NY Times slammed for glowing Farrakhan op-ed: ‘You would think he was a gentleman’

A New York Times op-ed is being ripped on social media for its positive portrayal of Louis Farrakhan, with the writer accused of failing to mention Farrakhan’s long record of anti-Semitic comments.

“Just over 25 years ago, Louis Farrakhan, the head of the Nation of Islam, realized he needed help in his quixotic quest to summon a million Black men to the National Mall,” begins the Saturday piece by Natalie Hopkinson, an associate professor in Howard University’s Department of Communication, Culture and Media Studies.

“Amid critiques that the Million Man March was exclusionary and sexist, [Farrakhan] took the advice of the women. They then rolled up their sleeves and supported the effort,” it reads at another point. 

Farrakhan’s history of anti-Semitism is never mentioned in the piece, drawing howls on social media, including from former New York Times columnist Bari Weiss. 

Today the New York Times ran an oped about the Million Man March and Louis Farrakhan. If you read the oped and knew nothing about Farrakhan, you would think he was a gentleman. (Thread) https://t.co/5ZhTMDypHQ

— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) October 18, 2020

The @nytimes runs feminist puff piece on Louis Farrakhan as redeemable old goat in need of some help from Black women; no mention of anti-Semitism. Its author, @HowardU professor @NatHopkinson, denounces offended Jews–“people who have become white”–for their “privilege”. pic.twitter.com/QJMu8vzBUN

— John-Paul Pagano (@johnpaulpagano) October 19, 2020

The late great John Lewis didn’t participate in the Million Man March because Farrakhan had made comments that were “divisive and bigoted.” https://t.co/EitiuG3H7U

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) October 18, 2020

Stunned NYT ran a piece describing Louis Farrakhan in such glowing terms, ignoring his history of hate & #antisemitism. Even in discussing women’s unsung role in the Million Man March, failing to mention the serial bigotry of its organizer normalizes it. https://t.co/pE3d9QPJKr

— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) October 18, 2020

The Hill has reached out to the New York Times for comment. 

Hopkinson fired back on Twitter on Sunday, arguing that people “who have become white should not be lecturing Black ppl about oppression,” comments that themselves drew more criticism. 

Apropos of nothing in particular…
I’m almost done w/ “Caste”.

Ppl who have become white should not be lecturing Black ppl about oppression.

Need to focus on the man w/actual power caging children and rigging elections. Hitler never had more than 38% of popular vote.

— Just wash your hands. (@NatHopkinson) October 18, 2020

Understand this:

In the lexicon of wokeness, White isn’t just a description of the lowest rung on the ladder of victimization.

It’s a pejorative, an accusation, perhaps the harshest they have to offer.

It’s no less than a fresh new slur that Jews are subjected to.

Take heed.

— Dovid Efune (@Efune) October 19, 2020

NYT oped author on Farrakhan says Jews have ‘become white,’ have no standing on ‘oppression.’

It’s truly amazing what’s appropriate to say about Jews openly in the nation’s major newspapers from city where the cops are sent around looking for Jews hiding in places of worship. pic.twitter.com/WiPrAo65wV

— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) October 19, 2020

The op-ed was timed to mark the 25th anniversary of the Million Man March in Washington D.C. where Farrakhan delivered the keynote address.