I am often disillusioned by our search for black leadership in America. Where I grew up Civil Rights leaders weren't just on television, they were around the corner. My mother lived across the street from Daisy Bates, the NAACP president during the 1957 integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.

I worked for Mrs. Bates' at her black newspaper, the Arkansas State Press as a high school student. I met people like Rev. Jesse Jackson, Coretta Scott King, Mike Espy, Rodney Slater, Rosa Parks and others. In a part of the country where white flight is still taking place, Civil Rights was in my parents and grandparents' blood and I quite naturally, got a transfusion.

I can remember interviewing some of those folks. It gave me great pride to hear their stories of the struggle, of how they prayed and fought for basic human rights. Even then I knew enough to take in every word. But at the same time, black on black crime was at its height. A few years later, homicide would win out over cancer and heart disease as the top killer of African-American young men. Our communities were in chaos.

Times were also changing and producing a different breed of politician. The Jesse Jacksons, Marion Berrys and Al Sharptons of the world were emerging. They had seemingly good intentions, but questionable repute. Other leaders forgot their roots. Somehow, they had managed to climb high enough on the ladder of success to step off of the shoulders of those who'd gotten them there. It was then I decided in my young mind that people and politics were not the answer. I knew there had to be something more. 

I recently heard an interview with the leader of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan. He turned 70 this year and I was almost impressed by the cooler and calmer version of the radical I'd heard as a student at Howard University. Apparently in that setting he felt comfortable talking about the “white devil” and identifying black folks as God's chosen race of people. But this was National Public Radio and he was older and wiser about his audience.

I remember that speech at Howard well. It was fascinating to watch the well-oiled paranoia surrounding the Honorable Louis Farrakhan. I'd recommend that every level headed, intelligent African-American see him live at least once. However, I'd caution those of you who don't have your morals and convictions down pat that you might just get mesmerized by the man once known in Calypso circles as “The Charmer.”

I was a reporter for our campus newspaper at the time. I remember walking up a few minutes early and being taken aback by the row of fierce looking men and women lined up military-fashion in front of the gym. All of us were searched. Men searched men and women searched women. An admittance process that should have taken minutes, took hours.

Then, we were ushered into what looked like a scene from the movie New Jack City. Every nook and cranny of our gymnasium had been taken over by brothers in bowties and suits armed with semi-automatic weapons. Farrakhan himself was guarded by four men (including his own son) who, by maintaining constant movement during his talk, created an optical illusion for anyone meaning him harm.

He was smooth. I don't think I've seen anyone since, including Jesse Jackson, so articulate and skilled in promoting an agenda. I remember being amazed at his ability to intertwine the Koran with the Bible almost musically, like a deejay mixing old school with new school without reference to the soul. I was embarrassed by his extreme knowledge of the two books. He'd obviously spent more time studying than most of us sitting in the audience that night.

He was suave then and he still hasn't lost his touch. I'll give him credit. He is talented and strategic. I don't take issue with that. I do, however, disagree with what he has consistently proposed as the solution to our community's problems.

Those familiar with the “Nation” know that they push for economic and social freedom. They are always trying to teach black folks how to become independent from the U.S. “system.” Even now, their website has a whole section on how to produce and sell your own food. Back in the late 80's, the Nation drove out area drug dealers by returning their violence. And even though they are a religious organization they are aggressive and secular in their tactics to solve human problems. I question their (and anyone else's) efforts to attain long lasting freedom by “any means necessary.”

Mr. Farrakhan, in his “can't we all just get along” approach says we need to “structure a black…united front where those in leadership should be able to sit in a room and think on the problems of our people.”  I've been in those rooms before. You know: the kind where everyone philosophizes for a while and agrees to get along. The problem is they all don't believe the same thing.

I disagree with Mr. Farrakhan. I don't advocate unity for unity's sake. No, (in the words of Gill Scott Heron) “the revolution” will not be served with Coke during a political luncheon. I believe revolution begins in the hearts of men and women who don't mix their convictions like gin and tonic to produce a drink everybody can stomach. Revolution requires that your deepest beliefs be served to (and not upon) others as the main course, not hors d'oeuvres or even a side salad. Those Civil Rights activists I met taught me that you should never lay aside your principles for “the cause” no matter what it is.

Mr. Farrakhan said at the end of his interview that there should be “no problem a nation of committed people of integrity will not be able to solve.” But, to ask me to agree with his tactics, which are based in his own beliefs about God and people, would in fact lack integrity.

Yes, Mr. Farrakhan, we need good, moral black leaders of unquestionable character. I don't question your end. I've just got issues with your means, so therefore, we cannot agree.