Louis Farrakhan (born Louis Eugene Walcott on May 11, 1933, in the Bronx, New York) is an American religious leader and minister who heads the Nation of Islam. He joined the organization in 1955, rising through its ranks under Elijah Muhammad, and after a brief split following Muhammad's death, revived and assumed leadership of the original Nation of Islam in 1977/1981. Farrakhan is a polarizing figure known for his powerful oratory and advocacy for African American empowerment, most notably organizing the Million Man March in 1995. However, he is widely criticized for his antisemitic, homophobic, and racially inflammatory rhetoric, which has led to condemnation by civil rights groups and bans from major social media platforms. His early life included a musical career as a calypso singer (performing as Calypso Gene) and violin player, and he is a prostate cancer survivor.