CHICAGO (NNPA) - As the message of change resonates throughout America, the African-American Muslim community may be in line for a change of its own.
That's when the Nation of Islam (NOI) will reportedly extend its membership to Whites, Hispanics, Asians and other ethnic groups under the leadership of Minister Louis Farrakhan. The announcement took place on Sunday, October 19, when the NOI leader hosted a special dedication service at his South Side worship center.
The move comes six weeks after the Sept. 9 death of Imam Warith Deen Mohammad, who denounced the teachings of his famous father, Elijah Muhammad, when he took over the helm of the organization in 1975. The reforms, which included renaming it the World Community of Al Islam in the West (and later American Muslim Mission), relaxing its dress code, removing its paramilitary infrastructure and renouncing Whites as blue-eyed devils, were replaced with efforts to move the faith toward orthodox Islam.
The measures angered some converts of the man they called The Messenger, and according to a 1996 NOI press release disoriented many of the followers and lead to the Nations financial ruin. In 1977, Farrakhan - the former national spokesman for Muhammad - reestablished the traditional NOI and begin reuniting disillushioned members. His passionate rhetoric of Black self-help and resistance to White supremacy enamored him in the eyes of many African-Americans, including many who were not members of his group....etc, etc.
Balance at the link if you have the stomach for it. 
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