<DIV>The Nation of Islam's Minister Louis Farrakhan is undeniably one of the most controversial and oft-maligned figures in American social and cultural politics. Now, for the first time, leading African-American voices speak out about Farrakhan, the myth and the reality, in the process reexamining and redefining notions of black nationalism, community, and African-American leadership. With contributions from such diverse and provocative writers as Gwendolyn Brooks, Stanley Crouch, Michael Eric Dyson, and Derrick Bell, <I>The Farrakhan Factor</I> gets past the headlines and sound bites to examine Farrakhan - and leadership - from within the black community. Combining sophisticated thought with active, personal engagement, <I>The Farrakhan Factor</I> is a superlative and eminently necessary document of American racial politics. </DIV>