THE MOVEMENT

A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN

2011-11-16T09:26:00.000-06:00

Are Black Athletes and Executives Qualified?

BY DERIC MUHAMMAD

"Mama may have and poppa may have, but God bless the child that's got his own." -Billie Holiday

Lebron James is one of the finest athletes that the Black community has ever produced. He's also a budding businessman who keeps company with the likes of Warren Buffet and Jay-Z. He and other young, gifted and Black ballplayers appear to be looking forward to winning not only dunking contests, but winning thinking contests, as well. This thinking contest is critical to any professional athlete's future; personally, professionally and financially. While the vast majority of ball handlers end up broke, directionless and unprepared for life "after the game," this year's NBA lockout could very well be a sign of a potential paradigm shift for the embattled Black athlete in American sports.

The dispute between owners, players and the reputed ego-maniacal Commissioner David Stern has become such a "spectacle of disrespect," that veteran sports journalist Bryant Gumbel, known for the " safeness" of his opinion, accused the commissioner of acting like a modern day plantation owner. From his critically acclaimed HBO show "Real Sports," Gumbel accused Stern of talking to NBA players like they were his "boys." During negotiations, Stern has been documented as having put his finger in the faces of certain players, acting unnecessarily aggressively towards men who are clearly, physically, his superior. Gumbel's statement, to many, was like Clarence Thomas wearing an "I AM TROY DAVIS" t-shirt. When Bryant Gumbel makes a statement like that, it must be high time for change.

But, what will this change look like for Black NBA players and Black athletes, in general? Will it mean more money, benefits and less risks in THEIR league? Should we take a closer look at the term "owner" and why Stern's attitude is the way it is towards players? We all witnessed what happened when James opted to pursue what he believed was in his own best interest by leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers and joining the Miami Heat. While Cleveland spent millions courting him to stay, the moment he made his decision they showed how they truly felt about him all along. Cavs owner Dan Gilbert derided him as a coward while the very fans who once professed their undying love for him threatened him and burned his jersey in the streets. If this happened to Lebron, any player who thinks it can't happen to them is two fries short of a "happy meal." In the NBA, you're only as good as your last bucket.

If Black athletes decided to "do for self" and start their own league, where would it leave the NBA? The NBA without Black players would be like a bicycle without a chain; going absolutely nowhere.
NBA players are paid millions. NBA owners are worth billions. Something tells me that if the owners were to acquiesce to players' legitimate and fair demands that the owners' lifestyles wouldn't be affected at all. And on top of that, anything they relinquish in negotiations they'll find a creative way to take it back. The great warrior civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer used to say, "If the White man gives you anything—just remember when he gets ready, he'll take it right back." Let us think over these wise words, for history bears witness to the truth that Sister Fannie Lou spoke.

Sometimes when negotiations break down between two parties it is because the issue is no longer about fairness and truth. The issue becomes about power and control and the NBA's owners believe they own not only the teams but the human beings who make up the team as well. Mr. Gumbel was right. Human beings who think they own other human beings usually reside on plantations. There is only one real solution to this problem.

Point blank, Black NBA players and executives should pool their resources and organize themselves toward starting their own league. The slave mind will automatically compute this as an impossibility, but a free-thinking man and woman who has studied history only sees it as "returned independent behavior."

Rube Foster is an iconic figure in Black history that we should teach our children about. Acknowledging the accomplishments of Steve Jobs in this day and time is fine, but Black men like Foster did what many see as impossible today. He was a phenomenal pitcher who became the owner of his own team and president of the first successful Negro League, a thriving baseball association that created opportunities for Black talent when Whites would not allow them to play in the "major" leagues. Black people supported the league in droves. The "swagger" of Black athletes outstripped their counterparts with such class that even Whites became fans. The Negro Leagues became a competitive entity. The idea of integration proved to be the undoing of Negro League baseball with Black-owned teams. Now you can hardly find Black players in pro baseball and they no longer have the alternative of a league of their own. It is recorded that Rube Foster suffered a mental breakdown and mysteriously died in an insane asylum. He probably went crazy envisioning the future. He probably had nightmares of David Stern pointing his finger in the face of a Black athlete twice his size.

My point is if it can be done then, with less resources and technology, it can be done now. But who would have the courage, vision and testicular fortitude to make such a bold and independent move?

If Black athletes decided to "do for self" and start their own league, where would it leave the NBA? The NBA without Black players would be like a bicycle without a chain; going absolutely nowhere. Ticket sales would plummet right along with fan interest. While we undoubtedly have the athletic talent to suffice a league of our own, I submit with humility and confidence that we have the intellectual power among us to manage the executive aspect of such an avant-garde move, as well. Brothers like Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Bob Johnson and others are but signs of the boardroom greatness produced from our ranks. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad once asked if Black people in America were qualified to have a nation of our own. He answered an emphatic "yes" to his own question. I humbly submit that if we are qualified to build our own nation, then we must be qualified to start our own sports organizations.

NBA players and executives should wise up. As long as they are the owners and we are just players, they will see us no differently than plantation owners saw sharecroppers. The players may be well paid, but they fail to understand that the more they pay you, the more of you they think they own. Once an agreement has been made, you still have no choice except to return to their houses (NBA teams), because you have failed to see the writing on the wall. Once you have returned to their houses, they will craftily find a way to make you play by their rules. White people have been making treaties for a long, long time. They've been breaking them just as long.

It is a good thing to see players unite and stand for their own enlightened self-interest, but I say take it a step further. If you don't like the way your boss treats you, then hire yourself. Will opposing forces come against you? Of course they will. As a matter of fact it appears they already have. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan recently reaffirmed for us that "Business is Warfare." It just makes sense that if you are already having to fight, you may as well be FIGHTing FOR YOUR OWN.

Minister Farrakhan Comes to Prairie View A&M, Nov. 9th

2011-10-31T14:07:00.000-05:00

by Deric Muhammad

Anticipation is building, young people are talking and social networking sites are abuzz concerning the arrival of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan who is set to bring a message of hope, guidance and empowerment to a generation that much of the world has given up on. Yes, Farrakhan is coming to town and his focus is on the future; our youth.

Prairie View A&M University will host the firebrand leader Nov. 9th as part of its “S.P.I.T. Knowledge” lecture series. The series is designed to provide an opportunity for students to become exposed to topics not taught in a “traditional” setting. S.P.I.T Knowledge is an acronym for “Students Participating in Transcendent Knowledge.” The free event will be held in the William “Billy” J. Nicks building also known as “The Baby Dome.” Doors open at 6:30pm.

“We understand that learning takes place inside and outside of the classroom”, stated Isis McCraw, Program Coordinator for Special Programs and Cultural Series at Prairie View A&M. “Our institution is currently making plans to accommodate Minister Farrakhan’s visit after 23 years here on campus.” Minister Farrakhan’s last visit to Prairie View was in 1988.

The “78 years-young” Farrakhan, who after 56 years of service still considers himself a student, will visit Prairie View A&M at a critical hour. At no other time in history has there been a greater need for a “moment of clarity” for young Black America. Unemployment among Blacks is nearly double that of Whites. The income gap between Blacks and Whites continues to widen. Young Black men and women continue to fill the jails of America while most don’t finish college, and what’s most alarming is that those who do (obtain a degree) can hardly find an avenue by which they can turn that degree into a decent living. With young people throughout the country engaged in an ever-expanding “Occupy” protest of Wall Street and the government, what should young Black brothers and sisters be doing in preparation for the future?

Minister Farrakhan comes to Prairie View on the heels of a message of critical importance delivered in Philadelphia on October 9th at the 16th anniversary of the Million Man March. He spoke with a fiery sense of urgency about self-determination, the need for the creation of jobs by and for Black people and the critical subject of agriculture and a return to land ownership, cultivation and the growing of our own food. He decried it foolishness for us to depend on the government to do for Black people what Black people can do for themselves. Prairie View A&M, a school who prides itself on its Agricultural Studies may very well be perfect ground to further develop the seeds dropped by Farrakhan in Philadelphia.

The Minister has a history several decades-long of guidance of youth, student leaders, so-called gangs, etc. He is the one leader who ages in years, yet does not lose his “connection” with every “new” generation. Recent evidence of this is found on his Twitter page @LouisFarrakhan where the Minister takes the time out of his non-stop schedule to hold question and answer sessions on the popular social networking site. While Farrakhan will forever be remembered for bringing 2 million Black men to Washington, D.C. for a historic Million Man March in 1995, he refuses to rest on the laurels of past successes and continues to move with the times and technology that comes along with it.

“We are elated that S.P.I.T. Knowledge has chosen to invite the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to Prairie View A&M. It has been over 20 years since he’s been on the campus and it’s long overdue”, said PV Alumnus Jesse Muhammad who is a co-organizer of the highly anticipated event. “We consider Minister Farrakhan to be the most prominent leader on the scene today. I say to the students, skip the parties that night and come out to the Baby Dome to gain insight into your purpose.”

You may follow Minister Farrakhan on Twitter by logging onto www.twitter.com Go to the Minister’s page at @LouisFarrakhan then click the “follow” button.

MODERN TECHNOLOGY: The Gift and The Curse

2011-04-15T15:04:00.000-05:00

(FinalCall.com) - Every rose has its thorn. The same instrument used to make incisions necessary for surgery can also be used to stab someone to death. While the instrument is neutral, the way it is utilized determines whether it facilitates life or death. So it is with modern technology.

The purpose of technology should be reserved for the advancement of civilization. Technology should help us accomplish life's tasks faster; with less error and greater accuracy. In most cases it serves its purpose. For instance, when researching a cure for a disease like cancer the internet is a great tool. However, this same tool makes pornographic material more available than ever. At the end of the day, the technology will help you do what you want to do. Question is: What are you doing?

Some may answer the above question with a resounding “nothing.” I contend that modern technology can even aid you in the accomplishment of “doing nothing.” If you wake up with the intention of finding a job or studying for an exam, but instead spend hours on end playing your WII game or perusing the web you may very well have enlisted the use of modern technology to help you accomplish “nothing” that day.

My 12-year-old daughter is profoundly gifted at spelling. She won a Nation of Islam local spelling bee. Yet when she sends me text messages, she purposely misspells words; the culture of texting among teens. I admit, texting can be a fast and efficient way to communicate. I use it quite often myself. However, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad so wisely taught us that “too much of anything is no good.” He also taught us that writing was one of the “lost arts” of our people.

Too much texting forces the brain to compute information in an abbreviated form. It affects the way we write, think and speak. Now we have what society calls “sexting”, where sexually charged text messages and photos are exchanged via text message. It seems that our youth are overlooking the rose of technology and are becoming too anxious to toy with its thorns.

The Gift

There are billions of cellular phones activated around the world. I have been as far as China without losing the capability of communicating with my family thanks to technology. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are great places to find classmates, distant relatives and organize events. As seen recently, these sites have the potential to play a major role in revolutionary mobilization.

Were it not for camera-equipped smart-phones we may have never captured the footage of Oscar Grant's murder by an Oakland officer. Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, used the internet to leak top-secret cables exposing bizarre communication between sovereign nations. Let's face it, were it not for the brilliant use of cutting-edge modern technology during his 2008 campaign we may not have elected the first Black president of the United States of America. Modern technology is definitely “the gift.”

The Curse

The same smart-phone that we use to communicate has what is termed “memory.” In it we store everything from telephone numbers, meeting notes, appointments, etc. But, when we have become too dependent on our phone's memory, what happens to our own?

The same social networking sites that helped organize protests are also havens for sexual predators and rapists. The same camera-phone that captured Oscar Grant's murder is being used to video-record teen-aged girls fighting and tearing one another's clothes off in the process; also to leak sex tapes and private photos of unsuspecting persons.

The same internet that Wikileaks used to expose government secrets is being used to steal the identities of millions of people, robbing them of their earnings. People seldom converse at the gym anymore. Why? Everyone wears iPod earbuds. The same YouTube phenomenon that gave Barack Obama a direct platform to communicate with voters is being used to air gang initiations and lewd, lascivious activity. You get the picture. Modern technology is what you make it. It can be the gift or the curse, depending on how you make use of it.

We must begin to use technology as a vehicle or it will become a vice. It must be used as a vehicle to facilitate and actualize ideas and concepts. We must use it as a platform to educate, inform, organize and mobilize the masses of our people. The technology itself is neither positive nor negative; it is neutral. However it can be employed for positive or negative purposes, depending on who is using it. The way you use technology is an extension of who you are and how you think. Therefore, self-improvement leads to a more productive use of technology.

Don't spend so much time on FACEBOOK that you neglect to put your FACE in a BOOK. There is no technology like the human mind. It's a lot smarter than a smart phone. Invest in your mind. The returns are limitless. Stop totally depending on gadgets to do your thinking for you. Don't allow yourself to lose sight of the importance of the human bond. Stop texting your grandmother. Get up, go over and visit her. Don't let technology make you lazy.

In the Nation of Islam we are given the lesson of the “Lion in a Cage.” The Lion is to use Modern Equipment to help him get out of this cage. I contend that the same modern equipment that can be used to get the Lion out of this cage can be used to keep him in it. You are the Lion. How will you use today's modern technology? It is a question that must be answered in the mirror.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

2010-08-27T15:13:00.001-05:00

" A classroom is not the only place to acquire knowledge." -Linda Johnson Rice

Highlights from the "Can't Ban the Truth" Townhall Meeting Supporting Rapper Trae the Truth

2010-06-20T16:26:00.000-05:00

Houston Chronicle Blog Post: Houston Rapper Trae; "YOU CAN'T BAN THE TRUTH"

2010-05-05T19:40:00.000-05:00

By: Joey Guerra (Houston Chronicle Blog Contributor)
(UPDATED FROM ORIGINAL POST)

Houston rapper Trae Tha Truth filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Radio One, which owns 97.9 FM (KBXX The Box), citing "a consistent pattern of business disparagement, conspiracy and tortious interference."

"I'm not only doing this for me. I'm doing this so that our futures and others can have a fair chance," Trae said during a Wednesday morning press conference on the steps of the Harris County Civil Courthouse downtown.

"I need to do the right thing. I need to stand up. I also work hard for this community -- very hard. You can't ban the truth."

Trae (whose real name is Frasier Thompson III) and attorney Warren Fitzgerald, Jr. allege that 97.9 FM banned the rapper's music after he was involved in an on-air altercation with Madd Hatta Morning Show DJ Nnete Inyangumia. During a 2009 radio interview, Trae says Inyangumia falsely accused him of inciting violence at a festival celebrating "Trae Day." The rapper, whose real name is Frasier Thompson III, was honored July 24, 2008 by Mayor Bill White and the Houston City Council for his community work.

Trae then mentioned Inyangumia's weight in a mixtape, which is when he says the ban was put into effect.

"It's personal, and it's not business. There's no reason to ban his music. His music is no more or no less violent than any other music that's being played on the radio station" Fitzgerald said.

"We know for sure that people are being intimidated, people are being retaliated against for their involvement with him."

Also named in the suit are general manager Doug Abernathy and program manager Terri Thomas. The suit alleges a staff member was suspended for making a mixtape featuring Trae and that popular on-air trio the Kracker Nuttz was recently fired after playing a song that featured Trae.

"Seems strange to say, but things for us at the station hadn't been the same (or at least what it used to be) for a very long time," the Kracker Nuttz wrote in a recent blog post. The group was at the courthouse Wednesday to show their support for Trae.

Houston rapper TroubleSum called the situation "preposterous."

"As an artist, you vent through your music. We get caught up in our emotions, and we'll write about it," she said. "(Inyangumia) used her platform to voice her concerns and her opinions about Trae. He did the same thing in return.

"Things were said. Let's move on. It's ridiculous."

Trae is suing for general damages to his reputation, character, standing in the community, mental suffering, loss of professional opportunities, performance revenue and record royalties. A temporary restraining order has been issued prohibiting 97.9 FM from destroying any evidence, including memoranda or emails relating to the ban. A hearing is scheduled for May 14.

Derick Muhammad of the Millions More Movement Ministry of Justice says they are "exploring" boycotts of the radio station and its advertisers. Matt Sonzala, a longtime champion of Texas rap and hip-hop who runs the popular Austin Surreal blog, called Trae "one of the more straight dudes in this scene - for real."

"We believe that the airwaves are sacred and that nobody should have the power or the authority to use the airwaves against an individual to settle a personal vendetta," Muhammad said.

"It's a way bigger picture than (my music). I'm kind of looking at myself to be a sacrifice right now," Trae said. "My son raps. Other people's sons rap and sing. This can happen to anybody."

Black Suffering: Is Giving Up an Option?

2010-04-07T17:30:00.001-05:00

By: Deric Muhammad

Have you ever met a person who appears to have given up? If you visit the homeless living underneath bridges in major cities across America you are sure to find a brain surgeon. How about the former freedom-fighter who sits amid the debris in the neighborhood park holding court about the “worthlessness” of Black youth? The road to freedom has and always will be a long and winding road littered with casualties along it’s byways that just “gave up.”

I’m not passing judgment on anyone. I am grateful for any and everyone who has lifted a finger to help Black people in the last 455 years. And let’s be realistic, Black people lead the nation in joblessness, incarceration, infant mortality, HIV/AIDS cases, poverty, fratricide (Black on Black murder) and so many other categories that signal the weak pulse of a people. To say that I have no understanding of why a person would think to give up on Black people would be a politically correct lie.

A few weeks ago a 3-year old Charissa Powell was shot and killed during what police called an attempted carjacking in north Houston. Two men attempted to rob Charissa’s father at gunpoint for the rims on his car. When her father tried to remove Charissa from the car one of the men opened fired with an AK47 killing her and wounding her brother. This is the kind of insanity that makes Black people think about “giving up.”

The late great Donny Hathaway used to sing a beautiful tune that said “Giving Up is so hard to do…when you really love someone.” While Hathaway appears to have been singing to a woman, I would contend that the same sentiments can be applied when speaking of a people who suffer like my people. The truth is that in order to maintain your stride toward freedom, justice and equality for Black people you have to love Black people with a love so unconditional that you love them more than they hate themselves.

I don’t write this kind of article out of a vacuum. I hear the hurt, pain, disappointment and livid anger expressed by people in barber shops, grocery stores, churches, etc, when innocent children like Charissa Powell get caught in the crossfire of ignorance and self-hate. Sincere Black people have at times told me to my face, “You go ahead Muhammad. Call me if you need me, but I’m sick of ni—as.” Like it or not, this is the way that Black America is talking.

I could not bear to go to Charissa Powell’s funeral for 2 reasons. 1). The last time I attended a funeral where that casket was that small it took me nearly a year to recover. 2). Knowing that her young life was taken by one of our own misguided brothers compounds the pain tenfold. However, I know that my personal pain will never be more important that God’s will. Therefore I can never give up on Black people, considering God has not given up on me.

It is natural that we sometimes get tired, overwhelmed and discouraged. If you turn on the nightly news, the non-stop images of Black people in handcuffs, postured before judges could very well make one want to just move to an island. But no matter, where you go the suffering of darker people will follow you. And so will your conscience. We will never be free until giving up on Black people becomes synonymous with giving up on self.

This is no time to give up; this is the time to get up. The only thing that we need to give up is apathy, complacency, laziness and disunity. Instead of giving up on our people let’s give up everything that has become an impediment to our rise. I’m all for giving up on envy, jealousy, gang warfare and dope dealing. To give up on your people is to give up on your birthright. To give up on your people is to give up on our children and their future.

If we give up how many more lives of innocent babies like Charissa Powell do we place into the hands of the forces of death that plague the streets of America and the Black community? Charissa’s death should serve as a “wake-up call”; not a sleeping pill. It’s time to give up the thought of “giving up.” It is not an option.

If you have ever been a part of any organization that fights for justice on behalf of our people I ask that you revisit, rejoin and rededicate yourself. If you have never joined an organization like this, make a wise choice and then do so. If you are not a mentor to some young person or a watchman for the elderly in your community I say “get up.” The only thing we can afford to give up is the grave of ignorance. And the next time you think about giving up on Black people, think of where you would be had God given up on you.

MAKE YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD A DECENT PLACE TO LIVE

2010-03-30T14:00:00.000-05:00

Instead of Moving to a Nicer Neighborhood, Move the Nicer Neighborhood to You

By: Deric Muhammad

Once President Lyndon Baines Johnson, with Dr. Martin Luther King looking over his shoulder, signed the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 Black people who had a little money couldn’t wait to move from segregated small towns into the big city. It was a privilege and an honor to make the trek from humble shanty towns like Kindleton, Texas to big shot cities like Houston so that we could live down the street from our white “brothers and sisters.”

