I remember discussing about the crisis in Libya with my barber last month. Just when
I was discussing about how Qaddaffi was switching his accusations of the protests, my
barber easily switched to Qaddaffi's side and explained why. He, as a follower of the
Nation of Islam (a sect that has been considered to practice Islam through a "Black
Supremesist" perspective), told me and another person of how Qaddaffi supported
Louis Farahkahn (the leader of the Nation of Islam) and donated money to the group.
The money was supposed to fund banks in urban areas in the US to support African
American communities but the FBI threatened the banks to not accept the donations
or they would be forced to close.
What he was explaining to me wasn't really news to my ears because I knew that
the Libyan government has been friends of the NOI since the '70s, when it was
ruled by Elijah Muhammed. I, at one time admired Qaddaffi because he was one
of the only African leaders who resisted American influence and Western control
during that time. I later saw him as another African dictator when I looked at the
many years of power he has had and when he gave up his weapons to the US.