Farrakhan, The Movie

This Entertaining and Engrossing book is neither a attempt to lionize nor Demonize Louis Farrakhan. It is just factually based. Author Leila Wills demonstrates a superior ability to allow the star of this movie, Louis Farrakhan and the supporting cast tell the story while she skillfully navigates the fluidity of the action. She has a impressive flair for detail, each chapter offers a montage of historical events that have occured in the 79 year life span of Farrakhan. The Dialogue is predominately but cleverly derived from actual public recitations of Farrakhan himself, as well as numerous documented sources. She brillantly weaves all of this together, and captures the true essence of all those featured. (Which Includes Malcolm X , Elijah Muhammad, Muhammad Ali, Bumpy Johnson, Khallid Abdul Muhammad, Jim Brown, others) One of the great things about this book is the integrity and accuracy of it. Leila Wills fully understands that with a subject Like Louis Farrakhan, a underlying agenda serves no purpose. Farrakhan has always been his own biggest defender as well as worst enemy. The ultimate contradiction, It is a theme that has constantly played out in the life of Farrakhan, and this book captures it brillantly and honestly. From his days as a boy being raised by his single mother, to being a Night club performer, to being taught by Malcolm X, to how he handled the death of Elijah Muhammad, His drug use, His Affair with Lola Falana, his Domestic life that most in the general public do not know about (He has multiple wives and a bevy of children), to preaching that Elijah muhammad is ALIVE on a space ship,his bout with cancer, etc. This book doesnt miss a beat. As you eagerly turn the pages, you will either say "I remember that" or "God damn! he did what?" I believe this book has tremendous appeal to those who are well aquainted with the nation of islam & Farrakhan's history, but it also has a much broader appeal to anyone with a casual interest or desire to be entertained as well as edified. Love him or hate him, Farrakhan has definitely made it pretty tough to ignore him. This Book doesnt seek converts, like all great "movies", The viewer will leave with their own judgements. So my opinion about Farrakhan is not my purpose here. My purpose is to give credit where credit is due! This is a Damn good book! Well paced, vivid, beautifully constructed and quite compelling!! Leila Wills has done a Skillful job of "Directing" the volatile roller coaster that is the life of Louis Farrakhan, a man forever sandwiched between Inspiration and Infamy. It is a Shame that This book is not a actual Movie, because Frankly it would easily rival Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" or Oliver Stone's "JFK" as a Monumental and outstanding Biographical work. Oh Yeah, Like any Movie, I wont tell you the ending but I highly suggest you order this book and get your popcorn ready!! Kudos To Leila Wills!

I decided to revisit the life of a leader who captured the attention of so many during these last 50 years. Leila Wills' book, "Farrakhan The Movie", a book that reads like a movie, is not a traditional biography. The story starts on a Georgia Plantation with Elijah Poole, later known as Elijah Muhammad and the beginning of the Nation of Islam. Then it takes the reader to Malcolm Little (Malcolm X), his early life and emergence in the Nation of Islam and then onto Louis Eugene Wolcott, later known as Louis Farrakhan. Nearly every page abounds with data that plugs the holes and connects what has been previously published. Leila Wills gives you a virtual travel uncovering all sorts of material. The book plays and reads like no other political biography I've come across and this underlines that we are dealing here with a very different type of writer. She writes like a historian but the presentation is like a novelist and a very good one at that--deploying a great deal of conversation and showing considerable fluency and remarkable insight. I marvel at the single-mindedness with which she has pursued the subjects - more than half a century. She gives her fascinating account of Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. This book is one in a class of scholarly adventure. Leila Wills has scooped up every detail and fact of the Nation of Islam. This textual and historical book through its unique design sheds a great deal of light on this era. Essentially this movie novel falls into three parts: the background of Elijah Muhammad and the rise of the Nation of Islam; Malcolm X's background, life in the Nation of Islam and his dismissal from the Nation; then the background of Louis Farrakhan, his influence and rise to leadership in the Nation of Islam. Overshadowing it all is the physical presence of the F.B.I. in all their lives. Ultimately what mattered most was the style of leadership and command exhibited by the three men. It is fascinating to see how their rise and leadership styles developed during their years in the Nation of Islam and Farrakhan's ultimate rise to leadership. Leila Wills goes to the very heart of the Nation of Islam. For that reason alone, this movie book is an interesting read. Cheryl Loftin Wooding-Bey

Great read.. Still going through it and can't wait until it hit the big screen

Sister Leila Wills did a excellent job researching the history of Farrakhan & the NOI under THEM, to what happened between him & Malcolm X, the controversy surrounding him & his former student Dr. Khalid Abdul Muhammad, shows files the government had on the NOI and their goal to stop the rise of a black messiah & even shows how Farrakhan is now merging his version of the NOI (Final Call Inc) with the COS (Church of Scientology) which Farrakhan has been studying 4 over 30 years. It's a must get for any critical thinker out there who likes factual evidence & data.

From start to finish, this book engages the mind of the reader, asking you to draw your own conclusions as the author walks you through the history of Louis Farrakhan and his rise to power in the Nation of Islam. Leila Wills' unique approach to the relating of well-researched events makes the story readable,educational and entertaining. Whether you have a solid familiarity with the story of Louis Farrakhan or know little to nothing about the man, you will learn something from reading "Farrakhan the Movie".

Leila wrote an excellent story. Like a movie I wish it could've delved deeper in some areas but she got it right. The best way to tell the story of Minister Farrakhan is in context of Elijiah Muhammad, Malcolm X and the times he lived in. Right on sista.

Was always interested to know more about Farrakhan and this was the first book I've read on him. It's a good summary of his life and some of the key characters of his journey, but I've come away feeling I never got a sense of what he stood for and what he means to African American people. Aside from the Million Man March (which most people would have heard of) what else has he done and has he played a role in the civil rights movement or not? What was the legacy of the Million Man March? Too many questions unanswered after reading this. Also, Farrakhan doesn't come across well. There must be more depth to the story.....surely he represents more and has achieved more than is presented in this book. Will keep looking.

I have to admit that I came to this work from an angle of $cientology related activism. I loved it. Seriously, the description of a movement continuously changing to keep up with the changing moods of its founder and going through succession battles feel similar, but the background is a bit less squeaky clean than LRH's genteel satanism and pretend navy. I hope the NOI/$cientology engagement merely ends in a few blushes rather than a lot of tears.