GLOBAL MEDIA NETWORK

When the Mayfair Mansions public housing apartments in Washington, DC became overrun with drug dealers, making the place, as one resident described it, "a living hell," men from the National of Islam, the "Fruit of Islam" (FOI) expanded their presence at the complex beyond door to door sales of the Final Call Newspaper. They began an organized patrol to rid the complex of drug dealers and the devastation of crime and violence from the crack cocaine epidemic. Their success earned them the name "Dopebusters" and it appeared that the Nation of Islam had presented a solution to America's drug crisis. But their success, though applauded by D. C. residents,  was attacked by mainstream news media and some public officials. To reveal what really happened, Naba'a Richard Muhammad wrote the book Dopebusters, Farrakhan Fanatics or Saviors? The True Story of the D.C. Crack Cocaine Crisis and Successful Muslim Anti-Drug Patrols.  He tells of the power and effectiveness of the Muslim patrols and the political attacks by those who feared the influence of Minister Louis Farrakhan. In the photo, Naba'a Richard Muhammad (3rd from right), BJ Murphy (4th from left) and friends and supporters celebrate the launching of "StraightTalk with Naba'a Richard Muhammad and BJ Murphy" radio show with dinner at Let's Eat To Live Restaurant at  621 E. 67th Street, Chicago. Photo by Naimah Latif