re: #108 simoom
I’m pretty aware of Louis Farrakhan’s long history of extreme statements and associations with bad people, and definitely not a fan of the guy.
But I’ve also known more than a few African American musicians who had a great deal of respect for him, and it wasn’t because of the antisemitism or the extremism, it’s because Farrakhan does have a positive, empowering component to his message. I’ve seen it, and discussed it with these friends many times.
I might feel otherwise — the bigotry and antisemitism I find inexcusable, in fact. But it’s just a reality that many black people see him as a positive force in the community, and in some ways he is.