Estimated reading time: 10 minute(s)
[Blogger’s Note: The following article originally appeared in the February 20, 2018 edition of The Final Call Newspaper. Since then, Brother Ben X’s social media following has grown, including now over 100,000 Youtube subscribers. He is continuing to do phenomenal online work and this article is definitely worth reposting!]
by Janiah X
With nearly 85,000 YouTube subscribers, almost 545,000 Facebook followers and over 54,000 Twitter and Instagram followers combined, Brother Ben X has found a way to support himself and his family. That’s not all his social media presence has accomplished. It also allows this 23-year-old to carry out the number one mission of the Nation of Islam, which is the resurrection of the Black man and woman by sharing video clips of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
“People have said that I’ve stopped them from committing suicide,” Brother Ben X said. “People have had a bad view of the Minister, but from watching my videos, they have changed their view. The most important is when brothers and sisters strive to get their X. Some people will send me that their letters passed. Some people will write down my name as who invited them out, but I don’t even know who they are.”
Brother Ben X became a registered member of the Nation of Islam in 2014. While attending Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, Brother Ben X lost his basketball scholarship. He dropped out of college in his junior year after realizing that he was not learning what he wanted to learn, and hearing Min. Farrakhan say that debt is slavery. After working at about three different jobs, Brother Ben decided give YouTube his all. Many of his clips have been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.
“I would do current events, give my commentary and give a clip from the Minister,” he said. “I would show how the Nation of Islam is still relevant because they can give good guidance. If police brutality happens, I would put a clip of the Minister already talking about it and what could have prevented it and and what we need to do about it.”
Brother Ben X said knowing what his work is accomplishing simply makes him feel like a student of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. He attends the Nation of Islam Study Group in Waxahachie, Texas. “A lot of people say, oh, Brother Ben this and that, but I just say all praise is due to Allah,” he said. “It just shows me the power of the word. When I see people give me their feedback, it just shows me that I’m doing my job.”
Brother Ben X encourages all Nation of Islam youth to start YouTube channels.
“It’s powerful when the people can see an average Believer and enlighten people,” he said. “I think it’s good to have people to have a personal view. I think [for] the Believers, it would be good if we all had YouTube channels, especially the youth. It makes the teachings more powerful.”
With social media being used as a tool of spreading the teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Brother Ben X believes it’s a way to truly carry out the job of a Muslim in the Nation of Islam.
“Many people think you join the Nation and they think that’s it, I’m an F.O.I. But it’s the training,” he said. “I love when the Minister does a lecture and he stops everyone from clapping because we love to clap but he wants helpers, he wants us to get his people. That’s what will make him smile.”
Brother Ben X can be followed on Twitter and Instagram @Brotherbenx and on YouTube and FaceBook under Brother Ben X.
Get his new book, Separation or Death – Mindset of Self Employment At Tampa Black Heritage Festival, and watch some of his Youtube videos below.
