Black Separatist Groups Find Fertile Ground for Recruitment After Election
Banking on the hopes that American minorities will feel alienated if President Trump handles the subject of race the way he did during his campaign, with divisive language and an attention to white nationalism, black separatism is finding a renewed sense of energy.
The expectation across many black separatist groups is that if the Trump administration continues to alienate minority communities, the more likely members of those communities are to join them.
The Nation of Islam (NOI), for example, one of the wealthiest and best-known organizations in black America, is overjoyed by the election of Trump.
A week after the election, Louis Farrakhan, who leads NOI, told those gathered for the 2016 State of the Black World Conference, “Mr. Trump plans to put ‘teeth’ behind Make America Great again, and that means pain for Blacks.”
Then Farrakhan offered a message to President-elect Trump.
“Push it real good. Push it so good that black people say, ‘I’m outta here. I can’t take it no more,’” Farrakhan said.
Black Hebrew Israelites are banking on the same result if Trump’s policies continue. Known for their street preaching, these groups believe they are the true descendants of Israel and white people are the devil, fated to become the slaves of “true Israelites” when the world ends.
They also preach on anti-LGBT themes.
Unsurprisingly, such groups are anticipating that more minorities will turn to their teachings in the next four years and predicting that Trump will bring about the fall of Babylon, the precursor to judgment day.
But the support goes on.
The Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ (ICGJC), the self-proclaimed sovereign "Nation of Israel,” posted a recent recruiting message to social media with the headline: “So… america [sic] don't give a darn about us. trump [sic] is prez. Are yall ready to come home now?? ICGJC.”
General Yahanna, whose real name is John Lightborne, leader of the Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge called Trump the Devil in a post-election podcast, titled “The Trump Card," but used the president-elect as prime fodder for recruitment.
“The time is now to wake up and align yourself with our king,” Yahanna said in the announcement.
Israel United in Christ (IUIC) posted a video to Periscope on November 10 called “LOOK WHAT VOTING GOT US… NOWHERE.” The video used Trump’s win to reinforce the message that African-Americans cannot count on America.
Militant black separatist groups, such as the Black Riders Liberation Party (BRLP), are also recruiting. BRLP was created in a jail for juvenile offenders, but rose to public prominence after implementing a police monitoring program entitled, “Watch a Pig.”
Today, they are using the election to boost their numbers, posting a picture of themselves in uniforms holding automatic weapons and writing “Y’all Ready? Racist Trump has been ‘selected’ – Join the militant group with – NO FEAR! – JOIN NOW – to be a new member”.
Another militant group, the New Black Panther Party, whose Houston Leader Quanell X publicly endorsed Trump in October 2016, is recommending that African-Americans govern themselves. On the groups Black Power News Cast, published just days after the election, NBPP member Brother Katib told the audience, “We don’t live in a country where we you go out in the street and wave a couple picket signs and the cracker gets scared and leaves office.”
His recommendation to African-Americans?
“We must let go of America’s style of governing, and we must understand that there is only one power, one true power that can free us from this oppression and that power is black power.”
A few days later, NBPP published another Black Power News Cast entitled “THE WORST IS HERE,” which was a recitation of a chapter in the book “Fall of America” by Elijah Muhammad.
“This is not your house, this the landlord's house. The land is our land, it’s your land, but we’re just renting at the moment. See, it’s time for a new house because the worst is here and has come. I say it’s time for a revolution. An entire absolute new house, better than the present. I’m talking about a new building. I’m talking about a revolution,” the narrator read form the book.
A splinter group of the New Black Panther Party called the New Black Panther Party for Self Defense told their soldiers to "report for duty" the day after the election. They are currently recruiting new members in at least 7 states, using the slogan “Freedom or Death” while the People’s Black Panther Party is attempting to recruit in Virginia.