But, by the time Black folk got moved in they jumped the picket fence to go and meet their new white neighbors, white folk had already moved. “For Sale” signs were everywhere. Real estate companies must’ve made a mint in those days. Soon after, those Black families went back to those small towns and spread the word about the inner city. The new neighborhood was now populated with the same folks from the small town they left. They all may as well have stayed where they were.

White folks moved to these rural areas, renamed them “the suburbs” and bought all of the land that we left. Thirty years later in a move to reclaim the inner-cities of America, called “gentrification”, they began to aggressively repurchase urban properties owned by Black people that they lost during the sixties.

Many wondered why, two generations later, the same families that “broke their backs” to get into the inner city were now “breaking their necks” to get out. In the sixties when Blacks got a little money they moved into the city. Now it has become a trending phenomenon to say that you “got out.” Where do we go from here?

The move to “gentrify” the inner city was not as easy as they thought it would be. A lot had happened in the decades that had passed since integration. The advent of “crack” cocaine and the violence, turf warfare and human casualty count it brought about turned many inner city neighborhoods into the shanty towns that our families left for a better life in the sixties. By this time we should have learned a valuable lesson. THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOES NOT MAKE THE PEOPLE; IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

We as a people have to make a conscious decision to stop running from “pillar to post” every other generation and maintain and beautify what is our own. We must stop responding to television commercials about a better life in Sugarland and make the Black community a decent community.

The first thing we must do it unite and create a common agenda for the betterment of our neighborhoods. We, then, must do as City Councilman Jarvis Johnson says; we must “team up to clean up.” A dirty neighborhood is not a decent neighborhood. If you want others to respect your community it must be clean.

You must then become watchmen of education and law enforcement. You must pack the schools at PTA meetings and demand from elected officials what is necessary to better educate our children. Since we are nearing a 50% dropout rate we must pool our resources to create alternative education opportunities. We must meet with the police chief and advise him how our communities should be policed. We must demand the reassignment of those officers who look to abuse our youth, rather than correct them.

Drug treatment facilities are a must. Little league sports teams are a must and after school programs are a must. We must partner with every pastor in the community and make sure that anyone doing business, extracting resources from the community is giving back. However, it all starts with unity. Once you truly unify, you will be amazed at the brilliance that lies dormant in your neighborhood. If we make our own neighborhoods a decent place to live there is no need to move to a nicer neighborhood. The “nicer neighborhood” will have moved to us.

THE KLAN IS RECRUITING....SO WHAT?

2010-03-26T12:22:00.000-05:00

By: Deric Muhammad

Recently the Ku Klux Klan made headlines when residents in a local area of Houston noticed their neighborhood was leafleted with flyers encouraging them to join the Ku Klux Klan. Honestly, I yawned when I saw the coverage.

There have been KKK recruitment drives in the not so distant past and I doubt they have produced a surge in their ranks. I always thought the Klan needed to hire an image consultant; you know, do something about those awful uniforms. Young people these days would never trade their skinny jeans and skateboard sneakers for low thread-count white sheets and lit crosses. It’s a new day and the KKK needless to say appears to be struggling for relevance.

But, then I thought about the countless times that I’ve been in court rooms and witnessed white judges hand out huge sentences for small crimes to Black youth. Then I remembered that the uniform changed a long time ago. It is not the white supremacist dressed in white sheets and dark boots that we should watch out for. It is the white supremacist in white shirts and dark suits that now poses a threat to the freedom of Black people.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and those in the civil rights movement faced vehement opposition from the Ku Klux Klan, The White Citizens Council and other overtly organized bodies of hate that sought the annihilation of Black people. Too many of our youth are unaware of the cold-blooded murders that took place at the hands of the KKK during the civil rights movement. It is a history that we must teach our children.

However, during the latter years Dr. King came to be less concerned with the KKK. He became more concerned about the “White Moderate” who he said may have been Black people’s greatest threat in the stride toward liberation. King said that the white moderate was more interested in the absence of tension than the presence of justice. In my opinion Dr. King realized that an “in your face” KKK member was less dangerous to our struggle than a “slicker than soap” con artist who would march beside you one day and plot against you the next.

I believe that the KKK’s new recruitment drive is worthy of note, but that’s about it. There was a time when these groups sought to kill Black people wholesale. But the KKK no longer holds the title of champion killer of Black people. We do. Truth be told it does not matter how much they recruit; they will probably never catch up with us when it comes to the killing of our own people in urban America. This makes them no longer the boogey man that they once were. Our worst enemy is looking back at us in the mirror; not under a Wal-Mart- bought white sheet.

My suggestion is that we join the KKK in the quest for recruitment. Those organizations that exist to lift our people must recruit today like never before. Since the Klan no longer holds the crown of chief murderer of our people, Black men must unify and recruit like never before to fight Black on Black violence and murder.

The NAACP, Black United Front, SCLC, New Black Panther Party, Urban League, Nation of Islam and all organized bodies that seek the salvation and liberation of our people should join forces for mass recruitment. We should go into deprived and underserved neighborhoods as a unified community and extend the hand of brotherhood and sisterhood to our suffering people. Our youth, especially, have a strong desire to belong to something; to have something to call their own. If we as a community don’t reach out to them, the gang leader will.

There is a saying that goes “there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come.” I contend that the idea of the KKK has come and gone. White sheets are out; black robes are in. So we need not be overly concerned about their recruitment drive. We must be more concerned about our own. Let us unify to lift our people from self-hatred and ignorance. The KKK will take care of itself.

Brothers Jesse and Deric Muhammad on the Cover of Recent African-American News and Issues Newspaper

2010-02-10T14:13:00.000-06:00

(Jesse and Deric Muhammad grew up in the dilpidated shack (left).In the documentary, Raising Boys: Tips for Single Moms, Deric shares tips to help single Black mothers and their sons overcome the challenges
of raising their sons alone.)

By: Tuala Williams (General Manager of the African-American News and Issues)

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, at least 70 percent of all African-American households are headed by single mothers. These ever increasing numbers are causing concern among some in the Black community and several men have stepped up to address the problem.

In fact, the issue provoked Houston community activist Deric Muhammad to produce a documentary, Raising Boys: Tips for Single Moms. Muhammad, the son of single mother Mavis Jackson, produced the documentary in hopes of responding to the crisis mothers and sons experience.

“The Black mother is the soldier on the frontline to save the Black male and every good soldier needs good ammunition. Every good soldier needs good armor, so these tools are important because we are trying to arm these women with the tools they need to save their sons.

“In most cases, when a young woman calls me and her son is facing 10 or 20 or 30 years in prison, or even life, and I ask the question, ‘Where is the father?,’ the answer to that question is usually, ‘I don’t know.’ And so since most of these sisters don’t know where the father is, then we have to give them the ammunition that they need to cover their end for the father until the Black man gets there,” Muhammad said in his documentary.

Muhammad explains that despite the fact that the Black male makes up only 6 to 7 percent of the population in America, they make up over 50 percent of the prison population, and Blacks make up 49 percent of all murder victims. Muhammad says his father died when was 11-years-old. Prior to his death, he did not see his father very much, but when he did see him, his father would tell him that he loved him and that he should not be like him. His father, he says was a hustler and a con artist. Despite best intentions, his father’s warnings were not sufficient to deter him from following his own rebellious path.

It is a common understanding that boys need their fathers and there is great concern about the ability of single mothers to transform their little boys into strong men. Some fear the lack of a male role model in their lives will cause them to become weak, degenerate or effeminate. “It’s very difficult for a woman to raise a boy to be a man,” said David Miller, co-founder of the youth-focused Urban Leadership Institute in Baltimore.

“A boy has to be around good men for that to happen.” Miller is founder of the national campaign called, “Raising Him Alone,” that provides a network of resources, advocacy and access to community-based services. The campaign focuses primarily on reaching the Black community via workshops, seminars, online initiatives and more.

Others disagree with the notion that a single mother cannot raise a healthy male, believing that, given adequate resources, women can raise healthy productive sons. There is evidence to support both sides, raising the question, what is the difference? What causes some boys to “turn out alright” and others to deviate from societal expectations?

Some blame poverty. Statistics show that six out of every 10 children living with only their mother were near or below the poverty level.

“I grew up in a single parent household,” Muhammad says. “My mother had five children and there was no man in the house.” Muhammad, who grew up on welfare, stated there were times he and his family had no electricity or water. He says poverty made life hard, but they made the best of their situation.

However, according to Muhammad, the thing that seemed to truly hinder their growth as men was his mother’s crack addiction and the lack of a male role model. In the documentary, Jeremy Banks also talks about his friends’ struggles in their quest to find a male role model they can identify with.

“A lot of my friends, they don’t really have fathers at home. Of the friends that I do hang out with, I only know one that actually has a mom and a dad, and his dad is always there, but at the same time, he’s always drunk and stuff. But he really doesn’t care about that. He’s still doing things with his life,” Banks says, “But the rest of my friends, I don’t really think they have fathers at home, but they try to act like they do. They harbor the things that they see outside the home and they take that and imitate that instead of looking at the TV watching Barack Obama, like having a good influence, they take in the drug dealers, the gangs, the hip hop rappers like Little Wayne, the drugs, alcohol, stuff like that.”

Raising a son alone can be a challenge for any single mother, even in the best of circumstances. Gillis Triplett, of Gillis Triplett Ministries, says there are things many mothers do that sabotage their own efforts. Among them are poisoning their son’s minds against their biological father, instilling the “All men are dogs,” mentality, making their sons the men of the house, feminizing their son, emasculating their sons, making them mama’s boys, refusal to allow them to have contact with strong male role models, allowing men to sleep over, playing the dating game.

According to Triplett, when allow men to sleep over or go through a number of boyfriends, boys become indoctrinated to see women as sex objects and become desensitized to the well-being of women. In short, he begins to lose respect for them. These things can create enormous amounts of frustration for young men growing up without a father. Muhammad says that fatherlessness; in itself, is not the true cause of crisis. He blames the bitterness caused by fatherlessness for the downward spiral many young men find themselves on.

He says young men, growing up without a father creates a common bond that can set them on a path to destruction. These young men find a sense of identity together which they lacked as individuals, often causing them to form gangs.

“And once they get together and they create an identity for themselves, they get together and prove themselves. But it is all because they have not been taught a proper identity for themselves for the lack of a father,” Muhammad says.

We Must Teach Our Youth the Legacy of Mickey Leland

2010-01-22T19:31:00.002-06:00

Today in Texas History: Mickey Leland dies in plane crash
Democratic Congressman George Thomas "Mickey" Leland
(printed in The Houston Chronicle, August 7, 2009)

On this date, August 7th, in 1989 -- Democratic Congressman George Thomas "Mickey" Leland, the son of a short order cook raised in a poor section of Houston who rose to become one of just five African Americans since Reconstruction to serve Texas in the United States capital -- died in a plane crash in Ethiopia. The crash occurred over the mountainous region of Gambela, killing all 15 passengers aboard, including three of Leland's congressional aides.

Leland was elected to Congress in 1978 after a contentious race against fellow Democrat Anthony Hall to fill retiring three-term Houston Rep. Barbara Jordan's historic seat. The election required a runoff in a campaign in which Jordan declined to endorse either candidate.

In January of 1979, Leland arrived in Washington, having won 57 percent of the vote in the runoff and without having faced official opposition in the general election, eager to prove himself. The young, 33-year-old Lone Star State lawmaker used his connections in D.C. to further his humanitarian goals.

After Leland won a powerful and highly sought-after seat on the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee (later called Energy and Commerce), he used his assignment to establish corporate and industry contacts that might help his national and international crusade against poverty and hunger.

Leland quickly gained the respect of his colleagues, though he was relegated to two committee's historical assigned to black lawmakers: the Post Office and Civil Service Committee and the Committee on the District of Columbia.

The young Houstonian quickly became an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which he later chaired (1985-1987). In various leadership positions, Leland successfully lobbied Congress to create the House Select Committee on Hunger. He served as chair of that committee when his fateful trip to Ethiopia was organized.

Leland was visiting Ethiopia on a working vacation during the congressional recess, a time when most lawmakers return to their districts or enjoy family time in some exotic holiday hotspot. But not Leland, a man known for his frequent appearances at soup kitchens and for visiting with his black and Hispanic constituents in some of the more violent and less alluring sections of Houston.

Congressman Leland even hired some of his Mexican American constituents to help him learn Spanish. He was a good student: Leland spoke Spanish on the House floor as he argued to retain bilingual clauses in the Voting Rights Act.

On his August 1989 trip to Ethiopia, Leland had organized a humanitarian mission to carry supplies to refugee camps on the Ethiopia-Sudan border and to monitor human rights issues within the refugee camps.

In the mid- to late-1980s, famine had devastated Ethiopia, following a series of major droughts that began in the mid-1970s. In 1984, several human rights organizations estimated that nearly 1 million people had died and 8 million people had been identified as victims of the food shortages.

By 1986, the death toll was rising due in part to a locust plague that only intensified the crop shortages. The Ethiopian food crisis created a political and economic crisis for the Communist regime. For years the international community had ignored the plight of the Ethiopians and many within the Ethiopian government were either unwilling or unequipped to respond.

Leland's trip to Ethiopia in 1989 was not the first time the Texas lawmaker had traveled to the East African country. He first became aware of and passionate about the political and social situation on the African continent during a three-month stay in Tanzania, after extending a trip he had taken while serving as a Texas state legislator.

Congressman Leland functioned as a strong but lonely voice, calling attention to the issues plaguing the continent of Africa and drawing on his personal experience both on the beleaguered continent and at home in Texas. He was a persuasive voice on the interconnected issues of hunger, poverty and injustice.

Leland was born in Lubbock, Texas, on November 27, 1944 in impoverished circumstances in a town recognized for its strong racial conflict and few opportunities for black advancement.

Leland's mother escaped the midsize West Texas city for the metropolis of Houston, taking Leland and his brother with him.

Houston provided Leland with more opportunities but he was not immune to the racism of the Jim Crow South. He attended segregated schools and lived in a segregated neighborhood within the city's limits.

Leland political consciousness came of age in the civil rights era, in which he was both a student of the movement and an activist in his own right. As older black residents in his neighborhood and across the county, took active roles in the sits in, protests and letter writing campaigns, Leland observed the history making before him and consumed the literature that inspired a generation.

Leland's self education made him an avowed leftist. He became committed to fighting injustice and inequality at all stages. By the late 1960s, following the murders of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and the birth of the Black Panthers and Black Power Movement, Leland joined the evolving black civil rights movement as it transformed from a mainly Christian, Southern and middle-class origins -- taking it on a more revolutionary, Marxist journey.

He also was about building bridges. Upon arriving in Congress, Leland developed a six-week program that sent poor African American kids from Houston to Israel to learn about Jewish culture and encourage the celebrated black-Jewish alliance and the struggles that united both groups. A disproportionate number of white civil rights activists were Jewish and leftists in American history.

After police arrested the young activist in an anti police brutality protest, Leland decided to enter electoral politics, finding limits to his bottom-up activism.

Elected to the Texas House of Representative in 1972, the youthful Leland was initially labeled a militant. He once appeared at work on the state House floor rocking an Afro and decked out in platform shoes with the customary tie-dye T-shirt of the era.

Leland's choice of work attire definitely supported his opponents' views and fed inaccurate perceptions about what was, in reality, a serious politician. Furthermore, many white politicos and white Texans alike were unfamiliar with black street culture and the depth of the social and cultural changes happening in black neighborhoods.

Leland was in many ways an unlikely politician for his era and for Texas. Still, among his constituents and many other groups, Leland died a hero. His untimely death caused great sadness among his constituents and without a doubt for his family. Leland's wife Alison gave birth to their twins five months after Leland's tragic plane crash.

Today, many foundations wisely recognize the Texas firebrand, and institutions both in D.C. and in Texas have recognized the forever-young Leland with scholarships for education and anti-poverty programs and awards.

But Congress canceled his lifetime project, the House Select Committee for Hunger, after the Republican revolution led by Newt Gingrich and fellow Texans Tom DeLay and Dick Armey brought Republicans to power in 1995.

Brother Nuri Muhammad Speaks!!!

2010-01-22T00:16:00.002-06:00

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

2010-01-22T00:12:00.000-06:00

PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS: "Raising Boys" Community Screening and Townhall Meeting

2010-01-21T16:03:00.001-06:00

Saturday, January 9th at the Shrine of the Black Madonna in Houston. (all photos by Ed Jackson)

City Councilman Jarvis Johnson Officially Announces His Candidacy for Congress Challenging Sheila Jackson Lee

2010-01-06T23:53:00.000-06:00

"Raising Boys: Tips for Single Moms" The Documentary...The Community Dialogue...The Fight to Save Our Boys!!!!! (1/9/2010)

2009-12-14T13:07:00.000-06:00

MONDAY MORNING JAB: "Get Focused" ...Period!"

2009-12-14T12:38:00.002-06:00

Last week was a huge trial for me. I found myself in a court of law accused of something that I clearly was not guilty of. During the days leading up to it I found it very difficult to focus on specific projects of a critical nature. It's hard to focus when you have a 100 pound legal gorilla on your back. Thanks to Allah (God), my attorney, my family and the power of the truth and FOCUS things went well for me. I highlight the word "focus" because that is what it took to get me out of the situation. As painful as it was and as much as I did not wish to deal with it I had to put more important things out of my mind temporarily so that I could be ready to properly defend myself. Such is the power of focus. I don't know about you but if my mind were a road it would be a Chinese expressway. It is constantly racing with thoughts, ideas and images. I'll be honest. Sometimes it's difficult to make prayer without my mind wandering. Whenever I find my mind drifting while praying I have to force myself to restart the prayer and say it with sincerity, measuring every word to my Lord. Once I've finished that focused prayer I am absolutely energized and recharged. Just as we must me mindful to be in the right spirit and focus during prayer, we should practice the "art of focus" in everything we do. We must concentrate on one thing at a time and not allow the Chinese expressway to dominate our lives. In my opinion "multi-tasking" is sometimes overrated and can lead to poor performance. The time that you thought you saved by multi-tasking you end up squandering when you have to go back to "do it again." But multi-tasking in and of itself still requires great focus. Every great boxer learns to fight one punch at a time. Every great chess player learns to play one move at a time. It takes intense focus and concentration to to be great at anything in life. This week be careful not to get bogged down in everything and end up accomplishing nothing. Set goals for yourself, create a prioritized list of things to do and FOCUS on one thing at a time with the goal of perfection. Don't "just do it", do it right this week. Make a concerted effort to turn of Twitter, Facebook, the television and your cell phones so that you can lock into the project that is before you. I once heard a pastor say that the only difference between a lightbulb and a laser beam is one is more focused than the other. This is my Monday Morning Jab and I hope it connects; especially with the writer.

THE FINAL CALL NEWSPAPER REPORTS ON THE MOLESTATION OF BLACK BOYS

2009-12-13T09:06:00.000-06:00

By: Deric Muhammad

(FinalCall.com) - They play tough positions on professional football teams, hold high political offices, supervise construction shifts and preach in the pulpits of spiritual places of worship. They are leaders of street organizations, captains of corporate industry, hard-core rap stars and short-order cooks. Who are they? They are Black males who were molested as boys.

While the rape and molestation of females has spawned a plethora of preventive programs and inspired international dialogue, the ever increasing rape of young boys is still a taboo subject. Statistics say that the abuse of young boys is on the rise, but I wonder how accurate those stats could be given the fact that most men who have been abused would never discuss or admit it.

As a Black male in America I have never had a friend, associate or family member confess that they were sexually abused. As an activist, I have assisted many with different types of criminal cases, social issues and problems. However, I have never received a phone call from a male stating that he had been sexually violated. It can be likened to the proverbial bowling ball underneath the living room rug; you can't see it, but you can't stop tripping over it.

How many Black men walk the streets of America suffering from such an unfortunate past? How many of them fear society's ridicule if they should choose to talk about it? How many sick molesters of boys depend on this very fear to remain unpunished and continue their victimization of the innocent? And how much of financial resources, time, energy and organization is being invested in programs that identify, support and promote the healing of men who were molested as children?

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"Too often the pain and embarrassment of the community is made to be more important than the pain of the victim. So while we are able to put on a good face for the community in the end it comes back to haunt us."
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Recently famed movie director/actor/entrepreneur Tyler Perry personally went on record about being abused as a young boy. Hundreds of news reports quoted Perry's sentiments about a deceased man whose family asked that Perry pay for his funeral. Perry reportedly refused, but later regretted it. He said that there would have been something powerful about burying the man that molested him.

