Khalid Abdul Muhammad
Khallid Abdul Muhammad (January 12 1948 – February 17 2001) was an ex-felon who served time in a Texas prison for insurance fraud who bacame an extremely controversial spokesperson for the Nation of Islam (NOI) until 1993 and National Chairman of the New Black Panther Party from the late 1990s until his death. He was infamous for his inflammatory remarks against whites and Jews; unlike other prominent NOI members, Muhammad openly admitted he was anti-Semitic and never turned down an opportunity to express these views. However it was disclosed in the news (before his death) that he had been residing in a mostly white apartment complex in Englewood New Jersey.
After a speech at Kean College in Union, New Jersey, Muhammad left the NOI in 1993. There is some question as to whether he was removed from the organization by Louis Farrakhan or if his departure was voluntary. Muhammad ([1]) appeared on Phil Donahue's show after giving the controversial speech, an episode which featured Muhammad engaging in heated arguments with Jewish audience members amid an explanation of his controversial remarks. Muhammad was shot by James Bess, a former NOI member, after Muhammad spoke at the University of California at Riverside on May 29 1994. Muhammad believed the shooting was a part of a conspiracy against him.
Muhammad is still venerated by members of the New Black Pather Party as the de facto father of their movement. Muhammad's supporters see his controversial views as telling the truth.
In 2000, Muhammad's beliefs were introduced to a completely new demographic when it was revealed that one of the contestants on the American television show Big Brother was a former member of the New Black Panthers. In the press Muhammad ([2]) criticized the cast member, William "Will Mega" Collins (a.k.a. Hiram Ashantee) for complimenting a white woman and appearing semi-nude in a bathroom with a clothed white woman.
Muhammad died of a brain aneurysm in Atlanta, Georgia, aged 53, and had a Baptist funeral in Harlem.
Trivia
Muhammad was featured by the hip-hop group Public Enemy on the intro to their song “Night of the Living Bassheads”.
See also
External links
- [3] The Immortal Birth Book, Gods & Earths
- [4] A lengthy biography on Khallid (Black nationalist)
- [5] Khallid Abdul Muhammad: In His Own Words
- [6] Khallid on Donahue (1994)
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