The Nation of Islam's Minister Louis Farrakhan is undeniably one of the most controversial, provocative, and misunderstood figures in American social and cultural politics. Now, for the first time, leading African-American intellectuals and writers come together to respond to Farrakhan, the myth and the reality, in the process reexamining and redefining notions of black nationalism, community, and African-American leadership.

The Farrakhan Factor gets past the headlines and sound bites, to examine Minister Farrakhan's impact from the standpoints of economics, media analysis, community activism, ethnic identity, sexual politics, and black youth culture.

The commentators gathered here place Farrakhan in context: from Gwendolyn Brooks's lyrical and insightful reflections on Farrakhan the man; to Stanley Crouch's uncompromising indictment of Farrakhan as overhyped and out of touch; from Michael Eric Dyson's examination of the heritage that prepared Farrakhan for leadership; to Derrick Bell's discussion of the anguish and unfulfillment Farrakhan addresses in many black Americans.

The sixteen essays collected here combine sophisticated thought with active, personal engagement to candidly examine this enigmatic and increasingly important voice.