Whether people agreed with Perry's sentiments or not, you have to respect his courageous address of his past in hopes of inspiring someone else's future. Years ago Oprah Winfrey went public about details of her experience being molested as a young girl. The world showered her with sympathy and rallied around her in support. I wonder if Mr. Perry has received the same outpour considering he is a man. God forbid the same world that rallied around Oprah secretly sees Mr. Perry as a weak human being because of his reported past.

While the Catholic Church has for years been marred by scandal on top of scandal surrounding this issue, I contend that child molestation has no religion. While it happens every day in the Black community, it is very seldom discussed. Too often the pain and embarrassment of the community is made to be more important than the pain of the victim. So while we are able to put on a good face for the community in the end it comes back to haunt us.

Psychologists say that boys who have been molested tend to suffer from depression, repressed anger, emotional confusion and fear. Many suffer from identity crises, drug addiction, alcoholism and the inability to maintain good relationships. Many go on to become molesters themselves repeating the very horrific acts that inflicted such great pain in their lives. Some end up committing suicide leaving their families with unanswered questions and visible teardrops.

While it should be clear that we as a community must do more to protect our young girls from rape and molestation, we must not forget to sharpen our collective eye to protect our boys. We must be mindful of their surroundings at all times and be careful whose hands we leave them in.

Parents must teach little boys regarding appropriate contact versus inappropriate contact with others. This conversation is no longer just reserved for little girls.

If you are a man who has suffered this kind of abuse, seek refuge in God for He is the master healer of all wounds. Be encouraged and know that the abuse from your past makes you no less of a man. As a matter of fact, your strength to persevere in the name of God makes you greater than most men. Much respect to Tyler Perry.

Photo Highlights: Community Leadership Luncheon held at Lone Star Community College

2009-12-07T16:01:00.000-06:00

(A Lone Star Student speaks on the importance of cultural understanding between teacher and student.)

(LSCC North President Dr. Steve Head shares plans with the community for the construction of a 70,000 square foot location being built in the historic Acres Homes Community.)

(Lone Star College Professor Rhonda Ragsdale shares her perspective on culture and education.)

(Educator, Marlon Henderson(r), empasized the need for a real study in Black History.)

(Community Activist Deric Muhammad and Dr. Head take questions.)

(Atty. Warren Fitzgerald (standing) spoke to the need for community's to accept the responsibility of teaching culture to it's youth. Seated (l) is Black Broadcasting Network President Yusef Muhammad.)

(One of many Lone Star students weigh in on the discussion.)

(Educator Alicia Jackson and Community Activist Parnell Herbert (l) listen attentively to the candid discussion.)

Deric's Debate: "THE DEATH OF IMPOSSIBLE"

2009-12-07T14:55:00.000-06:00

(This Opinion-Editorial appeared in a recent edition of the African-American News and Issues)

By: Deric Muhammad

There once was a stalker named “Impossible.” He followed his prey 24 hours a day; 7 days a week and labored without let-up to make people believe in him. Every time his victims called the police on him they would claim it was just “impossible” to catch him. Every time they tried to shoot him they would say he was “impossible” to hit. He doomed an entire people with the cancer of impossibility.

Then one day a genius decided that he would ignore “impossible”. Since it seemed he couldn’t be killed, arrested, convicted or locked up he decided that the best way to deal with the stalker was to become a stalker, himself. The genius became a 24/7 stalker of thought process called “possibility”. This naturally infuriated impossible and a showdown took place.

This genius and “possible” fell deeply in love. It seemed like every time they got together they produced something great. The more they produced the more confident they became in their relationship. They became stalkers of one another and “impossible” had a “hissy fit”. He soon died a natural death. He just could not live with the reality that possibility was more powerful than he.

I offer this little anecdote as a picture of what holds us back from making progress as individuals and as a people. It is the way that we think. As children we though anything was possible, including climbing a 20 story building in a red and blue Spiderman costume. Somewhere along the way grown folks introduced us to the stalker of impossibility.

No one told that youngster that you CAN climb that building. You just need a bungee cord, helicopter, crane or an elevator to do it.

What do you desire in your life that someone has told you is impossible? We are all products of the race of life ran by billions of sperm cells and we were the winners in that race. Considering those odds, we are all miracles. Every time you look in the mirror you are looking at the impossible made possible, by God.

Contradictory to my own little story, you do not have to be a genius to produce greatness. Start by becoming a stalker of possibility. The hardest thing to kill in the universe is “thought”. If you notice, the genius never tried to kill “impossible” he just replaced it with a new thought.

When someone tries to convince you that a worthy goal is impossible get the hell away from them. Treat them like they are stalkers. Then you must become a stalker of the thought process of possibility, creating a picture of your desire in your mind and not stopping until you reach your goals.

Nearly a year ago, a Black man raised his right hand to become the president of the United States of America. Whether you agree with his performance as commander in chief, or not, we must all admit that he evaded the stalker called impossible and courted possibility. Mahatma Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Beethoven, Tiger Woods and many other great men past and present defied the odds to do what conventional wisdom declared could not be done. And while we marvel at their work past and present, we must position ourselves to manhandle the future with the power of possibility.

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad used to say that when God created Himself he destroyed “the impossible.” So whenever we entertain the thought of “impossibility” we are trying to resuscitate an already-destroyed idea. “Impossibility” is already dead; we just need to stop trying to revive it.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Bout Set for March 13th

2009-12-07T14:40:00.000-06:00

This May Be the Fight of the Century!!!

My Monday Morning Jab: "Speak A Word of Inspiration this Week"

2009-12-07T14:00:00.001-06:00

"The power of life and death is in the tongue. You never know when a word of inspiration can stop someone's expiration. EVERY TIME YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH IT IS A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT. Don't blow it!!!"

-Brother Deric

Join Us for a Community Leadership Luncheon/ Roundtable Discussion about the Importance of Culture in Education

2009-11-30T16:54:00.000-06:00

The Importance of Culture in Education

(Join us for a Lone Star Community College Community Leadership Luncheon; Thursday Dec. 3rd, 10am at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive. Please RSVP via email at cece.l.sutphen@lonestar.edu.)

By: Deric Muhammad

When a White female Lone Star College Professor posted this flyer in an effort to attract more Black students to her American History class things got heated. Many in our community begged to question the motive of an educator who would put two plantation dwelling youth, with tattered clothing, playing in a cotton field on a flyer to represent Black people’s journey in American History.

The words “come and learn about your community too” didn’t help the poorly chosen photograph either. I don’t know if the flyer increased enrollment in her class, but it definitely increased Lone Star College as a conversation piece on Twitter and Facebook. How could someone create a flyer so culturally insensitive? What educational institution would approve such a thing? And how should a community respond when images and words such as these give the appearance of disrespect for our contributions to American history?

Well of course the first thing that we did was call the school’s president in efforts of obtaining some explanation and expressing community concern. It was through him that I learned that Lone Star College was an educational institution with approximately 80% Black, Hispanic and other enrollment. He used the term “minorities”; a term that I don’t necessarily agree with. However the faculty at Lone Star College is 80% White. At this point things began to make sense.

When the overwhelming majority of your students are Black and Latino youth from the inner city and the overwhelming majority of your professors are Anglos from suburban and rural areas you are bound to run into some cultural barriers. While Conroe is only about a 20 minute drive from Acres Homes the cultural changes drastically on the other side of that 20 minute drive. But the question that we must ask is “are these cultural differences an impediment to the educational process?”

When a people have survived a psychologically traumatizing ordeal like American slavery, unfortunately a high level of sensitivity becomes a part of their culture. It could be likened to the suffering of Jewish people under the sickness of Adolf Hitler and their cultural resolve that it should happen “never again.” Society handles the suffering of Jewish people very delicately. Sometimes out of respect; sometimes out of fear.

Black people are a people who are still going through a healing process. Slavery, racism, discrimination and injustice have raped us of a dignity that we held dear since the beginning of time. Our suffering must be discussed, but it must be discussed in careful and delicate fashion lest one make a common chiropractic mistake. If a chiropractor is not careful he could further injure the very patient that he is trying help walk upright.

I eventually met with the Lone Star College President, the Dean of schools and a few other faculty members. The professor who created the flyer and teaches the course was present as well. When I first saw the words and images on the flyer I assumed that either someone was trying to make mockery of our sojourn in America or someone had become a little overzealous in an attempt to include “our community” in the course curriculum.

Nevertheless it was what Obama calls a “boneheaded” error. In all fairness to the professor, you cannot have an honest discussion about American history without talking about the savage institution of slavery that helped to build this nation. I, honestly, appreciate any professor who would have the courage to even bring it up. All we ask is that if you are going to talk about it; know what you are talking about. And if at some point you realize that you don’t all you have to do is “ask somebody.”

This is the importance of community relationships with educational institutions. It is a relationship that can close the gap between cultural sensitivity and education. The president of Lone Star issued a letter of apology for all who were offended by this handbill and so did the professor.

Monday Morning Jab: "The Danger of Gambling With Your Thoughts"

2009-11-30T13:30:00.001-06:00

By: Deric Muhammad

The mind is a powerful thing. That statement is a gross understatement. "As a man thinketh, so is he" is and always will be a mathematical statement. No matter how hard we try to hide our thoughts, they eventually manifests in what we say and ultimately what we do.
Our condition usually bears perfect witness to the way that we think. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught that man's brain is "infinite." This is a very powerful statement. Man's brain is so powerful that anything that he or she truly believes can be achieved. Unfortunately most human beings have been conditioned to give way to limitations that those who rule the world don't even pay attention too. We are all products of our thoughts.

Most of us go throughout the day "gambling" with thought. We allow ourselves to be destracted by destructive thoughts. What I mean by "destructive" is we allow ourselves to be programmed by information and ideas that work "against" what we desire to achieve in life. Once our conscious mind feeds these self-defeating thoughts to the subconscious mind failure is inevitable. What we must do is reverse engineer this process and program our minds to think forward and not backwards. We must stop throwing the dice with our thoughts!!!

I observe world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather during his, sometimes, televised training sessions. Mayweather is aguably the most ambitious trainer in sports. He trains nonstop, sometimes spontaneously at 3am in the morning. He leaves the nightclub parties, goes home and puts in his "miles. The proof is in his performance. Many people can't stand him, because they say that his arrogant, cocky and obnoxious. The same could be said about Muhammad Ali. But both of these great fighters professed their greatness so loud and long that they began to believe in it themselves. I think Mayweather talks so much trash in training that he convinces his conscious mind to convince his subconscious mind that that he is the best and that he is going to win. Hate him or love him; he is undefeated. It's not so much that he is playing a mind game with his opponent as it is he is playing a mind game with himself.

I am not encouraging you to be proud, arrogant or boastful. I am encouraging us to program our minds with the affirmatives of a champion. The greatest way to do this is through prayer and meditation on your desired goal; then you must get up and "work, work work" to make it a reality.

This week determine a goal that you want to accomplish. Box out all negative, lukewarm thinking and declare that "it will be so" with the help of God. Talk to yourself about it. Yes, I said talk to yourself (most of do it anyway). Turn off the football game, soap opera, 106th and Park, Twitter and all things not associated with the reaching of the goal. Instead read a book that inspires you to reach the goal, contact mentors that can guide you in the right direction and most importantly talk to God. Your mind is the most valuable resource that you possess. If you feed it productively it will draw unto you all the right things. Don't gamble with your brain cells by giving them over to negativity and non-productivity. You will ultimately be fed from the universe what you have already fed to your own brain, so why leave it to chance. This is my Monday morning jab. I pray it connects.

Connecting Our Youth to the International Struggle Against Poverty

2009-11-30T12:48:00.000-06:00

Educator, Wakiti Muhammad helps the students of Elevated Places organize shoes to be sent as gifts to impoverished countries.

(This is a repost from the Brother Jesse Blog (Weblog Awards's Black Blog of the Year)

by Jesse Muhammad - Staff Writer

The Final Call Newspaper

(Blogger's Note: This is an excerpt of a story that will appear in an upcoming edition of The Final Call Newspaper)

Although the United States is facing an economic crunch, some parents are lining department stores to fulfill holiday wish lists. On that list may be the latest Air Jordans while globally there are millions of children desiring only a pair of shoes.

Any brand will do.

According to statistics from the World Bank Group, every year Americans spend $256.0 billion on clothing and $50.7 billion on shoes.

Around the world there are over 300 million children walking around shoeless. Every year over one million of those children die from preventable diseases caused by the lack of proper shoes.

“The lack of shoes around the world is a serious crisis,” says Hajah Young-Sall, founder of the Atlanta-based organization YES, Inc.

The mission of YES, Inc is to improve the quality of life for African people by providing them with basic human necessities such as shoes. Mrs. Young-Sall was inspired to serve the shoeless population over twenty years ago after a family trip to Senegal, West Africa in the late 80’s.

“I was saddened by the living conditions in Senegal. In particular the enormous amount of men, women and children walking around barefoot,” Mrs. Young-Sall told The Final Call.

According to the website of YES, Inc., shoes are a rarity for people in the impoverished parts of Africa, Asia and South America to the point that some never have a new pair of shoes in their lives. Research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that there are many hazards associated with going barefoot in contaminated soil, dirt water, and sand.

One of the most deadly is hookworm disease that can lead to parasitic infections in barefoot individuals. Parasites also breed in stagnant water in which many children swim and even drink from when necessary. If left untreated, these parasites can result in internal poisons, the loss of limbs, chronic illness and even death.

“As we prepared to depart to America from Senegal, my son asked if he could leave his shoes with his friends who didn’t have any,” says Mrs. Young-Sall. “This sparked the idea to start a shoe drive for the people of Senegal.”

Thus, the group launched the “Shoes for Africa” humanitarian project to collect new and gently-used shoes. Over the last five years alone, YES has collected and distributed over 35,000 pairs of shoes to Senegal. Donations to the project have been received from supporters in North America and as far as New Zealand.

The initiative has also sparked several schools to get involved and launch their own shoe drives. Patrick S. Muhammad, an assistant principal, has built momentum in the Dekalb County public school system with a goal to ship 5,000 pairs of shoes through YES, Inc. by February 2010.

“The number of shoeless children in the world is a serious crisis. Children without shoes in Africa are even hindered from going to school due to diseases. I wanted to get our youth in America involved,” Mr. Muhammad told The Final Call.

Before partnering with YES, Inc., Mr. Muhammad had authored the children’s book “Wear my shoes, please”. The book chronicles three illustrated African refugees who came to America sharing only one pair of shoes between them before eventually receiving a donation from a bully turned friend. The book is being used as a teaching tool in elementary schools in Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, New York, and Georgia.

To date, Mr. Muhammad’s network of schools has collected over 2,000 shoes. One of the schools utilizing the book and participating in the shoe drive is The Elevated Places located in Missouri City, Texas, right outside Houston.

“I truly wanted the students to take part in this project to expand their perception of community service. Our job is to prepare our children for service on a global scale,” says Wakiti Muhammad, co-director of The Elevated Places. The school has collected over 200 pairs so far.

“We Americans can be very materialistic. We have an immense amount of everything because we overindulge in ourselves and don't think about our community,” says Aishah Muhammad, 8th grader.

Ayinde Muhammad added that “in places like Africa, many don't have access to basic needs such as food, shelter, or even clean water. It is our duty to help those who can't help themselves.”

(For information on how to launch a “Shoes for Africa” drive in your city log on to www.yesshoesinc.org. Visit the official website of Patrick Muhammad at http://www.patricksmuhammad.com/)

Tiger Woods Reportedly Seriously Injured in Car Accident

2009-11-27T14:45:00.000-06:00

Media outlets worldwide are reporting that golf megastar Tiger Woods has been seriously injured in a car accident outside his home in Florida. Reports claim that Woods was leaving his home at about 2:30am this morning when he was involved in a single-car accident allegedly striking a tree. Our prayers go out to Tiger Woods and his family. Unfortunately media outlets are already reporting speculative information that might lead to the vilification of Tiger. I won't repeat any of the myriad of "might be's" that talking heads are already hurling at the brother and his character. How about we wait and see if the man is okay, before we hurry toward the next headline seeking the make merchandise of the man's misfortune. Tiger Wood's mastery of the game of golf has inspired millions across the planet. We pray that this is but a bump in the road on his journey to be a champion.

Verse of the Week: "The Ghetto" By: Rakim

2009-11-24T10:25:00.001-06:00

I learn to relax in my room and escape from New York

Take a trip through the womb of the world as a thought

Thinkin how hard it was to be born

Me being cream with no physical form

Millions of cells with one destination

To reach the best part that's life's creation

Nine months later a job well done

Make way cause here I come

Since I made it this far can't stop now

There's a will and a way and I got the know-how

To be all there is to be and more

To see all there is to see before

I'm called to go back to the essence

It's a lot to learn so I studied my lessons

I thought the ghetto was the worst that could happen to me

I'm glad I listened when my father was rapping to me

Cause back in the days they lived in caves

Exiled from the original man and strayed away

Now that's what I call hard times

I'd rather be here to exercise the mind

Then I take a thought around the world twice

From knowledge the form back to knowledge precise

Across the desert that's hot as the Arabian

But they couldn't cave me in cause I'm the Asian

Reaching for the city of Mecca visit Medina

Visions of Nefertiti then I seen her

Mind keeps travelin I'll be back after I

Stop and think about the brothers and sisters in Africa

Return the thought through the eye of a needle

For miles I fought and I just fought the people

Under the darks skies on a dark side

Not only there but right here's an aparthied

So now is the time for us to react

Take a trip through the mind and when you get back

Understand your third eye seen all of that
It aint where you from it's where you at

Brother Jesse Muhammad Addresses the "HATER" That Lies Within

2009-11-24T10:07:00.003-06:00

Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Dear Naysayers: You can't make chess-like moves with a checkers-like mind

by Jesse Muhammad
(Reposted from the Brother Jesse Blog)

It's Tuesday morning.

Another day has presented itself for you to do something extraordinary.

Another day to do something unique. Another day to not wait for a miracle, but to be the miracle.

You have mentally rehearsed your agenda for the day. Maybe you have a huge million dollar deal to close. Maybe there is a deadline you have to meet by the close of business. Or you procrastinated all last week until now your workload has piled up. But you're ready to tackle the tasks at hand. You're on the verge of releasing a new book or unveiling a new initiative in your company.

You look in the mirror and say "Man, I am great".

No matter how large the problems may seem, you're focused. You're confident. You know it can be done today.

Then it happens.

A naysayer from inside or outside of you creeps in to impact your excitement. From within, the naysayer comes in the form of fear, doubt and even low self-esteem. Outside it could be a negative text message, a draining email, gossiping conversation or a phone call with so-called constructive criticism. All of a sudden you become stagnate. Your energy is diminished. Your fire has went out and you haven't even left your house yet.

What happened? The naysayers got the best of you.

But today you choose to ignore the naysayers because you're operating on another level. You're playing chess while the naysayer is still playing checkers. Your thoughts are not the same. Your moves are not the same. Your objectives are not the same. The boards may look the same but tactics and strategies are different. It's chess not checkers to some of us.

The great ones know how to use the naysayers as fuel and feed off the obstacles in the road ahead. So we would like to dedicate this blog to all of the naysayers. We can't hear you because we're too busy achieving greatness. Make history....Become a L.E.G.E.N.D. (Let Every Goal Evolve Not Die)

Will you join us naysayers?

My Monday Morning Jab Pt. II; THE POWER OF SINCERITY

2009-11-23T12:54:00.000-06:00

By: Brother Deric Muhammad

        Every child is born in a state of sincerity. Everytime he or she cries, smiles or throws a tantrum it is sincere. At some point in the child's development it learns how to utilize those smiles, tears and tantrums to manipulate situations and circumstances to achieve short term goals. The hope, then, becomes that we will grow out of our manipulative ways when we become adults; more spiritually mature. Unfortunately sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. Hence, the difficulty factor in finding sincere people in today's world.

     I contend that you CAN find sincere people in today's world and the first place that you should look is in the mirror. If you don't see him or her, fret not; the insincere man or woman in the mirror is the human being that you have the ability to change. In other words, the best way to inject sincerity into an insincere society is through self improvement. I'm on my way to the mirror right now.

     This week I would like for you to take a journey with me; a journey of self appraisal and sincerity. Have you ever been inspired to join a church, mosque, organization, fraternity or sorority and once you've dedicated yourself to that cause or organization you found difficulty. Sometimes disunity, disorganization, fussing and infighting, mismanagement and an overall betrayal of the general objective of the organization can disappoint you to the point where you want to leave. It is at that moment that you must meditate and collect your thoughts about why you joined the organization in the first place.

