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Louis Farrakhan: Why No Netflix Documentary?

Louis Farrakhan: Why No Netflix Documentary?

 

Aug. 1 was supposed to be the day that a documentary about Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan streamed on Netflix.

Farrakhan even announced  it on Twitter: “‘The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: My Life’s Journey Through Music,’ would be available for streaming on Netflix on Aug. 1.”

But then suddenly, the deal was off. Netflix, which has been making many deals with Black creatives lately (including Shonda Rhimes), pulled the documentary across the brand including on Netflix Britain.

The Nation of Islam was founded on July 4, 1930 as a political and religious movement in Detroit by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad. Farrakhan joined the group in 1955 and went on to become its leader. Malcolm X joined the organization after his release from prison and went on to become it biggest spokesman until his falling out with Muhammad. There was controversy around the Nation’s involvement in the death of Malcolm X. Under the leadership of Farrakhan, there has also been major tension between the organization and various Jewish organizations. Farrakhan has had a history of making anti-Semitic comments.

Some critics question why Netflix is allowing the KKK documentary, “KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy,” to be part of its programming while pulling the plug on the Farrakhan documentary, which focused more on his the musical career than his political career.

Prior to joining the Nation of Island, Farrakhan was a calypso singer. He is also a violin player, and in 1993, Farrakhan made his return-concert debut with performances of the “Violin Concerto in E Minor” by Felix Mendelssohn.

“Farrakhan intimated that his performance of a concerto by a Jewish composer was, in part, an effort to heal a rift between him and the Jewish community,” New York Times reported.

The biographical documentary was made in 2014 and originally titled “Let’s Change the World,” according to The Final Call, the Nation of Islam’s newspaper.

The film was not actually supposed to be scheduled, but, because of an ‘internal miscommunication,’ appeared to be on various platforms, a spokesperson for Netflix said in an email. The Netflix spokesperson would not provide further details on Netflix’s relationship with the film,” the New York Times reported.

Farrakhan’s people aren’t satisfied with the explanation. “On July 31, 2018, less than 24 hours before the airing of the documentary, the Nation of Islam became aware through news and online outlets that Netflix decided not to air it due to ‘internal miscommunication. The Nation of Islam has not been informed of what was the alleged ‘internal miscommunication,’” the Final Call reported.

Farrakhan
Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan addresses Saviours Day Convention in Rosemont, Ill., Sunday, March 1, 2009. Saviours Day is the Nation of Islam’s annual commemoration of the Birth of Master Fard Muhammad, the Founder of the Nation of Islam. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Image: Anita Sanikop