Conrad Tillard | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Tillard in 2022 | |
| Born | Conrad Bennette Tillard Sr. September 15, 1964 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Other names | Conrad X, Conrad Muhammad |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania (BA) Harvard University Union Theological Seminary (MDiv) Princeton Theological Seminary (MTh) |
| Occupation(s) | Baptist minister, radio host, activist, politician, author |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 5 |
| Website | https://www.conradtillard.com |
Conrad Bennette Tillard (born September 15, 1964) is an American Baptist minister, radio host, activist, politician, and author.
Tillard was in his early years a prominent minister of the black nationalist organization the Nation of Islam (NOI). He was at age 25 appointed Minister of Mosque No. 7 in Harlem, a position formerly held by Malcolm X.[1] He became known as the "Hip-Hop Minister," noted for his outspoken opposition to the promotion of gangsterism in hip-hop music lyrics, and for defusing potentially violent feuds between rappers.
Tillard left the NOI in 1997 when he was 32 years old, and returned to Christianity. He became a Christian preacher at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, then the Senior Pastor at the Nazarene Congregational Church, a United Church of Christ, in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, in New York City, and now the Senior Minister at Flatbush Tompkins Congregational Church in Flatbush, Brooklyn. He also wrote a memoir, was a radio host, and became an adjunct college professor.
Tillard ran for New York State Senator in 2022, in a Democratic primary campaign for the New York State Senate against incumbent State Senator Jabari Brisport. He was endorsed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams. During that campaign, he became the subject of renewed controversy over his past history of antisemitic, anti-abortion, and anti-LGBTQ remarks.[2][3][4][5][6] Brisport won the primary.[7]
- ^ Peter, Noel (September 1, 1998). "Escape from the Nation of Islam". The Village Voice. Retrieved August 19, 2002.
- ^ Michael Gartland (August 16, 2022). "Adams endorses N.Y. Senate candidate with a history of anti-Semitic, anti-abortion, anti-gay rhetoric: 'I believe the Rev. Tillard of today is a lot different than the man who said those things decades ago'". The New York Daily News. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Williams, Zach (August 17, 2022). "Adams' state Senate pick Conrad Tillard has history of bigoted remarks". The New York Post. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ Mena, Kelly (August 17, 2022). "Mayor endorses state Senate candidate with history of controversy". NY1. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ Brian Pacus (August 19, 2022). "Senate progressives aim to stave of establishment challengers". Crain's New York Business. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Durkin, Erin; Gronewold, Anna; Rosenberg, Georgia (August 17, 2022). "Adams' trash problem". Politico. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Brown, Ann (August 17, 2022). "New York City Mayor Cop Eric Adams Endorses Conrad Tillard For State Senator, Cites 30 Years of Community Activism". Moguldom.