     I know people who go to law school with a sincere desire to make change. Once they graduate, pass the bar and began to practice they immediately run into a criminal justice system that vehemently resists change. Their desire to make change then turns into a desire to make dollars and they usually end up moderately wealthy, yet unfulfilled. How about the married couple that says "til death do us part" at the ceremony, but it does not last. Too often we start off with a sincere and noble motive in our endeavors, but end up frustrated and abandon the goal. What has happened? We've allowed negative forces and circumstances to tamper with our sincerity.

     Sincerity to the soul is much like the chin to a boxer. It must be protected at all costs if you are to finish the fight. My boxing trainer taught me that there are nerves found in the chin that are so sensitive that one blow can end a fight in a split second. The same goes for us all who strive for true success; especially those of us who seek to help in the cause of the resurrection of Black people and humanity in general. We must always be in the moment, remembering why we do what we do. We must never forget what brought tears to our eyes that made us want to help in this cause. We must look beyond our people's faults, see their needs and sincerely desire to help them. We must, at all costs, protect the sincere motive that God gave us when we said that we wanted to be helpers in a cause that is bigger than us all.

      This week we must reflect on the best part of self; the self with no ulterior motive. We all have it within; it's just buried under our need for money, ego-gratification, attention, recognition, high position, sex and other forms of excess. The sincere "you" wants to go to worship service this week, but the jaded "you" doesn't want to hear "that man", that may have offended you, preach. "He makes me sick", is what we say. It may be that you lost your luxury vehicle to repossession and you don't want anyone to see you get off the Metro bus. But if you are sincerely coming to worship the Lord it doesn't matter what others say or do. Do not allow yourself to be enslaved by the gossip and murmuring of others. Evidently they have forgotten why they came to the house of worship; that's why they have so much time to talk about you. I say pull up to your mosque, church or temple on a mule if you have got too; keep it real with yourself at all times and never forget why you came in the first place.

     Don't just go through the motions this week. Stay in the moment being ever cognizant of why you do what you do no matter how insignificant the task. There is a part in the lessons of the Nation of Islam where it states that each student can practice his or her labor while under study if we are "sincere." Sincerity allows us access to the power of God. Keep your hands up and your chin down this week. Pray for clarity and sincerity, work from your heart and watch God do extraordinary things through us ordinary people. This is my Monday Morning Jab. I pray it connects.

More Images from the Nov. 5th "Raising Boys" Documentary Premier

2009-11-23T11:08:00.001-06:00

Pictured with "Raising Boys" Producer; co-executive producer Lawrence Moody of Moody Entertainment.

Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson opened the premier with powerful remarks encouraging single mothers and admonishing absentee fathers.

Famed entertainment Attorney Ricky Anderson shared words of strong support for the project which will air nationally on Anderson's Black Broadcasting Network which is set to launch in early2010.

Single mom, Alicia Jackson (2d from left) and Atty. Sadiyah Evangelista (2d from right). Both were featured in the documentary.

With event coordinator, Sister Oni X. Thanks Sister Oni.

Pictured with K.I.M., CEO of Atlanta-based entertainment site shuddup.com. She flew in with some friends to attend the premier. Thanks K.I.M.

Amy Stromski (r) of Mary Kay provided some awesome gift bags for the single mothers who attended.

The woman who was the inspiration for the documentary; my mom, Mavis Jackson.

"Frui-D'Licious Catering" provided delicious cuisine for the evening. Awesome!!!

The sisters from the Nation of Islam lit up the evening with their presence as well.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Daddy/Daughter LOVE

2009-11-21T10:34:00.001-06:00

FAMILY ROAD TRIP!!!! LSU vs Auburn Game

2009-11-21T10:20:00.003-06:00

Myself and members of my family recently took a "road trip!!!" to Baton Rouge, La. to attend an LSU football game supporting my little cousin R.J. Jackson (#28). We had a great time, as always. We don't get to spend as much time together as we did when we were younger so this trip was very special to us. Here are a few photos that I wish to share with you. Ain't nothin' like family.

My Older Brother Ed, as always on the iphone; headed to the Tiger Stadium.

Fam Shot!!!

With my "little cousin" Ebony. She's a sophomore at Texas A&M University. Brilliant too!!!

Brother Jesse and Sister Shareefah took some time off to make the trip.

Sunday morning breakfast with my peoples. That's R.J. to the far right, (l-r) my cousin Lakeisha, my cousin Deric, Jesse and Shareefah, (kneeling) my big brother Ed holding my beautiful niece.

EBONY TURNED 21...but to us she will always be 12!!!! Love you cous.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: My "little" Cousin R.J. Jackson

2009-11-18T13:50:00.000-06:00

I love this shot!!! It's a picture of my "little" cousin R.J. Jackson a wide-out for LSU. He's like 6'1, 215, but he is still my little cousin. He is real special to me for many reasons; one being he is named after my father who is the older brother of his dad. My dad died in 1983 and my uncle decided to name his firstborn son after him. When you are named after another human being you have the power to carry on the name making it greater in the next generation. I am proud to see my cousin carry my dad's name. Not because he has exemplified pure greatness on the football field, but because he is a very hard worker that is earning everything he gets. It is because he suffered severe injuries early on in his college career, yet persevered under trial and disappointment until his time came. It is because he is an outstanding student-athlete who earned his bachelors degree last May and will have his masters degree in May 2010. It's because he's the type that could lead his team in receptions, as well as prayer. And more than anything it is simply because he is a good guy. I really didn't mean to say all that (but I guess I did). I just wanted to post the picture because I like it. Get 'em J!!!

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Breaks His Silence

2009-11-17T13:07:00.001-06:00

GRANTS FIRST PUBLIC INTERVIEW WITH THE FINAL CALL NEWSPAPER'S ASHAHED MUHAMMAD

In 2001, at the age of 31, he became the youngest mayor elected in the city of Detroit. Dubbed the “Hip Hop Mayor” by the media and critics, he began an ambitious urban economic renewal campaign in an attempt to revive a city once known for economic opportunities. In 2005, he won a second term and some even felt that he was on the brink of political greatness and possibly earning a new title, “Mayor for Life”, believing that he could be the mayor of Detroit until he decided he no longer wanted the job.

He made a lot of friends but also, a lot of enemies. After a text-messaging scandal, allegations of inappropriate behavior and legal troubles, he resigned from office in September of 2008 and ultimately ended up serving a brief prison sentence. After his release, he left Detroit and now resides in Southlake, Texas with his wife and sons.

Kwame Malik Kilpatrick has learned much, and while passing through Chicago recently, he sat down with The Final Call's Assistant Editor Ashahed M. Muhammad, to tell his story. It was the first interview he has granted since leaving office.

Ashahed M. Muhammad (The Final Call:) Mr. Kilpatrick, thank you for sitting down with us for a few minutes. Of course today is November 4, marking one year since Barack Obama has been elected President. You were a very vocal supporter of Barack Obama's candidacy, what are your thoughts of this first year he's been in office?

Kwame Kilpatrick (KK:) Thanks for having me. This is the first time I've sat down and done an interview with anyone in more than a year. I appreciate you giving me a call and I appreciate sitting down with you.

There are two things when you talk about our President, one, the job of being president and I think that he is handling that in an amazingly well fashion, we have to remember that he is the President of the United States of America. He is not the NAACP leader, he is not the leader of a church, he is the President of the United States. There are global responsibilities that this Nation has that he has to be in charge of exercising. I believe that many people felt that he was going to be more like a mayor or a community leader. So the job of being president, understanding the particular policies that America has gotten itself into over the past 400 years. Understanding the policies that we have gotten ourselves into from a defense perspective, transportation perspective, trade perspective and foreign policy perspective over the last 8-years. How does he operate within that structure? How does he unwind some of the policies of the past, some of the economic decisions that we have made as a country? I say we because we all live here. He now finds himself as being the chief implementer, the chief operator, the chief executive of America's so-called power in the world and I think that he is handling that very well. I believe that when he walked into that office, the first thing was shock and awe. I think he found (out) a lot of things that he did not know (regarding) how bad the problems were, or what position America really (held) on certain issues and I believe he's handled it. He comes out, he talks to the American people. He is being a stand-up president. He's pushing policies that haven't been pushed, like healthcare (and) he's realistically discussing things.

There are some things—of course—that I disagree with, I think just like every American there are some things that I agree with. But I think on the job of being president, he is doing well. I think the other side of that is just being the leader—if you will—of the “free world.” And there is a lot that I believe that every President has to learn on that front. He is very young into his administration, he has only been there 10-months. I believe that he is learning a lot and over the course of the next 18-months, we are going to see how he implements, not just progressive public policies and initiatives but also how he leads with humanity. How he leads the free world. How he makes decisions and how he changes the personality of the United States of America. The personality was definitely changed in the previous 8-years. How does he change the personality, how do you change how people look at us and watch us and how we lead and how we make decisions? I believe that is yet to come. I believe the job of president is good but we will see more from our president in the next 18-months as he gets more comfortable in the position.

FCN: What are your views on some of the vicious rhetoric that you have, heard some of the signs, the mocking of President Obama, the attacks on his character, the so-called “Birther Movement” challenging his American authenticity? Did that surprise you at all being a former elected official to see—well, it probably didn't surprise you because of what you went through but we'll get to that. What are your thoughts on the intensity of the feelings of those who didn't support him and have been working against him and speaking out against him?

KK: It didn't surprise me at all Ashahed. This is the United States of America and unfortunately, race still matters to a lot of people. The evil head of racism doesn't hide, it sticks its head up. And as a matter of fact since Barack Obama has been president it is more overt—I believe—than it's been since the 1940's and 50's and so I am not surprised by it. I think it's an excellent teaching tool, particular for my sons and our people to understand that we still have to build within our community. We still have to work with one another. We still have to connect even with people outside of this country and build collaborations and organizations that help us to prosper, spiritually, economically, emotionally because you are not going to just find that old American baseball and apple pie United States spirit right here in America. You are going to see division. I think he has done a good job of managing it as the President. I think a lot of people even in our own community unjustly criticize him and unfairly criticize him because they picture how they would react, but they are operating on a different level than the President of the United States. I think he's handled it well. I think he's handled some of the issues that he has to handle well. He can not allow himself to be pushed into any corner, a conservative corner, a liberal corner, a Black corner, a White corner. In order for him to actually have credibility to lead on issues that really matter to all of us, he has to make sure that he stands strong on the positions of independence. So he can't allow the press, the media, the rhetoric, the distractions to deter him from his path and I think he has done a good job. I am not surprised at all that the American racists have stood up and started to attack this first Black President.

FCN: In 2001 it made national news when you were elected the youngest mayor ever of the city of Detroit, a place with a long historical political legacy. Detroit, a city with an extensive cultural history is very important to Black people. Describe the feeling when you became the mayor.

KK: My dream in growing up in the city of Detroit was to be Mayor. At the family picnics from the time I was 9-years-old that's what I told people I was going to be. The mayor of the city of Detroit. (Former mayor) Coleman Young was my hero. I had a chance to meet him when I was 10-years old. I won a contest and the winner of the contest got to meet the Mayor. It was about a three minute meeting, I thought it was three hours. So from that perspective, that's all I ever wanted to be. I didn't want to be president; I didn't want to be governor; I didn't want to be a congress person. I just wanted to be mayor of the city of Detroit. I lived there my entire life. I loved the city, so the feeling in 2001 first was shock, then (I was) nervous, then scared but then it's—I really wasn't happy and ecstatic like I thought I (would be). I was immediately hit with the enormity of the responsibility and the fact that most people in that town—particularly those that voted for me were placing their hopes and dreams in me. That is a big, big stressful place to be. So you are happy, but at the same time you are saying “Okay, I asked for this, let me try to figure out how to do it.” That is a big responsibility and you are fighting uphill in a city like Detroit every single day. It's a tough town to work in.

FCN: Now after the first term, it was a hard fought battle for the second. During your re-election campaign, a lot of support came in to assist, you worked very diligently nonstop around the clock along with your campaign team. After the second victory you received more threats, more attacks and it wasn't just limited to people who disagreed with you politically, it extended beyond that. Can you tell us a little bit about that?

KK: One of the things that I see with President (Obama) is, a lot of the attacks are masked in attacks about policy, but they really don't like him. They are really attacks on him, who he is as a person, how he looks. I live in Texas now and I was listening to a group of people talking in a locker room after playing golf one day. It was a group of White men and they just said that they don't like him “he's too arrogant, I can't stand him.” And I used to hear those comments every single day, “I don't like him he's arrogant.” There were never a lot of attacks on my work. We were building more parks than were ever built in the city, building more recreation centers, fixing more streets. We had national events, the Super Bowl, the (Major League Baseball) All-Star game, Final Four. We built seven hotels. The city hadn't built a hotel in 20 or more years. We built five hotels in the first term and two more after that. The Riverfront which has been a dream in the city for 30-years; we did it in four. So it was never really an attack on my work it was who I was. “We don't like him. We don't like the way he dresses, we don't like the way he looks, he's arrogant.” And so what that brought and bred was a theater of hatred. Michigan is very racially separated and the city of Detroit itself is 84 percent African-American and the surrounding suburbs are 86 percent White. There were race riots in the 1940's, race riots in the 1960's and Detroit never really healed from that, and so you stoke that and you start getting the Michigan Militias and all those things different things regarding the race problems. And so yes, we started receiving threats; you know, “we are going to kill your wife, we are going to kill your kids.” Getting phone calls from phone booths a mile from my house. And they use of course, I'm not using the terms that they used but you can imagine. So you start getting those and during the election, the election was hard fought not because of the work, but people not liking me or really proffering this position that “this guy is a bad guy you shouldn't like him” and that is what we had to fight every single day. It got a little hairy but I was never fearful or scared of that at all. I knew God had me and my wife and children knew it as well so we just marched.

FCN: During your time as mayor of Detroit, you mentioned some of the accomplishments such as the building of the hotels, improving the image of Detroit with the Super Bowl, with the Final Four; what accomplishments are you most proud of?

KK: I think that some of those things are the exterior type of things that mayors do. The development success, the operational success in city government and city services, but I really believe that the most successful thing that we did as an administration is also why Detroit has had the biggest fall, is that we restored hope in the city of Detroit. That we could be something better than this degraded, deteriorating city. That we could have new stuff, new opportunities, new businesses, new events and that we could build new housing. People started to believe and more than anything exterior, I think the internal spirit of the city of Detroit started to wake up. That hope, that drive that we could play big, that we could be big time again. More than anything else while the world was using Detroit as the butt of their jokes, we said that we would reintroduce Detroit to the world. And I think that was more important than any of the parks and the streets and the recreational centers and the buildings and the companies. I mean, those things are important because they were elements that added to the hope, but I believe the same reason that I say it was successful is the same reason I feel so guilty about the loss of hope right now and what the city is going through now.

FCN: As it relates to the media in Detroit, I won't mention any in particular but I'm sure that you know what I'm talking about. It seems like even to this day every turn you make, every move you make, you are presented in a certain manner beyond just the natural standard of accountability and responsibility of an elected official. While you were the mayor was this true? And after being the mayor, why do you think that they have continued this seemingly, almost like a vendetta against you, the desire to paint you in a certain way to humiliate you to cause you as many problems or inconveniences as possible getting into your private finances, where you are going and what you are doing and where you are staying and things of that nature?

KK: Yes, it's no question about it. I don't think there has been any mayor in America scrutinized that way. I don't think there has been any mayor as a matter of fact, Coleman Young I think received an incredible amount of scrutiny and he was kind of the poster child for that in Detroit. He was the first Black mayor who really expressed his manhood in a different way than had been seen from African-American man that was projected across the country. But I don't think there has been any mayor scrutinized like I was in that time. Everyday, day-in and day-out it was tough to do the job under that kind of scrutiny. But then afterwards there has definitely been a campaign. There was a campaign—a very aggressive overt campaign. They didn't even hide it. They were against me and now it has turned into something else. It's like, “he didn't die, he wasn't destroyed. We did everything we possibly could and he is still standing, he's still married, he's still happy, he's still blessed” and I think that has been a real issue for a lot of people. In Detroit because of that loss of hope I talked about, the press runs the town. They are leaders of the town. The leadership of the community doesn't make a move if they think the press won't like it. So the commentators now are running the town. Now they even…I'm not the mayor, I've been gone for a year and they come to Texas filmed my house! They legally subpoena my private banking records (and) that of my wife's. They filmed my kid's school, they filmed them at their football games so everybody could know. They put my address where I lived in the paper. They have done some tremendous things. They have conspired, they have consorted with people—and it is well known—to gain information that they didn't have access to. It's really been an incredible ride. I really have been praying about what this is all about. But that aggressive campaign against me has also made me better, it has made me more enlightened, it's made me stronger. It has also strengthened my relationship with my wife, my children, and they are stronger because of it. So I can't say it's been all bad. I know in the Christian church the old ladies use to say “what the devil meant for bad God meant for good.” So some of the things that I think they went out and tried to be detrimental to my life saved me in a lot of ways. So yes, there has been an aggressive evil spirit of campaign but we are still standing.

FCN: I'm glad you mentioned your family. Clearly, they have stood by you and your wife has demonstrated tremendous strength as well as your children with you being in such a public spot. As it relates to Ms. Christine Beatty, the sister who was in the news related to her relationship with you, do you have contact with her, do you all talk?

KK: I'll simply say, I have talked to her since all of this stuff has happened. I try to make sure that she understands that I still care about her very deeply and I simply back up and say first that, a lot of times when women get caught in a situation like that, they are perceived as a wh--- and sorry and I just think that is so unfair. It takes two to tango they say but I think even other than that she is a very good person. She is incredibly brilliant, a 4.0 student, masters (degree) and we made some bad decisions and we are living with the consequences of those decisions. I respect her tremendously and love her and wish her the best. That has been an incredible situation, somebody has been in your life since ninth grade, this is my friend, this wasn't a person that just showed up. Ninth grade and now out of your life and having her own and you have to really figure out how to move forward with your wife and children. So I wish her the best. I have tried to keep tabs and make sure that she is doing all right. But as far as the kind of interaction we had, we will never really have again.

FCN: On a personal level, after all of this, looking back, what did you learn?

KK: I learned several things. One is that sometimes your gift takes you to a place that your character is not prepared to handle. I can be the mayor; I can do it right now. I can go in there right now and put things together. I was truly anointed for that position and I wasn't mature enough in my spirit, in my manhood to handle that responsibility at the time it was given to me. The significant character flaw that I had, it rose up and bit me. I learned that you can go after things before you are ready and so if you are going after it, you need to make sure that your spirit is ready. I learned also how to surrender to His will and not mine. Sometimes when you are going through something—and I am a guy who runs campaigns—I can make this happen. There has never been a campaign where I was picked to win. Neither in the mayoral election, Statehouse election, Speaker of the House election, I was never picked to win. I was always coming from behind. I won every one of them. Nobody was going to out work me. We were going to put together an organization and a plan and when you are going through something like that nothing happens without Allah's permission. So a lot of the times you just have to surrender to his will and learning how to surrender was a major thing for me, getting me out of the way, surrendering to the will of God. I talked and spoke with Minister Farrakhan and the Minister told me—and this was before jail and anything else—he said “you have to surrender, brother, Allah may even allow you to go to jail.” He saw something that I didn't; and I tell you that time was character development, character building, mixed feelings and controversy, understanding the jinn, understanding who I am. A lot of reading and a lot of teaching and a lot of learning. No phone going off, nobody to call, so it was a period of time, short enough where I didn't go crazy but long enough where I got the lesson that I needed to learn. You can't hide and you can't cheat and all those things. Those are elements that I think are bigger issues of character, the big issue of honesty of being a man and what a man is, of standing but also surrendering and the power that gives you when you do that.

FCN: You mentioned your relationship with the Minister. What would you say is the most important thing about having a relationship with a spiritual advisor like Minister Farrakhan? Can you talk to us a little bit about the importance of that relationship throughout the good times and the bad times so to speak—and having his guidance during the time of trouble?

KK: I heard somebody say that you can't judge a tree by the bark it wears but by the fruit it bears. It goes without saying about the incredible leadership that he has given to the Nation and to our community and to humanity. So, I don't want to talk about that, I could talk about that for a half hour but bringing it down on a very practical natural level. I don't know if there is a person walking around today that is more misunderstood, that has endured more hatred, that has endured more enemies, that has endured more threats to his life and that whose teachings and whose gift has been misconstrued, degraded and deformed by those who don't know him, haven't heard and haven't listened. So to talk to somebody like that you automatically walk in with this brother who is (so) beautiful and understanding that it's nothing that you can tell him that he hasn't heard. So you go in the room shutting up. It's not a lot of people that you kind of just say ‘Okay, I'm just going to hear this out.' So that relationship and I was telling my Pastor…the kind of advice and I think there is some privacy there but the type of advice, the type of conversation, the type of knowledge and wisdom that he imparted to me is not just priceless but it was life changing. I appreciate him deeply and thank him immensely for the role that he played in my life, not just directly, Minister Rasul Muhammad, sending him to be there, Brother Victor Muhammad, you know I don't think there would be a Victor Muhammad without a Minister Farrakhan, maybe not an Ashahed. I think just the fruit of this brother also are people who wrapped their arms around me, who aided my family in a time when they really needed it. In the midst of death threats they stood with my wife and children and walked them out and made sure (they were protected) when I was locked away and so, I don't think I have the words to articulate how thankful I am to the Minister (and) also the profound effect and the impact that he has had on my life.

