Louis Farrakhan is a well-known American social activist, commentator, and black nationalist; best known as the leader of the religious group called Nation of Islam. He has worked as a minister in Islamic mosques in Harlem and Boston. He currently serves as the national representative of the Nation of Islam.
Louis is not only a religious leader but also a talented musician who became popular in the 1950s because of his extraordinary musical abilities. Learn more about the leader of the Nation of Islam below. Read on to learn more about Louis Farrakhan Children, Wife, Parents, Net Worth, Bio
Louis Farrakhan Bio
Loius Farrakhan was born Louis Eugene Walcott on May 11, 1933, in The Bronx, New York City, New York in the United States. He is one of the two sons of Sarah Mae Manning and her husband Percival Clark. While growing up, Louis Farrakhan received violin training, and when he was thirteen years old, young Louis began playing in various shows and concerts. He reportedly played with both the Boston College Orchestra and the Boston Civic Symphony. He also won national competitions and other shows, including the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour.
The young and talented Walcott went on to attend Boston Latin School and then graduated from English High School in Boston. Soon after graduating, Louis enrolled at Winston-Salem Teachers College, where he received a scholarship in athletics.
After graduating, Louis Farrakhan began his musical career in the 1950s. He adopted the name Charmer, with which he began recording several Calypso albums. In 1955 Louis Farrakhan made headlines after changing his name to Calypso Gene. He took part in several tours and played in several concerts, including his show called Calypso Follies. His extraordinary musical style made him an outstanding musician at the time, and one of his songs led the American Top 100 Billboard Music Chart for five years in a row.
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The nation of Islam Leadership
While deepening his musical career, Loius came into contact with the teachings of the Nation of Islam through his friend Rodney Smith. Smith is also a talented saxophonist from Boston. Seeing that the Nation of Islam propagates a similar faith to his, Louis quickly joined the NOI.
After meeting the basic requirements for membership in the group, Louis received the X sign, which shows that he has become a placeholder in the group. Later he received the name “Farrakhan”, which means “The Criterion”.
Soon after joining the group, Louis had to choose between the group and his musical career. Of course, he chose the nation over his musical career. As a result, his popularity began to grow and he rose through the ranks in the NOI.
After the transfer of Malcolm X from the Boston Mosque, Louis was appointed the official minister of the mosque by its leader Elijah Mohammad. From 1975 to 1978 he was also promoted to the rank of Sunni Imam.
The population of the Nation of Islam has continued to grow significantly, and Farrakhan has played a crucial role in this development. As a representative of the Nation, he has made statements on various issues, including U.S. wartime interventions in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. Because of his controversial political comments and views, he was considered by many to be a racist and anti-Semite. President Barack Obama particularly denounced Farrakhan’s endorsement of his presidency because of his teachings.
Net Worth: How Much is Louis Farrakhan Worth?
The leader of the Nation of Islam is very talented and has amassed much wealth. Louis Farrakhan has an estimated net worth of $3 million as of 2024. He earns his fortune both through his musical career and through leading the Nation of Islam.
Family: Parents and Wife
As we mentioned earlier, Louis was born as the son of Sarah Mae Manning and her then-husband Percival Clark. His father is originally from Jamaica, while his mother is from St. Kitts and Nevis; both parents immigrated to the United States from the Caribbean Islands. Loius did not see much of his father as a child, as his parents separated soon after his birth. His mother later moved in with a man named Loius Walcott, who became Louis’s stepfather.
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Sadly, his stepfather Walcott died in 1936, and after his death, Louis, his brother, and their mother moved to Boston Massachusetts, where they grew up in Roxbury. He grew up as a member of the Episcopal St. Cyprian’s Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Louis Farrakhan was successful in his career, and the same can be said of his personal life. The NOI leader is happily married to his long-time girlfriend and college sweetheart, Betsy Ross. The duo met during their time at Winston-Salem Teachers College.
After that, they started their relationship and eventually got married while still in college. When Louis was in junior high school, his wife Betsy became pregnant; due to the complications of her pregnancy, Loius had to drop out of college to begin a career for his wife and child. Since then they have continued to enjoy a wonderful married life.
Louis Farrakhan’s Children
The amazing couple has a total of nine children, four sons named Louis Jr., Mustapha, Joshua Nasir, and Abnar Farrakhan; and five daughters named Khllada, Hanan, Donna, Maria, and Fatimah Farrakhan. In addition, Farrakhan’s wife Betsy, who also converted to Islam, later changed her name to Khadijah Farrakhan and is currently the First Lady of the Nation of Islam. His son, Mustapha Farrakhan, serves as captain of the group, while his daughter, Donna, is the minister for the NOI.
