to over 15,000 in the 1990s.