FCN: So what does the future hold for Brother Kwame Kilpatrick? Is there a return to politics possibly back to Detroit, perhaps in Texas?

KK: I don't know. I really believe that this is a period of time where I am trying to commune, study and figure that out. What I learned in politics (is that) it's a very enslaving place to be. It's hard to be free in politics and if the search for your spirit is to be free, it's hard. We do need brothers and sisters to go into elected offices and political offices and do that, but my spirit is telling me something different. Because you are a Democrat or Republican you have to do this but you can't do that and so it's somewhat limiting in what you can actually do and I've done that. I've been in the Statehouse; I've been mayor so I believe there is something else for me. I don't know what that is yet, but I definitely have a testimony now brother! As far as talking to young couples, talking to brothers who are strong, they have it going on, they know exactly what they want to do, how they want to do it but they don't have any God in their life. They don't really move by a spirit. They are not really connected to the community. There is a testimony in here somewhere that I think I can share but I don't know. At this particular time I have no plans to be in elected office. Absolutely not. And I don't know if I will go back to Detroit. My kids want to go back to Detroit everyday, that's their home. They want to be there. But Detroit is going through something that I don't want to be a part of. I think what is happening there now, I believe I was extracted from. What is happening in Detroit is not good so I don't even want to be a part of that, but there is something on the other side that I may want to be a part of so I don't know yet.

FCN: Thank you.

(Please visit http://www.finalcall.com/)

My Monday Morning Jab: FORCE X DISTANCE=WORK

2009-11-16T08:58:00.000-06:00

By: Brother Deric

As salaam alaikum (Peace Be Unto You). I once read a book about a Black Panther revolutionary who loved Monday mornings. He loved Monday mornings because he believed they represented a new beginning for him; an opportunity to do this week what was undone last week. I sort of adopted this thought pattern from that book without knowing it. I feel like every Monday morning has a "starter pistol" for an alarm clock. Ready, set, GO!!! Too often we take off after the sound of the pistol not knowing exactly where we are GOING. This is why we must start every day in prayer in meditation for GUIDANCE. Our travels must take us in the direction of our purpose. If you do not know what your purpose is in life, pray hard for such a revelation. Once you find your purpose then you must find your function within that purpose. Once you find your function you must get busy and master your craft. Mastery takes WORK!!! There is absolutely no way around it. This means that we must be willing to practice, study and endure the grueling grind of task mastery when no one is looking. I once read where the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said that he wished that his students could see him in his role as a student when no one is looking. He spent hours upon hours practicing his radio broadcasts in the 70's. He spent hours upon hours practicing his violin, beginning at 3am every day in preparation for a performance. Michael Jordan was the greatest on game night because his practice habits were insane. Tiger Woods won the biggest golf tournament in the world and was at practice at 6am the next morning. Too many of us want the success but do not want the sacrifice. We are taught in the Nation of Islam that force x distance = work. This means that we all must summon and impose our will on some object or task that is at rest and then push that object or task in the direction we desire. If you apply the force, but fail to move the object you have exerted the energy, but you have not quite worked. This week, be resolved to MOVE SOMETHING!!! Don't let laziness, doubt, fear or anxiety cripple you. Devote yourself to the completion of something bigger than yourself this week and don't stop until you reach that goal. This will give you confidence to tackle the next thing. Before you know it you will be moving at a fast pace toward your desired goals. This is my Monday morning jab. Ouch. I think I just got hit!!!!

Throwback Verse of the Week: "Wake Up" by Brand Nubian

2009-11-15T19:22:00.003-06:00

The attribute haji helper to another god
Indeed he Allah God Islam
As I proceed to civilize the uncivilized
Word of wisdom to the groove from the wise (speak on it God)
I guess I'm like the verbalizer for the fact I'm movin blackwards
This asiatic black man is a dog spelled backwards
The maker, the owner, the cream of the planet earth
Father of civilization, God of the universe
Manifestin thought with my infinite styles
Making sure this travels, twenty-three million miles
The other six I set the crucifix
Because the heart of the problem is this.. (speak on it God)
Preacher got my old earth puttin money in the pan
For the rest of the week now I'm eatin out a soup can
He has a home, drives his caddy through town
Has my old earth believin that he's comin from the ground (Jesus)
Slain are those who fought for what was right
Slayed are those who fell victim to the bite
A drug controlled substance, contained in a vial
Set up by the devil as he looks and he smiles
Good at the game of tricknology
But I have knowledge of myself you're not foolin me
You see, the answer to me is black unity
Unification, to help our bad situation
I wrote this on a day of wisdom power
All bein born to myself (god!)
I won't diss the next brother to be paid that's not my trade
It's just the plan that is designed by the colored man
Now our babies are born to think this is the way of us (way of us)
That's the way the devil wants it so it is no fuss (it is no fuss)
It's just that sad old song self-destruction
To stop our reproduction

FARRAKHAN ISSUES WARNING OF REPENTANCE DURING "THE TIME AND WHAT MUST BE DONE"

2009-11-15T19:05:00.000-06:00

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan delivered a high spirited, serious message today entitled "The Time and What Must Be Done". He dealt with issues including America's view of President Obama, the ineffectiveness of the educational system, Black on Black violence, self-hatred and most important the changing of the ways of the "man in the mirror." If you missed it please go to http://www.noi.org/ and watch it at no cost to you. I want for my brothers and sisters what I want for myself. Today I recieved divine guidance. Get yours!!!

MANNY PACQUIAO ROUTES COTTO

2009-11-15T18:39:00.001-06:00

LEAVES THE WORLD ON PINS AND NEEDLES ABOUT POSSIBLE MAYWEATHER MATCH-UP

I watched in amazement as Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao dominated the much bigger hard hitting Miguel Cotto in last night's Vegas fight. While boxing is one of the most barbaric sports in the history of mankind, the "sweet science", as it is called, if studied properly can help one to win many battles outside of the ring as well. It is the art of war put in motion in a 400 square foot ring. Right now Pacquiao is considered the best of the best in that arena. My admiration for the 140 pound Filipino fighter goes beyond the ring on the Vegas strip. He is a very spiritual guy who never speaks ill of his opponents. He gives full credit to God for every victory. He prays in his corner before every fight; then gets up and goes to war. I once heard him describe the key to his success. He said that "Fighters must train hard, train hard...train hard. And if you train hard, the fight is easy." Success can be reverse engineered in any field of endeavor to reflect this philisophy. Everybody wants to be great. Ques; How hard are you willing to work when no one is looking? Your study, training and practice habits will "tattle" on you once you get in the ring. Last night Pacquiao's paid off. What about us?

ELECTED OFFICIALS PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR "RAISING BOYS" PROJECT

2009-11-14T14:18:00.004-06:00

(L-R) Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson, Texas State Representative Sylvester Turner and Houston City Councilman at-Large Ronald Green (far right), came out to pledge their for support this very important project. All three attended the Houston premier and expressed their appreciation for the project. Johnson had two days before was re-elected to the historic District B council position and Green led all comers in the Houston race for City Controller. He is involved in a run-off election to be held December 12th. Turner has been a State Representative for some 20 years. His district covers the historic Acres Homes, America's largest Black community.
(photo by Nataura Brown)

"RAISING BOYS" DOCUMENTARY PREMIER AN INSPIRING EVENING OF HOPE IN HOUSTON

2009-11-14T14:11:00.000-06:00

Brother Jesse Muhammad was on deck at the "Raising Boys; Tips for Single Moms" Houston Premier. Muhammad's blog http://www.jessemuhammad.blogs.finalcall.com/ was a co-sponsor of the event and it's national tour. Here are a few shots of the evening from Muhammad's vault.

l-r(Lawrence Moody (documentary producer), Cast members Mavis Jackson, Alicia Jackson, Atty. Sadiyah Evangelista, Jacobi Banks (front center), Deric Muhammad, Event Coordinator Oni X, Malaika Gardner, Jeremy Banks and our special guest K.I.M. for Atlanta-based entertainment website SHUDDUP.com.)

Pictured with my mother, Mavis Jackson, who was the mistress of ceremonies for the evening.

MASTERING YOUR CRAFT

2009-11-14T13:39:00.000-06:00

"Before it is too late we must wake up and realize that real power and success can come only through mastering a process, which in turn depends on a fountain of discipline that we are constantly keeping sharp. The fearless types in history inevitably display in their lives a higher tolerance than most for repetitive, boring tasks. This allows them to excel in their field and master their craft. Part of this comes from seeing early on in life the tangible results that come from such rigorousness and patience."

-Robert Greene and Curtis Jackson's
"The 50th Law"

Throwback Verse of the Week: "Minority Report" Jay-Z Addresses Government's Neglect of the Poor During Hurricane Katrina

2009-11-06T21:43:00.004-06:00

People was poor before the hurricane came
But the down pour poured is like when Mary J. sang
Every day it rains, so every day the pain
But ignored them, and showed em the risk was to blame
For life is a chain, cause and effected
Niggas off the chain because they affected
It's a dirty game so whatever is effective
From weed to selling kane, gotta put that in effect
Wouldn't you loot, if you didn't have the loot?
Baby needed food and you stuck on the roof
Helicopter swooped down just to get a scoop
Through his telescopic lens but he didn't scoop you
The next five days, no help ensued
They called you a refugee because you seek refuge
The commander-in-chief just flew by
Did he stop? No, he had a couple seats
Just proved jet blue he's not
Jet flew by the spot
What if he ran out of jet fuel and just dropped

hu,That woulda been something to watch

Helicopters doing fly-bys to take a couple of shots

Couple of portraits then ignored 'em

He'd be just another bush surrounded by a couple orchids

Poor kids just 'cause they were poor kids

Left 'em on they porches same old story in New Orleans

Silly rappers, because we got a couple Porches

MTV stopped by to film our fortresses

We forget the unfortunate
Sure I ponied up a mill, but I didn't give my time

So in reality I didn't give a dime, or a damn

I just put my monies in the hands of the same people that left my people stranded

Nothin' but a bandit

Left them folks abandoned

Damn, that money that we gave was just a band-aid

Can't say we better off than we was before

In synopsis this is my minority report

Can't say we better off than we was before

In synopsis this is my minority report

- Jay-Z

"Quote of the Week" By W.E.B. Dubois

2009-11-06T21:37:00.000-06:00

“A little less complaint and whining, and a little more dogged work and manly striving, would do us more credit than a thousand civil rights bills.”

-W.E.B. Dubois

Part 6 of Black Women in America Raising Boys : "Nothing New But Definitely No Easy Task"

2009-11-06T21:28:00.000-06:00

By Alicia Jackson

When I was first approached about being a part of this documentary, I was somewhat surprised.

My mindset was that what I was doing was a common thing so surely it did not warrant much discussion, let alone a full documentary. I quickly found out that even though it was a common thing, the world deserved to hear , first hand, a single mother's story.

I have two boys and two girls, Since they are twins, I have one of each for two different age brackets so I get the best of both worlds at all times. Rearing them from birth to early adolescence was easy. Just provide food, clothing and shelter right? WRONG ! I also had to provide character foundation, values / morals and education (formal and informal). Every day I have the opportunity to see the vast differences in the needs and demands of raising girls and those of raising boys.

I have now begun my uphill battle to turn my boys into young men. I know I must incorporate all my resources because this journey can not be fully successful if I go it alone. I know most may argue my next point but I know I can not teach my boys how to be MEN. I can give them everything in me to make them productive, respectful, law abiding, God fearing members of society. I can wipe their tears and comfort them when they are missing their father.

I can provide them with most things that are essential to living but I can not give them the MAN THING because I do not have it. Therefore, unlike many of my counterparts, I will ask for help. I am blessed to have positive male role models who I can call on to assist me in making my BOYS journey to MANHOOD a smooth and successful one. But what about the sister who doesn't ?

I am happy to have had the opportunity to share my story. I am looking forward to helping the world better understand the mind of single mothers and our struggle. It is a struggle indeed.

Photo of Alicia Jackson by Hannibal Muhammad

(Blog series courtesy of the Brother Jesse Blog)

Part 5 of Black Women in America Raising Boys: "It Takes A Village"

2009-11-04T17:23:00.000-06:00

By: Attorney Sadiyah Evangelista

Today I left court shaking my head disgusted and pondering hopelessly at the state of our black youth in the criminal justice system. I was technically representing a 17 year old black male for attempted robbery, a crime that carries two to ten years in the prison system. I say technically because really I represented both the mother and the son. This is what I see most days, mothers and their sons, with no father in sight or the father who is disinterested in the welfare of their progenies. This young boy’s father is currently serving 29 years in prison of which he has already served ten. This story is all too familiar.

The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs released a report, "Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report" which analyzed the problems that black youth in the criminal justice system face. In 2002, blacks were 16 percent of the juvenile population but 29 percent of the delinquency caseload and the numbers are steady climbing.

So what are these single mothers to do so that their child will not become one of the so called proverbial “statistics” that their absentee fathers are a part of? Good question. Problem is, there is no one right and exact answer. We are all trying to figure out the right combination of approaches, solutions and remedies. The affects of slavery still carries a damning legacy that can be seen in the black family structure. However, one African proverb still holds true, “it takes a village to raise a child.”

This means that the responsibility lies not only with the parents where most often times the mother is both mother and father, but also with the extended family and community. We cannot leave mothers on an island to herself to raise “our” children, hence “our” nation.

Helping our mothers establish healthy and whole relationships with herself, extended family, people in the community through mentorships, at home, church, mosque, work and our child’s school is critical. Strong quality relationships are an extremely invaluable tool not only for both child and mother but society as a whole. When mother cannot do it all by herself, we must not turn a blind eye until Johnny goes to jail. By then it’s too late.

To show individual and personal interest in a child shows that child him or her matters. When this happens, the child feels a sense of self-worth. The child knows that they are loved. The child wants to strive to make you think highly of them. As a result, positive benefits flow from that interest, time and love. This also holds true for the mother.

So let’s help our mothers raise our babies, “one knee does not bring up a child.”

(Visit the official website of Attorney Evangelista log on to http://criminalwarriorlawyer.com/. For more information about the November 5 "Raising Boys" documentary premiere in Houston log on to: raisingboysdocumentary.eventbrite.com/)

Part 4 of Black Women In America Raising Boys: "Being A Part of Something Great"

2009-11-02T12:14:00.001-06:00

By: Mavis Jackson

My name is Mavis Jackson and I am the mother of five children, four of them boys. I not only was blessed to be a part of the life-changing documentary “Raising Boys”, I also received the honor of being the woman that God chose to give birth to the extraordinary black man who gave birth to it. It was a privilege to be interviewed and to share my experience, strength and hope about the topic, and having first hand knowledge of that, my son knew I easily qualified.

I was a single mother and for most of my children’s lives we were on welfare and food stamps. We had some challenges, but with the help of God and my mother, we made it through them. I had friends who had boys that were going to prison, getting addicted to drugs and making other negative life choices, but my boys didn’t get caught up. Today I believe that was due to the grace of God and the love of a family that would not spare the rod.
I was raised by a single mother and had a loving relationship with my biological father. Throughout my life I saw my mother work hard and overcome the challenges associated with being a single mom. Her example gave me the courage I needed when I found myself in that same position. I became a mother at 16, and I tell everyone that my children and I “grew up together”, which made for a very special bond.
At one point in their lives, my children lived through my drug addiction. They experienced the neglect that an addiction causes, and hunkered down to take care of each other. I am not proud of my addiction but I am grateful for it, because had I not gone through it, I would not be the person I am today.
Today I am a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and I help people who are where I used to be. All four of my sons are successful, productive, law-abiding men. They are living proof that with the help of God and people like Brother Deric, single mothers can produce good men.
I pray that every single mother everywhere has an opportunity to see this documentary. It will encourage them, support them and help them to better understand their roles; and with that knowledge comes power.
The documentary will premiere on November 5, 2009 at the Angelika Theater here in Houston. Anyone wanting to be in the know will want to be in attendance.
(For more information on the "Raising Boys" documentary log on to:http://raisingboysdocumentary.eventbrite.com)

Part 3 of Black Women in America "Raising Boys": "Step in and Be Extended Parents

2009-10-28T19:06:00.000-05:00

By Alisha Muhammad

I am Alisha Muhammad, a person from almost a no-parent situation but definitely not a product of those circumstances, and neither are my children victims of my improper upbringing. I pray the same for all in my situation and know '”Raising Boys” will be instrumental in addressing the heartaches of single parents and their children.

My mother left my father before I was born and was a workaholic all of my childhood. I was a latchkey child; waking myself for school, getting myself ready, seeing myself off and arriving home in the evenings to be greeted by no one. When there was food I fed myself. I put myself to bed so I could be rested to raise myself yet another day. No fault of her own, my mother did the best she could with what she knew and had. She didn't know what welfare was because she came from a two-parent home of hard workers. Her resources were scarce and support nonexistent.

By the time I graduated high school I had my two oldest sons. Their father came from a situation similar to mine. My mother was single raising two daughters and his mother was single raising two sons. He waited until well past the middle of his senior school year to get involved with dealing drugs. Thus, he began his trip through the revolving door of the prison system. That's when my real journey of single parenthood began.

I gave a lot of background because it's vital to know that the success or failure of having one or both parents in the home can only be determined by what the individuals have to work with in terms of knowledge, principles and support. My mother and father came from homes with both parents but weren't fit to be parents themselves. They were no different from my children's father whose parents came from "broken" homes. Most homes in America are "broken" and most of those that remain do a very good job of playing make-believe. I learned this as a child.

As a young single mother, I adopted the work ethic of my mother but at the same time always knew the value of not neglecting the other needs of my children. I was still hurting from my own childhood, or lack thereof, and used that to drive me to be all I could for my children.

I was always a spiritual person and felt connected to God. I humbled myself, prayed and cried out for guidance many, many times because I was terrified about messing up my sons' lives; I knew I was a very troubled person because of my growing up. I used everyone and every opportunity I could as a learning experience, and I still do. Had I had the intervention of such a valuable resource as the documentary of “Raising Boys”, perhaps I would have been more effective in such a worthy cause.

In raising my sons I knew that in my youth I had tried all and accomplished most in being mischievous. I commanded honesty and respect from them as infants because I knew they possessed enough intelligence to comprehend. I didn't spank my children for every little thing they did which is where a lot of parents mess up, both young and old. By doing that you build up their tolerance for physical pain and teach them violence, especially in angered situations. I offered correction and guidance in all situations that needed to be addressed.

I didn't allow my children to visit their father in prison until they were old enough to ask to go and understood those circumstances. I never bad-mouthed their father because I knew the significance of them figuring him out on their own. Nonetheless, I let it be known that he was to be respected regardless of the situation. I explained to my children about his childhood without a father or any decent male role models. I explained to them the importance of not expecting more than what he offered and how it could lead to disappointment. I explained this, I explained that and any and everything I could because they were owed that. Hell, I was owed that and couldn't get answers upon request. My oldest son will tell you to this day that I'm always teaching and explaining stuff.

Being a Mother, in it and of itself is very demanding. It's strenuous. It's draining. And every thought you think or decision you make better revolve around the children. Now factor in the possibility that these boys will become be men who walk around making decisions as if they have no responsibilities, as if they have no duties. It's a slap in the face.

Like most single mothers, especially coming from a single mother, there was a desire to give my sons a "complete" home. I found myself expecting my third son in what seemed to be a promising situation. It was after the birth of my youngest son that I saw absolutely no future in that situation. My son's father came from a two parent home. Be that as it was, the relationship between he and his father was based on financial need and desire and lacked affection. That attitude spilled over into the connection between him and my son. He's a lot better now, but look what it took. He's not in the home with his son.

At the age of twenty-two I was the mother of three sons and possessor of one-third of the knowledge and wisdom I needed to be successful in rearing my children. I fell and bumped my head along the way until I visited Muhammad Mosque #45. That was where I acquired another third which is knowledge of God, myself and who my sons are in the grand scheme of things. And, I am still a work in progress in pursuit of the remaining third so that my sons and I can have what we need for continued survival and eventual success.

What about others like me? Not everyone has a spiritual connection or elders giving advice. Many of us have no faith at all and we're granted that because the fathers of our children are cowards and our society does not have our back. Everyone needs to take charge of their post, that's exactly what Brother Deric is doing in bringing this infection to the surface in his documentary “Raising Boys”. There is so much truth and wisdom in the proverbial village raising a child. Black men that "know better" than what they are seeing in today’s youth need to start pulling these young boys to the side and correcting them at early ages. I literally "jack up" (for lack of a better phrase) other people's children in public places. The parents love it. They are grateful to know they have support.

We have to realize we are not the brain. We are the body, God is the brain. Just like with our bodies, when they become ill or endangered the brain sends signals throughout the body to either produce antibodies or work to filter and rid our bodies of toxins so the body can be well. Or even in the removal of some of our parts, other parts work in their place. If you lose a hand, you don't stop writing. People lose both hands and write with their feet. That needs to be how we function in the community.

We don't "write off" the children because they have missing parents. No, we need to step in and give support. We need to be the liver and kidneys filtering delinquent behaviors. We need to be the bladder and colon ridding of the filth these airwaves and public systems are putting in our children. We need to step in and be extended parents until the real parents get a clue or the children become decent adults. This is what single mothers need, because when our children feel like no one cares and they've been given up on they don't care and they give up too. I speak from experience.

I can't say I speak from success because the mere facts that I have teenagers that aren't in trouble with the law, making babies, doing drugs, etc. can't continue to be the standard in which I or any of us measure success in parenting by. Those specifics support the reality that we are just getting by. I can say my oldest son is old enough to appreciate my growth and see how he and his brothers benefit. My middle son gets the attention he needs and knows he has a place unlike many suffering from "middle-child syndrome". The both of them appreciate the person I've become as a result of the same teachings and spirituality that gave you such a powerful yet humble servant and mouth piece for single mothers and their suffering sons as we have in Brother Deric. And my youngest son is young in age and mind; he is free to dream big.

I know this is the impact this documentary will have. It will affect us all, including the absent fathers; in such a way we will be motivated and motivate others to run to the aid of single mothers and their children. It will inspire us enough to free our children so they can dream big and be successful. After all, aren't they owed that?

Pick Up the Latest FINAL CALL NEWSPAPER: "THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF CELEBRITY WORSHIP

2009-10-28T12:51:00.000-05:00

ACTIVISM OFFLINE: Throwback Jena Six Report from the BBC

2009-10-23T00:48:00.001-05:00

Huge race row protest in US

Single Mom, Jordannah Nathan, Determined to Defy the Odds Raising Her Son Alone

2009-10-22T16:51:00.001-05:00

My name is Jordannah Nathan and I am a single working mom. I have a beautiful 2 year old son named Jordan. I knew that I would be a single mother the minute that I saw the positive result of the pregnancy test. I also knew that my life would never be the same. I never wanted to be a statistic, but here I was, single, no degree, and a baby on the way. To say I was scared would be an understatement. I felt fear, dread, guilt, and shame. What kind of mother would I be? What did I possibly have to offer? I wasn’t prepared emotionally or financially for Jordan’s arrival. I was still struggling with mixed emotions about being a mother. When he was finally born, I went through a whole new mixture of emotions. I now felt that this was the most important thing that I would ever do in my life. It was unbelievable to me that God loved me this much to bless me with this amazing gift. I was now a mother and I have an amazing son. We’re almost 3 years into this journey together and although it hasn’t always easy, I have to keep pressing because I see the potential that he possesses at only 2 years old. If I listened to statistics, my son’s future looks bleak and I know the odds are not in our favor. In spite of this, I can’t be deterred from doing all I can to give my son the opportunity to reach his greatest potential. I see so many young black men wasting away in the streets and I often wonder did their mothers have the same hopes and dreams for them as I do for Jordan. What makes my story or the outcome any different from theirs? I don’t know and I can’t predict the future. What I know for sure is that God has brought us this far and with faith the sky is the limit.

ABOLISHING THE "SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE"; A Teach-In at the SHAPE Community Center

2009-10-22T11:40:00.000-05:00

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The Root Cause of Youth Violence (Not Having Love For Self)

2009-10-21T16:16:00.002-05:00

"This not having love for self is the root cause of hate (dislike), disunity, disagreement, quarreling, betraying, stool pigeons and fighting and killing one another."

-Elijah Muhammad

"Message to the Blackman" pg. 32

Black Women in America: "Raising Boys"

2009-10-20T19:00:00.001-05:00

(The following is Part I in a series of exclusive blogs written by single mothers leading up to the Houston premiere of "Raising Boys" on November 5.)

Written by Malaika Gardner (a single mom pulling "Double Duty")

My name is Malaika Gardner and I have been blessed to be a part of a life-changing documentary entitled “ Raising Boys”, a solution-oriented presentation of the single parenthood phenomenon and its effect on the Black Male.

I am a working single mother and I have determined that neither my children nor myself will be the losers in this situation. I believe we will succeed, but it is proving wrong the assumed end result of this ideal that makes my job so hard.

It would be much easier if I were unaware of the facts surrounding young girls birthed to single mothers in our community. It would be easier if I was unaware of the reality of black men and the prison industrial complex in our communities. It would be so much easier if I would be content with a mediocre future for my family but I am not that female. Most single mothers have dreams for their children and for themselves but many are eventually defeated by the juggling act, paralyzed by the fatigue or drowned by the pain caused by the bleakness of their reality.

Myself, I grew up without a father but I had a warrior mother who gave me what she could. She taught me to value my spirituality, family, education and to always work harder than the next. Unfortunately nothing can replace a father’s presence and love. I managed to graduate high school and college without succumbing to the stereotypical scenario believed for most children of single mothers.

By 22 I was a single parent. How did this happen to me? Long story people but not too different from the sister who never graduated high school and had three children by the time she was 22 years old.

What I give thanks for are the core values I was able to retain during my formative years. These values are what prepared me to carry the burden of the parental responsibility alone. I know this journey will continue to be a struggle because struggle eludes no circumstance.

As long as there is breath in my body and God in my heart, I will settle for nothing short of a beautiful destiny. Every day I wake up with a queen warrior’s face, graceful stature and ready to fight for the greatest cause one could dedicate their life to, the future of the Black Family, The Original Family…………. Wow! Gotta go! I’m late! Time waits for no woman. Next time family! Peace!

P.S. Watch my story November 5, 2009 at the Angelika Theatre as we premiere a solution-oriented documentary that we hope will change your life: “Raising Boys”. Click below to RSVP.

DOUBLE DUTY: The Black Woman's Struggle Raising Boys Alone

2009-10-19T16:33:00.000-05:00

By: Deric Muhammad

By now most of us have seen the blood-curdling video of 14 year-old honor student Derrion Albert being beaten to his untimely death in Chicago. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Rev. Jesse Jackson and I believe God Himself is issuing a call to action to all of us to stand against the destructive “deathstyle” that left young Derrion “gone too soon.”

We must unite and stand against youth violence with all the strength that we can muster. As I watched in horror, I saw the high level of brute force used by those who took our brothers life. I, then, said to myself that we must meet this brute force of ignorance with an equal or greater force of truth, love, and sincere activism.

As I reviewed the video again I wondered how many of those involved in the melee were being raised by a single mother. If national statistics are worth their salt, probably 7 out of 10 of them are without a father in the home. And the absence of so many fathers in the home has a direct effect on the way that young Black males relate to one another.

It is only a matter of time before Hallmark designs and manufactures a Fathers Day Card for Black women. They would fly off of the shelves in the Black community and it would be difficult for us as a community to protest given the fact that we have helped create the market for it.

God, in His infinite wisdom, has set up a system for the family structure. He gives every child, male and female, a mother and a father. Both parents are by nature made to fulfill their roles so that the child receives what he or she needs to grow into their full potential according to the plan of a wise God. So the presence of a father in the life of a child is not only a human need; it is a human right.

The Black nation is hemorrhaging from within, because so many Black boys have been denied this human right. There is a deep, scathing, internally scarring pain on the inside of us as Black men, because we have felt the sting of apparent rejection from our fathers. Every young Black male who feels “dissed” by his biological father sees himself as a victim of injustice. He is hurt. He is bitter.

Injustice, according to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, could very well create an imbalance in the mind and careen out of control into savage behavior like that that killed Derrion Albert. The young Black male is “Fatherless and Furious.” If we intend to stop the violence in our communities, we must be ready to address the pathology of the problem and how it turns into the disease of self-hatred.

While it takes two to make a baby boy, it seems like the Black woman has been left with the burden of being the king maker. Black men are showing up in the bedroom, but not showing up in the delivery room. Too often, this drama is played out in some court room. It is because the lessons about life that fathers are supposed to teach their sons are being taught by and misinterpreted by the streets, television, rap stars, etc.

It is in the woman’s nature to be a loving nurturer of her son. She is given by God a feminine quality that serves as a source of support for her son who is growing into a young man. But too often mother has to step outside of herself (her nature) to play the role of father. It is a role that she is not naturally made to play, but has not choice. This is mentally, spiritually, physically, financially and even clinically an unfair burden to her and we as men must do a better job of helping her. The stress of being both mother and father to the Black male has probably taken an incalculable toll on the health of Black women in this nation.

Raising Black boys in a world like this is difficult for two parents. But, when a woman has to do it alone it’s like playing a doubles match of tennis against Venus and Serena Williams all by your self with no partner. Impossible, you say? Well, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught us that God destroyed the concept of “impossible” a very long time ago. There is no such thing as impossible.

If you are a single female who is shouldering the solo responsibility of raising a son, take courage. There have been many great men who were raised by mothers that went at it alone. We should study the mothers of great men like Minister Farrakhan who grew up without a father in the home as well. What did Mother Farrakhan do that helped to make her son the man that God has made, and is still making today?

Many other brilliant and successful Black men, such as Barack Obama, Rev. Jackson and others grew up void of a father and became great helpers in the cause of our people. The point that I am making is if the mothers of these great men can produce servants of God’s people then so can you.

If I may I would like to point to the example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a single Black woman who raised a son. Some will argue that Mary was NOT a single mother, because God was the father of Jesus and God was with Mary. I say, fine. But, guess what? As a single mom, God is with you, too, sister. And if God is with you, even Venus and Serena couldn’t beat you in a doubles match (smile).

Mary looked like she was by herself, but she wasn’t. Every single mother must take the attitude that she may look like she is by herself, but she is not. With God’s help we can steer our young boys in a better direction, stop the bleeding in our community and start the building of our community. But the Black woman should not have to do this by herself; we as Black men must take some responsibility for the misdirected anger that kills young brothers like Derrion and subsequently accept our God-given duty of raising our babies; especially Black boys.

Deric Muhammad is a Houston-based community activist who will host the premier of his documentary “Raising Boys; Tips for Single Moms” at Houston’s Angelika Theater on November 5th.

November 5th at Houston's Angelika Theater 7pm; RSVP NOW!!!

2009-10-19T12:19:00.000-05:00

We all agree that the Black man needs to come and take back his home and his community. However, the reality is that RIGHT NOW 70% of Black families are headed by the female.

Our communities are suffering and prisons are being filled every day because of the lack of attention that is being placed on this phenomenon. Deric Muhammad addresses the struggles and offers innovative solutions in a straightforward and gripping manner to single mothers raising boys. Directed and produced by Lawrence Moody of Moody Entertainment, this is a must see documentary.

Come and witness the first ever premiere. Official sponsors include Mary Kay, Houston City Council Member Jarvis Johnson, Brother Jesse Blog and more to be announced.

Quote of the Week: CHE' GUEVARA

2009-10-14T09:35:00.000-05:00

"SILENCE IS ARGUMENT CARRIED OUT BY OTHER MEANS." -Che'

PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS: 5TH WARD RESIDENTS UNITE AGAINST HISD'S IMMINENT DOMAIN TAKEOVER

2009-10-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson stood tall with residents of Houston's historic 5th Ward community to call the Houston Independent School District to the carpet for disrespectfully seeking to enforce imminent domain laws on elderly homeowners near Dogan Elementary School. Residents recieved certified letters giving them 14 days to respond to substandard offers to purchase their properties. One homeowner says that an appraiser showed up to appraise the property with the police in tow. Johnson questioned if this type of approach would be taken if it were in a wealthy area like River Oaks.

This elderly sister was sent a letter by HISD demanding that she respond to an offer to purchase 3 properties she owns in the area in 14 days. The district has offered to purchase her home for a price tens of thousands of dollars below the county appraised value. She said that here home is filled with memories. Her son spent his last days there before he died last year.

A neighborhood resident of 65 years speaks out about HISD's plan to use Imminent Domain laws to take over 11 properties. He was born in the house across the street from where the press conference was held and believes that 5th Ward is in the beginning stages of being taken over by the rich. Fifth Ward is only minutes from downtown Houston.

WHO MURDERED MARCUS WASHINGTON?

2009-10-10T15:29:00.000-05:00

SLAIN MAN’S FAMILY PUTS UP ADDITIONAL $20,000 REWARD

Who Killed 35 year-old Marcus Washington?

Activists, Family, Friends, Local Residents and Elected Officials Gather for Candlelight Vigil

HOUSTON, TX: Over 200 people have confirmed to attend when a local family announces that it has personally put up a $20,000 reward for anyone who can give information leading to the arrest of the party(s) responsible for the death of Marcus Washington. Washington, a 35 year old Halliburton employee who was only a few months away from receiving a Masters Degree from the University of Houston, was found in his apartment shot to death on July 3rd. He had been given the day off by Halliburton to celebrate Independence Day. An eyewitness claimed she saw 3 young males outside Washington’s apartment shortly before it is believed he was murdered. Authorities have yet to arrest any suspects.
Tomorrow, Sunday Oct. 11th, activist Deric Muhammad, Houston City Councilman Jarvis Johnson and hundreds of others will stand with the Washington family in a call for residents in the area to speak up if they have any information. Area residents have seen a huge spike in crime in the area and believe Washington may have been a victim of a random robbery “gone bad”. Activists are not satisfied with the apparent slowness of the Washington investigation and are calling on the community to get involved. “We should not be afraid of what will happen if we come forward with information leading to the arrest of the real culprits”, said Muhammad. We should be afraid of what will happen if we don’t.” The Washington family has circulated hundreds of flyers in an effort to gather information. Several people have come forwarded, but no one has been arrested. Now they have taken their journey for justice to the next level by raising the reward ante’ by $20,000. The funds have already been registered with Crimestoppers.
The brutal beating death of 14 year-old honor roll student Derrion Albert in Chicago has sparked a nationwide sense of urgency to stop the senseless killing in the Black community. The murder of Marcus Washington is but one local example of a nationwide problem. We must wage war against the violence that takes the lives of innocent human beings like Derrion Albert and Marcus Washington across America. No family should have to go through what the Albert family is suffering in Chicago or what the Washington family is suffering in Houston.

Where: Carriage Place Apartments (where the murder occurred)
505 Wells Fargo St. (Northwest Houston)
What: Candlelight Vigil & Community Rally
When: 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 11th, 2009

Brother Jesse Muhammad featured in the HOUSTON CHRONICLE

2009-10-09T17:44:00.000-05:00

Brother Jesse Blog Featured in the Houston Chronicle Newspaper
Missouri City man wants people to be their best
By VALERIE SWEETEN CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Jesse Muhammad of Missouri City was surprised to hear that his blog received three awards in the 2009 annual Black Weblog Awards on Sept. 4.

The results were based on popular vote.

He won “Blog of the Year,” “Best Personal Blog” and “Best Twitter Microblog.”

The Black Weblog Awards were founded in 2005 to recognize black bloggers and those in the African Diaspora. Participants came from more than 90 countries.

Muhammad, 31, known as Brother Jesse, began his blog in 2006.

His personal site chronicles his journey to find his father and offers his perspective on current events and everyday issues.

He also has sites on Twitter and Facebook.

“I'm truly humbled by the overwhelming support from my readers and the public. I dedicate these awards to them. The mission of my blog is to inspire people to overcome mediocrity and take action. This honor is truly a testament to that. Our best work is yet to come,” said Muhammad.

Pastor Rudy Rasmus of St. John's United Methodist Church, 2019 Crawford St., has known Muhammad since he was a teenager.

Rasmus, who follows the Twitter blog, said Muhammad is a “heck of a blogger with a serious determination.”

“He's always been one of those people you knew was going to make it and do good in life,” said Rasmus.

The two have worked together on community projects. Muhammad has a desire to make a difference according to Rasmus.

“He's a serious family man. That extends to the people and community around him. It's really refreshing to see a young man that makes sacrifices to care for the neighborhood. He's deserving of the recognition. This is only the beginning of what Jesse can do for our city,” Rasmus said.

Muhammad, a native Houstonian, was raised in northeast Houston with his mother, Mavis Jackson, and four siblings.

read entire article at jessemuhammad.blogs.finalcall.com

THE EXPLOITATION OF THE ELDERLY

2009-09-20T02:47:00.000-05:00

The Black Community’s Culture of Ungratefulness

By: Deric Muhammad

Ms. Mary is one of the sweetest elderly ladies you could ever meet. She has lived in her fragile home in the Houston Heights neighborhood for over 50 years. She never leaves home without her black suitcase which she rolls on its squeaky wheels whenever she leaves her humble home. She takes it to the grocery store, post office and everywhere else she goes. Most of the young jet-setters in her neighborhood think she is strange.
To the contrary Ms. Mary is smart. She is so smart that she has held on to her land to the chagrin of developers who have built swanky $300,000 three story condos around her. She knows that her balcony, despite its rotting wood, provides the Heights’ most beautiful view of the downtown Houston skyline. It is a view that holds many memories for her, but means millions of dollars to those developers.
Ms. Mary says that she’s been harassed for at least a decade about her property. Lawyers, realtors and builders have tried to buy her property at less than half its true value. She says they’ve vandalized her home and done all kinds of ugly things to strike enough fear in her to sell low so they can profit big. The black suitcase that she carries is filled with important paperwork; tax receipts, property deeds and court documents that prove that she is the sole owner of her properties. She fears that if she leaves her documents at home, “they” will break into her home again and steal the only proof that she has that her property belongs to her.
If you think the Ms. Mary is overreacting, you should travel across town to southeast Houston to visit Ms. Johnson. She is the elderly lady who earlier this summer sent her son to landscape one of the many lots she owns in Sunnyside and got a huge surprise. Her son returned and told her he could not cut the grass. When asked why, he calmly revealed that someone had illegally built a brand new home on the property and there was a “for sale” sign in the yard.
Ms. Johnson hired an attorney who investigated the matter and discovered fake and forged documents indicating Ms. Johnson’s sale of the property. The matter is still being resolved in court and the district attorney’s office is supposedly looking into it.
These are two of the increasingly frequent calls that I have been receiving about elder abuse and the manipulation of senior citizens in our community. It is an issue that is commanding more and more attention, as our grandmothers, grandfathers, great aunts and uncles become the prey of unscrupulous individuals, contractors and corporations looking to turn a profit at the expense of our elders.
There are certain cultures worldwide that emphasize the honor, respect and dignity of the elderly. Certain countries count it a badge of honor to have grown old and there are no such things as “old folk homes”. There is no such thing as an argument over who is going to take care of grandmamma when grandmamma can no longer care for herself. It’s simple. The same people that she took care of her entire life should be overjoyed to care for her in the twilight of her life.
There is a saying that my uncle used to repeat; “once an adult, twice a child.” Not to sound insensitive to the plight of the elderly, but if you are blessed to reach old age, chances are you won’t be able to take care of yourself as you did when you were a young man or woman. The cycle of life dictates that everything that is blessed to live gets old. Guess what? That means you and me too. If you want to know what its like to get old…just keep living. God forbid when we are at the age of fragility we are left to be taken advantage of by the pariahs of society who feed on the elderly.
We must develop of new attitude about our elders in the Black community. We are standing on their shoulders and benefiting from their sacrifice and struggle every day. We must sit, listen to, write down and record to the extensive wisdom from their years of life experience. We can’t afford to bury their wisdom along with their bodies when they make their physical transitions. We must teach our children the importance of and respect for senior citizens. Failure to do so may very well secure us a seat in the old folk home as well.
I believe there should be harsher laws put in place for those who exploit the elderly for personal profit. The same should be put in place for those who abuse the elderly. There a many great facilities who house and care for the elderly. However, there are many who treat them as thought they are a burden and not the jewel of society. There should be a task force put in place to closely monitor them all so that not on elder is abused by some lunatic posing as a caretaker.
If you have a family member who is elderly you should call and check on them today. If you know of an elderly person in the community who does not have anyone you should adopt that elderly person by checking on them periodically and consistently. We have no idea how your presence will lift their spirits. And if they try to talk you to death…just sit there and listen.
I would like to give a special thanks to the SHAPE Community Center and all other churches, organizations and groups that have created consistent programs for the elders. Without them, there would be no us. Let us from this day forward, be grateful. God bless.

Libya's Qadhafi and Farrakhan in NYC next week

2009-09-17T17:51:00.001-05:00

By NAYABA ARINDE
Amsterdam News Editor
Published: Thursday, September 17, 2009 2:22 PM EDT
Libyan leader Col. Muammar Qadhafi is coming to New York next week. It is an historic first visit for the man who has governed his country for 40 years. Nation of Islam leader Min. Louis Farrakhan, who will also be in town, is hailing the visit as a new dawn for American and Libyan politics, and a wonderful opportunity for the world to see and hear a man he said is a vital participant in the African Renaissance.

“We will just be on hand to welcome our brother, the leader of the African Union, on his first visit to the United States and to the United Nations, where I am sure he will make a major speech, ” said Farrakhan. While he told the AmNews that he had “no idea what [Qadhafi] will bring to the world” in terms of his speech, he knew it would be significant and relevant and on point, and be able to “dispel many of the ugly rumors. ” He roclaimed that despite propaganda to the contrary, Qadhafi has standing all over the world. “Under Bush, he was referred to in a very ugly way, and all the propaganda had Muammar Qadhafi looking like a person the American people would not want to know, ”said Farrakhan in an exclusive interview with the Amsterdam News. “He has been a leader of liberation movements throughout the world, but our government has supported many puppet regimes in Africa and Central and South America. Muammar Qadhafi is in his 40th year, the longest leader on the continent. ”

Supporting various liberation movements throughout the world did nothing to endear him to the West, the leader of the Nation of Islam determined, but he has established his reputation “and grown as a world leader in Africa and Central and South America. The last place for him to be received is the United States of America. ” What did he anticipate the reception to be? “I am sure that when people hear him on U. S. soil, most will admire him and will learn more about him and respect him. ”

Farrakhan is set to meet with Qadhafi, who will address the 192-nation U. N. General Assembly next week. In a grand spectacle in Tripoli last month, Libyan leader Col. Muammar Qadhafi observed the 40th anniversary of the bloodless coup that brought him to power. It was not diminished in the slightest by the Western nation brouhaha that accompanied the release of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the convicted Lockerbie bomber just released from prison because of his advanced prostate cancer. Following an opening speech from President Barack Obama, Muammar Qadhafi, leader of the Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Great Jamahiriya, will address the United Nations’ 64th General Session in New York next week. Libya’s reputation is undergoing a Western-okayed makeover. Hundreds of millions of dollars of natural resources struggling to let go of the Big Bogeyman portrayal of Qadhafi, which the oft-berated leader has been subjected to, the media here is having to report to factual changes.

To the chagrin of the West, for decades, Qadhafi has been front and center on numerous liberation movements, such as ones focused on freeing Nelson Mandela, the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa and the continued Palestinian struggle. Relations with the West con- tinued to go south with sanctions that wracked the North African nation of Libya. And in 1986, President Ronald Reagan ordered a U. S. military offensive that killed Qadhafi’s young daughter. But politics and capitalism being what they are means the West has swallowed hard and gone-a-calling to Libya to exploit economic possibilities. Reportedly, lucrative contracts lost during the Reagan administration were picked up again under the administration of oilman President George W. Bush. Qadhafi’s handing over of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi after the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland and eventually agreeing to pay $2 billion in compensation to the 270 victims’ families began the slow process. Qadhafi agreeing to get rid of Libya’s weapons of mass destruction programs led to America deciding to make nice in 2006.

International sanctions were eased and diplomatic relations between Libya and the West were restored. Saeed Shabazz wrote in the September 10 edition of the Amsterdam News:“The Libyans have started a multi-billion dollar building program constructing 27 new universities, airports and seaports, holiday resorts and a massive nano-filtration Wall Street for investors. ”Plus, British Petroleum, for example has over $900 million invested in drilling for oil. Libya now has a seat on the 15-nation Security Council until year-end. And the next president of the General Assembly is Ali Abdessalam Treki, a former Libyan ambassador to the United Nations.

“The Libyan government has been voted onto the Security Council this year, and I’m sure the leader will be well received by most of the members of the General Assembly, ” said Farrakhan. This year, Qadhafi was elected chairman of the African Union. Farrakhan noted that, as such, “Not only does Muammar represent the Libyan government and nation, he also represents the other 52 nations [in Africa].”

With rallies planned for next Tuesday, September 22 (48th Street at Third Avenue, 11:30 a.m.) and Wednesday 23 September 23 (United Nations, 47th Street at Second Avenue, 8:30 a. m. ), supporters, and perhaps some not so friendly faces, are expected to gather in Mid-town next week. Minister Farrakhan stated, “[The] American people have a right to protest his presence, but we know that hundreds, maybe thousands, will welcome him. He has been a friend to the Black community in general, and the Muslim community and the Nation of Islam in particular. Our friendship goes back almost as long as he has been a leader. ”

Farrakhan told the Amsterdam News that Qadhafi knew the late Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam, and that for years throughout his extended relationship with the NOI, he had “helped me, ” including appointing him the deputy commander of the World(WIPL). Farrakhan praised Qadhafi’s persistence in helping to bring into existence the African Union and working diligently towards creating the United States of Africa, first inspired by Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, who himself was influenced by Marcus Mosiah Garvey and his Back-to-Africa Movement.

The African Union replaced the 38-year-old Organization of African Unity. “Muammar took the idea of forming the African Union a little over 10 years ago and urged African leaders to consider marching towards a United States of Africa. [In July 2002] the African Union was formed, and many of us are moving steadily but slowly towards the United States of Africa. We have to give Muammar Qadhafi credit for that movement because not only did he spearhead it, but he put much of Libya’s oil wealth behind it. ” Qadhafi follows other African leaders in the belief that the development of an United States of Africa is possible and necessary for the survival and progress of the continent and the Diaspora, and for Africans at home and abroad to reach their fullest potential.

The Chicago-based leader stressed, “Muammar Qaddafi is a leading partner in the rest of the world. It has been to the advantage of some in America to keep from the American people the understanding of Muammar Qadhafi [and his significance] in the African Renaissance. ” Farrakhan said that the hear from the man himself might lend some clarity to what has been reported over the years.

There were the sanctions, he said, the bombing that killed Qadhafi’s daughter and the bringing down of flight Pan Am 103, “which they first said was Iran, then Syria, and then they settled on Libya. The sanctions which lasted 10 years or more caused great suffering for the Libyan people. Under the Bush administration, an agreement was worked out and Libya paid the Lockerbie families huge sums of money. Sanctions were lifted and relations between Tripoli and Washington [are improving]. ”

Libya desires American investment and America is eager to give it. Farrakhan predicted that Qadhafi’s visit next week should go some way to “dispel many of the ugly rumors. ” He concluded that the new Democratic government brings optimism to the probability of the dawn of productive relations that had previously been strained, saying, “President Obama is not only the hope of the 53 nations in Africa, but I read that 70 percent of the Europeans that disliked the policy of G. W. Bush are in favor of the positions [he has taken] as the president of the United States. ” As he himself prepares to meet with President Qadhafi in New York City, Min. Louis Farrakhan said, “We are hoping that under President Barack Obama, Libya can come more into the sunlight. The Obama administration can be a great help in this. ”

JOIN US AT A PRAYER AND CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AGAINST HATE

2009-09-11T11:33:00.000-05:00

Rapper, Entrepreneur Fat Joe Announces New Affordable Sneaker Line

2009-08-27T23:07:00.000-05:00

After admittedly once paying $10,000 for a vintage pair of sneakers, rapper/entrepreneur Fat Joe recently "smartened up" to the game and released his new "Protege" line of shoes to be sold exclusively at Sears and Kmart. The kicks, which retail for $39.99, are designed to appeal to urban youth, specifically those whose parents cannot afford $200 Air Jordan's or $700 Air Yeezy's. As a businessman, some may say that Joe might lose profit selling his product at such a low price. I vehemently disagree. The sneakers, which cost about 2 or 3 bucks to manufacture, will probably sell faster considering the low price during this recession. If he's still clearing over $30 per pair that is still an awesome profit. He'll make up for the price cut but selling more volume, that is if folks still shop at Kmart. Truth is, the $100 dollar pair of sneakers that sell at Foot Locker cost the same to manufacture (see my Final Call op-ed entitled "Sneaker Pimps.)" "All the best" to you on your new shoe line, Joe. I'm sure some single mother working two jobs, trying to keep the steaks in the freezer thanks you. If only we could get Mike to follow Joe's lead. Wouldn't $40 Air Jordans be a nice? I'm sure all the single mothers and struggling dads in the hood think so. But who cares what we think, as long as we a willing to pay the price for the white man's ice. I'm just sayin' though.

Congressman Al Green's Healthcare Townhall Meeting a Success Without Incident

2009-08-26T14:27:00.000-05:00

Here a a few photo highlights from Congressman Al Green's Healthcare Reform Townhall Meeting last night. Unlike many throughout the nation, the dialogue about President Obama's healthcare reform was civilized and without disruption. Congressman Green did a great job moderating the two hour discussion and answering great questions posed by attendees. What was a little disappointing was the fact that over 1,000 tax payers came out to particpate in the much publicized issue and there was very little mainstream media coverage. Seems like you have to have a gun-toting, tobacco chewing, disruptive fanatic on scene these days in order to get some decent coverage. Nevertheless we have to remember that if the media "makes you" then they can "break you" as well. As long as you have the support of "the people" you will be fine. That's what a wise man told me.

DERIC'S DEBATE: No Individual Can Rise Above the Condition of His People

2009-08-26T13:12:00.000-05:00

By: Deric Muhammad

I recently attended a Saturday workshop where my younger brother and Journalist Jesse Muhammad, was a featured presenter. Afterward, I decided to take a shopping stroll through the Galleria Mall to exchange some merchandise. I’d parked near the Neiman Marcus entrance and was exiting to return to my car, bags in hand, when I noticed an upper middle aged white female getting out of her Cadillac.
As she started towards the mall entrance the first person she saw was me; a clean-cut fellow wearing a custom made business suit and tie with both hands full of shopping bags. I had the white hanky in my pocket with spit shined Italian shoes, cuff links and all. But when she clutched her purse and ignored my “how you doin” I realized that all she saw was just another ni--- walking by.
It’s not like I’ve never experienced this before. Growing up as a young Black male in America I’ve had many a purse “clutched” as I walked by. And I thought that maybe it had something to do with the way I was dressed as a youth or the hole in my t-shirt because I was poor. But while a lot has changed in my life, one thing hasn’t. I am still a Black man in America and whether I wear a Hugo Boss suit or sagging blue jeans I am still subject to the “old purse clutch.”
When Harvard professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates was arrested by the Cambridge Police Department for “being upset” in his own home he fell under the same law. Professor Gates is too intelligent to believe that what happened to him does not happen to Black males every minute in America. He knows that racial profiling is a pandemic. He just did not imagine it happening to him after all the university hours he’s put in to become an internationally renowned scholar, educator, and historian.
Real talk, the professor on that day became a student again. He became a student of a phrase coined by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad that should be adopted as a law. It says that “no one individual can ever rise above the condition of his or her people.” Brothers in the hood were like “welcome to the real world Professor Gates.”
But Gates made the mistake of thinking that a certain social status, level of education, wealth and influence should have separated him from the discrimination that his people received daily. And while the hallways of his home were reportedly littered with photos of the professor taken with presidents, dignitaries and others that police officer saw him just as the old white lady in the Cadillac saw me the other day; just another ni----.
President Barack Obama fell under the same law during his recent visit to Russia. While greeting Russian dignitaries alongside Russia’s president he noticed that the dignitaries would shake everyone else’s hand but his. They refused to shake Obama’s hand. And even though he is the president of the United States of America, they saw him just like that old white lady in the Cadillac saw me.
There goes that law again. How much higher can one rise in this world’s society except to become the president of the United States? And if Obama can’t get around this law then any Black man or woman in America who thinks they can is a fool.
Not even the late-great Michael Jackson could escape the law. Once he was no longer under “their control” they crucified him in the media, hurled false charges at him, made him undergo physical strip searches and treated him the same way they’d treat a petty drug dealer on a corner in Brooklyn.
Jesus’ disciples were confused about certain statements he made to them. For all intents and purposes they felt like they’d treated the master well. But Jesus made it clear when he said, Inasmuch as you have not done this to the least of these my people you have also not done it unto me. Jesus was saying that true progress can only be measured by what we do for the least of God’s people. When the least of our people rise we all rise.
And while individual success can and should be applauded always remember that no one individual can ever rise above the condition of his or her people.

Senator Ted Kennedy (1932-2009)

2009-08-26T12:57:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning to the unexpected, yet expected, news that Senator Ted Kennedy had made his mortal transition, succumbing to a rare form of brain cancer. Despite quite a bit of "mess ups" in his career, Kennedy is hailed as the "Lion of the Senate" who championed such humanitarian causes as healthcare and civil rights. I have always been fascinated by men born of wealth who give much of their lives in defense of the poor. Anyone who knows the story of the Kennedy family knows that it is one filled with triumph and tragedy. But, no one denies that it is one of the most powerful dynasties in the history of America. Who would have ever thought that the Kennedy name would one day be used to help elect the first Black president of the United States of America. I think Ted Kennedy, despite his ups and downs, finished a strong race. Some have even called his final years a "victory lap."

Mike's Death Ruled a Homicide

2009-08-24T23:09:00.001-05:00

Michael Jackson's death, according to court documents, has been ruled a homicide. The paperwork lists a deadly mixture of drugs that may have caused him heart failure. Unfortunately Dr. Conrad Murray has become a victim of Jackson's celebrity and is recieving death threats, not to mention a dark cloud of possible legal action (i.e. an indictment) over his head. Millions believe he is responsible for Jackson's death despite Mike's reported history of addiction. Larry King's blog question of the evening was "Who was responsible for the propfol in Michael Jackson's system; Conrad Murray or Michael Jackson." And while it is highly possible that a jury will have weigh that question heavily, only God knows the entire truth. What is for certain is that we have lost one of the most unique, talented and giving human beings to walk the face of this earth in our lifetime, along with one of our most brilliant physicians. Being from Houston, I did not know Dr. Murray personally but I know many that he has helped out of life or death situations. Unfortunately, this one patient that he "lost" may forever overshadow all the ones that he has saved. It's a situation where nobody wins except someone have the brilliance of mind to use this controversial tragedy as teachable moment for young people about how drugs (I dont' care if it's propofol or cocaine) can destroy the lives of even the most powerful among us. Let's be real...what likely happened between Dr. Conrad Murray and Michael Jackson happens in the hood every day on one level; and it happens in the medical community every day on another level. My mother, who was once addicted to drugs, had a regular "doctor" too. That doctor was everybody's doctor. While he was THE virtual drug dealer in our community, I never blamed him for my mom's addiction. I know that this is an unfair comparison, because my mother is living and has since overcome her addiction and is now a drug counselor. She uses that chapter in her life to counsel others to avoid writing it in theirs. I think that somebody should do the same with all this Michael Jackson business. And while the laws in this country are designed to bury the little crack dealer underneath the jail, the "propofol dealers" in this country continue their "wine and cheese" lifestyle. I ain't trying to get on no soapbox...I'm just sayin' though.

Congressman Al Green to Host Healthcare Reform Townhall Meeting

2009-08-24T17:36:00.001-05:00

Texas Congressman Al Green (9th Congressional District) Invites you to his Health Care Reform Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2009.

It starts 6:00-8:00 P.M. and will take place at The Power Center located at 12401 S Post Oak Rd Houston, TX 77030

Congressman Green will talking with his constituents about the current proposals in Congress. The theme of the town hall meeting is: Fact vs. Fiction How will these proposals affect YOU?

I, along with others in our area, received an email blast from Luke Hayes, Texas State Director for Organizing for America. He advised people to "arrive as early as possible to the town hall, and make sure that the most powerful voices in this debate are those calling for real reform, not angrily clamoring for the status quo."

This blog was originally posted on the "Brother Jesse Blog".

Cynthia McKinney Drops by the NBUF Houston Headquarters

2009-08-21T14:21:00.000-05:00

Former Congresswoman and international humanitarian activist, Cynthia McKinney, dropped by the Houston headquarters of the National Black United Front to share her recent experience in Gaza with the Houston grass roots community. McKinney was illegally detained by Israeli forces while trying to deliver survival supplies to Palestian brothers and sister. Some of the individuals present were NBUF National Chairman Kofi Taharka, Dallas Rep. Thomas Muhammad, Student Minister Robert Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, Parnell Herbert of (PISAB), Jesse Muhammad of the Final Call Newspaper, Elder Jean Dember, Brother Trent, Akua Holt, Lateef Salley and many others.

Burress Pleads Guilty...as if Shooting Himself in the Leg Wasn't Punishment Enough

2009-08-20T13:08:00.000-05:00

The New York Daily News and thousands of media outlets nationwide are reporting that New York Giant's star reciever Plaxico Burress has copped to the gun charge that he caught in a Manhattan nightclub. Burress slipped through the club's side entrance with a pistol, which accidentally slipped down his baggy shorts and discharged shooting him in his leg. He is expected to do two years in jail and then resume his football career. Why not allow the guy the opportunity to teach youngsters about the danger of guns (and baggy shorts)in exchange for a lighter punishment. It's clear that he is not a real danger to anyone except himself. Let's use his celebrity to teach a much needed lesson about irresponsibility with weapons. Like I said in my editorial last year, Plaxico Burress and his pistol is just an extension of the state of the Black community and its guns. At the end of the day, we only shoot ourselves. The other part that I did not mention is after we shoot ourselves, we go to jail for it; just like Plaxico. I pray it all works out for the brother.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "Life's Bargain"

2009-08-20T12:50:00.000-05:00

"I BARGAINED WITH LIFE FOR A PENNY
AND LIFE WOULD PAY NO MORE
HOWEVER I BEGGED AT EVENING
WHEN I COUNTED MY SCANTY STORE"

"FOR LIFE IS A JUST EMPLOYER
HE GIVES YOU WHAT YOU ASK
BUT ONCE YOU HAVE SET THE WAGES,
WHY, YOU MUST BEAR THE TASK"

"I WORKED FOR A MENIAL'S HIRE,
ONLY TO LEARN, DISMAYED
THAT ANY WAGE I HAD ASKED OF LIFE,
LIFE WOULD HAVE WILLINGLY PAID"

Taken from pg. 22 of Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich"

SNEAKER PIMPS: The Manipulation of an Entire Generation

2009-08-18T21:36:00.000-05:00

By: Deric Muhammad

Rosa is a factory worker in an impoverished Third World country. She makes Air Jordan’s for a living. She walks several miles to work 7 days a week and makes approximately 3 dollars a day. She’s the breadwinner of the family so it’s either factory work or prostitution. She chooses the former to avoid the latter.
Rosa’s handiwork is so exemplary that a single pair of the shoes that she makes retail for 180 to 250 U.S. dollars. She barely makes that much in 3 months. So Rosa naturally wonders who are the rich folks that can afford to pay this kind of money for the sneakers she makes. Little does she know that it is inner-city youth, who are not rich at all, who drive the market for name brand sneakers made for meager pennies and sold for big dollars.
The bottomless pit of profit in between Rosa’s slave wages and the senseless sneaker addiction of inner-city youth are major corporations like Nike, Adidas, Reebok and others. I call them “sneaker pimps”, because they exploit the poverty-stricken condition of third world countries and the lack of self-knowledge of urban youngsters amassing fortunes worth billions leaving the callous hands that make the shoes and the misguided minds that purchase them in dire straits.
What is it about name brand sneakers, called “tennie shoes” in the south and “gym shoes” in the Midwest, that make them a necessity to our people? Why do the latest Air Force Ones’, Air Yeezy’s, Chuck Taylor’s or LeBrons make us feel better about ourselves. Why does singer Chris Brown sing “You’re Like Jordans on Saturday” when expressing how special his female companion is in his song “With You”?
A new pair of shoes could make any one feel good; especially a people who are descendents of slaves that picked cotton barefoot for nearly 300 years. But, as the young folks would say, “let’s keep it one hundred”. A people who are “last hired and first fired” that suffer collectively economically cannot afford a $700 pair of Kanye West Nike Sneakers (called Air Yeezy’s). Our youth have become emotionally attached to things which offer them an identity, because we have failed to provide them with a root in their history, culture, God and self.
Believe it or not, there was a time when the only time you saw men wearing basketball sneakers was when they were playing basketball. Hip-hop culture and it’s influence popularized athletic apparel when groups like Run-DMC decided that “their Adidas” would be the uniform of the day whether they were on the block in Hollis Queens New York or at the White House. Earlier artists, like Grand Master Flash and Melle Mel wore hard bottomed shoes, but when Run-DMC took off so did the profits of Adidas.
Our entertainment and sports icons are tapped regularly as pitch men for these companies. If Phil Knight were to create a sneaker and put his personal signature on it he may have to give them away, because no one would buy them. So he pays influential demigods like Michael Jordan, Kanye West and others millions of dollars to use their popular names to popularize Nike shoes. The athlete/celebrity makes decent money, but the masses of the people are caught up in the illusion that buying a pair of shoes will get them closer to being ‘just like mike.’ In the year 2006 Nike reportedly spent $476 million on endorsement deals. However, the company profited 15 billion dollars that year. You do the numbers.
Nike is a term associated with the “Greek Goddess of victory.” The question that must be asked is “a victory for whom.” This transnational business set-up is certainly not a victory for sweatshop employees in poor nations who can hardly feed their families. And we must make clear the fact that there is no victory for us, as a people, in purchasing overpriced sneakers. The only victor in this relationship is, “money in middle”, the corporation. Just as the Greeks acquired knowledge from the Egyptians and ultimately claimed it as their own and used it against our forefathers, companies like Nike acquire billions of dollars from our communities, claim it as it’s own and give very little back.
Rap artists who allow television cameras into their homes to tape shows like MTV Cribs often brag about owning thousands of pairs of sneakers, some given to them by apparel companies in hopes that they can influence the hip-hop generation to desire to own hundreds of pairs of sneakers, as well. Unfortunately, most of these artists end up in financial trouble and while there may be some resale value for their jewels, called “bling bling”, there is no resale value for a pair of shoes.
We have to break the news to poor urban youth that Air Force One’s don’t make you a better person. We must diligently and consistently teach them that they should not judge their peers by the price tag of their shoes. We must make very clear to them that we, along with our brothers and sisters in sweat shops across the globe, are being “sneaker pimped”, by these corporations and if we are not careful the hip-hop generation could go down in history as a “generation of suckers.” Who will tell our youth that they must accept their own and be themselves?
NBA superstar, Stephen Marbury, made a revolutionary pivot towards self-empowerment in the Black community when he released his “Starbury” line of sneakers and apparel retailing for 10-20 dollars. These affordable prices, attached to the name of one of our most celebrated athletes, helped many single mothers and hard working fathers who can’t afford to buy the latest high dollar kicks for their children. I appreciated Marbury’s move, I have supported it and I think you should too (www.starbury.com).
If we as a people were to collectively save the exorbitant amounts we spend on sneakers we could probably purchase one of the Third World countries where these sneakers are manufactured. We could pay Rosa a decent salary and sell our own shoes to our own people at a reasonable price. Even Phil Knights grandchildren would buy from us, because urban youth set the trends for suburban America. If this ideas sounds “too much like right, then this generation has been taught “too much like wrong.” Get the sneaker pimps out of your pocket.

CNN's Anderson Cooper 360' in Paris, Texas

2009-08-18T15:01:00.000-05:00

The controversial dragging death of 26-year old Brandon McClelland was discussed recently on CNN's AC 360' when the New Black Panther Party was interviewed regarding the cover-up taking place in the small Texas county (Lamar County). The report followed a rally where a heated exchange between skinheads and Blacks took place. The journey to justice for Brandon McClelland continues. Don't just stay tuned...get involved.

Is This Offensive or am I Just Sensitive?

2009-08-18T14:49:00.000-05:00

Check out the advertisement for a local community college American History course. This email was sent to me attached to a long letter by a Black scholar who believes this advertisement is insulting, misleading, disrespectful and insensitive to the Black community. I agreed 100% so I've been running it by others in the community and monitoring their initial reactions. Most agree that this photo, though it represents a true depiction of an aspect of our experience in America, is not a good representation of our contributions to the history of this country at all. I reached out to the Community College responsible for publishing this ad today and am awaiting an explanatory response. If I don't get one....well, you know how we do.

Milwaukee Mayor Beaten with a Leap Pipe?

2009-08-18T14:36:00.000-05:00

I know that I couldn't have been the only one mindboggled at how the mayor of one of America's major cities gets beaten with a lead pipe while reportedly trying to break up a fight. Where was his security detail? Isn't that part of the deal when you become the mayor of a major city in America? Well of course elected officials put their britches on one pant leg at a time like the rest of us and are subject to the possibility of getting hit over the head just like the rest of us, but this was surprising to me. I hope the man fully recovers, but somebody needs to teach a security class on at Milwaukee City Hall. I'm just sayin.......

MORE PHOTOS FROM THE "RALLY AGAINST HATE"

2009-08-06T22:06:00.000-05:00

HATERS GET ON YOUR JOB: Sonia Sotomayor Confirmed a Supreme Court Justice

2009-08-06T15:26:00.000-05:00

I just caught a glance of a CNN report that Sonia Sotomayor was just confirmed as the first Latino female to be seated on the Supreme Court. After a controversial back and forth with Washington lawmakers her confirmation was made official today to the chagrin of her detractors and, I'm sure, the delight of President Barack Obama. I am sure that her confirmation will be inspiring to the masses of the people in this country especially in the fast growing Latino community. In my humble opinion, Obama is doing his best to tear down the discriminatory walls that have been tearing this nation apart for centuries, while the so-called "White Right" break their political backs to hold it up. Congratulations SISTER Justice. That's what I said....SISTER!!! HATERS GET ON YOUR JOB!!!

REVOLUTIONARY VISUALS OF THE "RALLY AGAINST HATE" : By Journalist/Photographer Jesse Muhammad

2009-07-31T08:14:00.000-05:00

HBFFA President Otis Jordan addresses the press in front of the "Old Hanging Tree" before the rally.

National Chairman of the National Black United Front (NBUF), Kofi Taharka (in red),and another NBUF member with "Strange Fruit" under the "Old Hanging Tree" in downtown Houston.

Houston At-Large City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones addresses the crowd of concerned citizens.

HBFFA President Otis Jordan and Firefighter Paula Keyes. Keyes' dormitory locker was recently defaced with racists threatening graffiti.

Latino community stalwart Johnny Mata and the Nat'l Vice President of LULAC, Sylvia Gonzalez, bring a message of support from the Hispanic community.

Sister Ebony Muhammad delivers a poignant letter of support from the Houston chapter of the National Association of Black Psychologists. Mrs. Muhammad is a board member of the organization.

Rally Attendees March to City Hall to demand "zero tolerance" for racial hatred.

PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS: Sept. 21st Face-Off in Paris, Texas

2009-07-30T08:23:00.001-05:00

With Final Call journalist, Jesse Muhammad and Jacqueline McCelland, mother of Brandon.

I started off trying to calm everyone down and ended up having to calm myself down.

Just as I was beginning to speak two Neo-Nazi skinheads appeared across the street taunting supporters of the McClelland family.

A Paris resident gives yet another testimony of her experience with racism in the small Texas town.

Pictured speaking is the cousin of Brandon McClelland who bravely viewed his body after it was found mangled in pieces on the side of a Lamar County Road last year.

Jim Blackwell of the Tarrant County Local Organizing Committee fires up the crowd gathered inside the Paris Town Square. Law Enforcement Officers designated protest zones for marchers to avoid any undue confrontation.

HBFF President Otis Jordan and Activist, Deric Muhammad appear on New York City's Harlem 411 Radio Broadcast

2009-07-18T08:36:00.000-05:00

The base of support for the plight of the Houston Black Firefighters Association was expanded when Otis Jordan and Deric Muhammad took to the airwaves of New York City to inform New Yorkers about what's going on in the Houston Fire Department and promote the highly anticipated July 28th Rally at Houston City Hall.

FOX 26's ISIAH CAREY REPORTS: 1 HFD Graffiti Accuser Takes Polygraph Amid Accusations She May Be Lying

2009-07-18T08:23:00.000-05:00

1 HFD Graffiti Accuser
Takes Polygraph
Updated: Friday, 17 Jul 2009, 5:16 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 17 Jul 2009, 11:31 AM CDT

HOUSTON - FOX 26 News has learned one of the two female firefighters who were allegedly victimized at Houston Fire Department Station 54 has taken a polygraph test.

The attorney representing Jane Draycott confirms his client took a polygraph on Thursday night and according to him, passed it with 'flying colors."

Joseph Ahmad says he decided to give Draycott a polygraph after he claims there was a concerted effort by elements in city government to discredit her.

Ahmad says the test was given to his client by an independent examiner who asked some very specific questions. On that list: Did she write the racist and sexist graffiti found on the female dorm walls at the fire station two weeks ago?

Ahmad says he only gave Draycott the polygraph because the rumors attacked her veracity. The Houston attorney says if Paula Keyes is attacked with those same allegations, he will ask her to take a polygraph as well. But for now Ahmad says, "I have zero concern about their truthfulness."

Ahmad also confirmed to FOX 26 that the Office of Inspector General is also asking the women to take a polygraph which has not been completed as of yet.

Reporter Isiah Carey will have more developing information in this case on FOX 26 News at 5 and 5:30 p.

NATIONAL NEWS SECTION OF THE LATEST FINAL CALL NEWSPAPER

2009-07-17T13:52:00.000-05:00

HOUSTON BLACK FIREFIGHTERS CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE FLAMES OF RACISM

By Jesse Muhammad
Staff Writer

HOUSTON (FinalCall.com) - Members of the Houston Black Firefighters Association (HBFFA) are refusing to back down from their demands to have three of the department's top administrators fired for mishandling the discovery of a hangman's noose in a White captain's locker earlier this year.
Thousands are preparing to converge again on the steps of City Hall on July 28 for what is now known as the Flames of Racism protest and rally.

“We want them demoted,” said Otis Jordan at a news conference outside City Hall in late June. Mr. Jordan is a fi re captain and is president of HBFFA. “We will not let up until justice is served.”

This was the fourth time in several months that his group along with community activists took their concerns to the City Hall chambers to voice their disgust. They also held a huge town hall meeting at the HBFFA headquarters in the Third Ward area in early June.

The coalition is calling on Houston Mayor Bill White to investigate Fire Chief Phil Boriskie and Assistant Chiefs Rick Flanagan and Omero Longoria for an alleged cover up.

“We are here today in the interest of discrimination,” said Deric Muhammad of the Nation of Islam to press. “We are calling for zero tolerance on racial hatred and racial symbols in the workplace. It must end now.”

In February, a noose was discovered by a Black firefighter in the partially opened locker of Captain Keith Smith. The incident was then reported by two Black firefighters. Mr. Smith was only given a written reprimand for having the noose in his locker and the two Black firefighters received the same punishment for reporting it. But as of late, the noose isn't the only incident plaguing the department.

On July 8, racist statements were picked up over a radio frequency used by local firefighters for the second time in the last few months. This occurred only a few hours after racist and sexist graffiti was discovered on the lockers and personal belongings of a Black and White female firefighter. This forced Mayor White, whose term ends this year, to finally make a statement.

“I want some independent group that has legal expertise to come in here and advice us on what to do,” said the Mayor in a press conference July 9. “The acts of a few do not represent the vast majority of the good men and women who serve in the Houston Fire Department.”

Mr. Muhammad and the group have drummed up support from many city council members, grassroots groups, and political candidates who are all calling on more from the Mayor.

“After months of urging from community members, firefighters and police officers to address these issues, finally the Mayor has been forced to provide a response which is less than adequate,” said Kofi Taharka of the National Black United Front.

“Mayor White has shown a severe lack of leadership in his timid response to the multiple White supremacist, racist and sexist incidents publicly exposed at the Houston Fire Department,” Mr. Taharka told The Final Call.

“An isolated incident is one isolated incident, but when an isolated incident becomes a pattern, you may have a serious problem in the department,” said Councilman Jarvis Johnson told The Final Call.

Councilmember Johnson, who oversees District B, has proposed a city-wide zero tolerance policy on racism. “We must institute zero tolerance regarding racial symbols, slurs and gestures,” he said.

Along with agreeing with the zero tolerance policy, Councilwoman Jolanda Jones also sent a letter directly to the U.S. Department of Justice to request them to “come in and decide for themselves if there's a real problem here.”

In a statement posted to his Facebook page, Mayoral candidate Gene Locke said “I strongly support the men and women of the Houston Fire Department and the recent events are in no way a reflection on these great public servants who risk their lives for us every day. However, these cowardly acts by a few reckless individuals are deplorable and cannot be tolerated.”

“Racism in this department has been going on for years,” 27-yearveteran Marty Harvey told The Final Call. “Blacks are still treated standoffish. But the Blacks inside can no longer be afraid to speak out. There is nothing to be afraid of.”

MARCH 28th RALLY DISCUSSED ON ROBERT MUHAMMAD'S "CONNECT THE DOTS" SHOW ON KPFT 90.1 FM

2009-07-15T13:11:00.000-05:00

(Deric Muhammad and show host Robert Muhammad build momentum for the July 28th rally at City Hall. The "Connect the Dots" radio show can be heard at www.kpft.com every Wednesday. New time is 3pm to 4pm beginning next Wednesday.)

(Otis Jordan and Robert Muhammad discuss the history of racism in the Houston Fire Department.)

KCOH RADIO HOSTS BLACK LEADERSHIP IN DIALOGUE ABOUT HFD CONTROVERSY

2009-07-15T12:47:00.000-05:00

(President Otis Jordan, HBFFA, addresses solutions to internal problems of racism at the Houston Fire Department.)

(l-r Alvin James, Houston City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones, Deric Muhammad and Otis Jordan outside the historic KCOH radio station following the broadcast.)

(Shelby Stewart who heads the organization Black Officers for Justice admonished Mayor Bill White to ensure the protection of females in the Houston Fire Dept. and other city departments, as well.)

(KCOH host Ralph Cooper fielded questions from callers and moderated a powerful discussion about racism, sexism and leadership.)

(Houston City Councilwoman Jolanda Jones addresses a caller's question while President Otis Jordan, HBFFA, looks on.)

KTSU 90.9 RADIO STATION HOSTS OTIS JORDAN AND FRIENDS

2009-07-15T09:20:00.000-05:00

Otis Jordan, HBFFA President, addresses KTSU listeners concerning problems at HFD and the upcoming rally at Houston City Hall on July 28th.

Retired Houston Firefighter, Alvin James, challenges other retired firefighters to get out of their comfort zone.

KTSU Morning radio host, Lauren, interviews Houston Black Firefighters Association.

The students at Texas Southern University and the listenership of it's affiliated radio station, KTSU, were addressed by members of the Houston Black Firefighters Association and myself (Deric Muhammad)on Tuesday July 14th. We discussed the upcoming July 28th rally to put out the "Flames of Racism" and why it is important that the youth get involved in the movement to eradicate racism, among other topics. KTSU morning host, Lauren, asked questions centered around solutions to the problems that Jordan and James gave critical answers to. These two and others are trying to make the Houston Fire Department a dignified place to work for future generations like students at TSU. Great interview. Keep up the good work KTSU!

JULY 28th RALLY SET TO BE CATALYST FOR CHANGE AT HFD AND CITY OF HOUSTON

2009-07-13T09:04:00.000-05:00

HOUSTON CITY COUNCILMEMBERS RESPOND TO HFD SCANDAL IN HOUSTON CHRONICLE

2009-07-13T08:54:00.000-05:00

City Council members respond to HFD scandal
By BRADLEY OLSON

July 9, 2009,

Toni Lawrence, District A

"In order to comment on that, I would like to talk to the fire department and be sure that everything I've seen is true. I have not talked to a fire department person who says there is a problem. I'm anxious to do that this week. We should not be a city that is known for that kind of thing. Absolutely not. But I don't really want to come out and comment on a remark or something somebody said without talking to the people there at that station. These are some very serious remarks that have been made, and we want to be sure they're accurate."

Jarvis Johnson, District B

"I'm very concerned. Anytime you have incidents like this that threaten, intimidate any employee, it's unacceptable. I'm offended and hope we do find the culprit and hand down the most harsh possible punishment. This is a very clear indication of why we need to have a zero tolerance policy in place. An isolated incident is one isolated incident, but when an isolated incident becomes a pattern, you may have an inherent problem in the department."

Anne Clutterbuck, District C

"It's absolutely horrible. I feel disgust, frustration and sadness. It tears you up. I know so many outstanding firefighters and I'm sure they feel the same way. No one should have to work in an environment like that. I urge that we bring in, swiftly, someone who is an outside investigator with top investigative skills, to get to the bottom of this ... It's essential we bring in an outside investigator to get to the bottom of it and to restore public confidence in our fire department."

Wanda Adams, District D

"My first reaction when I heard about this at 6:30 in the morning Tuesday was, 'Not again.' The other feeling I had was, 'I hope we do it right this time.' First of all, you don't want any discrimination to occur to anybody, whether female, male, whatever nationality. I think that hate, racism should not be tolerated anywhere. And once a person feels that they have been discriminated against, they need to just bring it forward, so we can do something about it and make our policies better.

Mike Sullivan, District E

"Categorically, I am totally supportive of the men and women of the Houston Fire Department. To show my support, I'm going to spend the next 14 days having breakfast and dinner at fire stations in my district to tell these men and women that we care about them, we support them and that we appreciate the job that they do for us."

M.J. Khan, District F

"I don't think, in this day and age, that anybody should have these type of attitudes towards any group. I am not pleased with what's going on. We have some issues in the fire department. I believe they are more management issues, not systematic problems in the fire department. These are isolated incidents and they need to be corrected.''

Pam Holm, District G

"The allegations are serious. It's my understanding there is a full criminal investigation under way, which I think has to happen. We have to get to the bottom of this. I'm focused on getting the results and getting the investigation done and taking serious action whenever we do find out who has done it. And we will find out.''

Ed Gonzalez, District H

"I'm deeply concerned. I'm confident in the abilities of the Houston Police Department, but my recommendation would be for an external investigation to be conducted. We need an independent group to conduct that investigation, just to be sure we have a different perspective. Without a doubt, I feel that the majority of our firefighters are true professionals. The same holds true for our police department. In any area you're always going to have a few bad apples. That's just human nature. But based on the seriousness of events, I have to consider the possibility that there are some deep, systemic problems that need to be looked at.''

James Rodriguez, District I

"I was really shocked and just disappointed that it happened. I don't know who did this, but whoever did this, the message they left was horrible. I feel badly for the two firefighters who had to endure that. I support the mayor's position. We need to have a thorough investigation, get to the bottom of this crime and deal with these people accordingly. It's unacceptable. This can't be tolerated in any city workplace.''

Peter Brown, At-Large Position 1

"Tuesday's events within the Houston Fire Department were entirely unacceptable. The city must take immediate action to find those responsible and should hold those persons accountable whether they are employees of HFD or not. The city must protect those who protect our communities. On City Council, I recently supported sensitivity training for the Fire Department in an attempt to eradicate just this type of racist and sexist activity. But we need to go a step further a zero tolerance policy. Those who serve our community deserve it. And those of us on City Council should demand it."

Sue Lovell, At-Large Position 2

"We're all just appalled by the recent incident. As a mature leader, and I think mature leadership is really required right now, we have to make sure we don't say anything that will impede an investigation in any way. There is a criminal investigation going on and we need to find out the results of that. We want to find out, we're going to find out, and when we do, we want them punished to the fullest extent of the law. We need to wait and find out the facts. Then we can take care of why it happened."

Melissa Noriega, At-Large Position 3

"These allegations are troubling. At the same time, we need to allow the staff of the Office of Inspector General to do their work. There is an active investigation going on and it needs to be completed."

Ronald Green, At-Large Position 4

"There are still some very good firefighters out there, and they're all being affected by this. We should not be afraid to open up our doors and have any organization come in and investigate us. There's no question that there is a racial divide right now in the fire department. And if this event does not help us raise the flag and say look, we need some help, I think it's going to be a problem."

Jolanda Jones, At-Large Position 5

"I'm disappointed at how they were treated, and I'm angry at how they are being just flat-out disrespected and vilified and anyone who fights for them, they are attempting to marginalize them. We need to use this as an opportunity to fix what's broken. We need to take an honest look at what's going on and deal with it. We have an obligation to not further victimize those two women. All they did was work to save us and do their jobs."

HOUSTON CITY COUNCILMEMBER JARVIS JOHNSON QUOTED IN HOUSTON CHRONICLE CONCERNING HFD

2009-07-12T15:11:00.000-05:00

Thursday, July 9, 2009
Councilmember Johnson quoted in Houston Chronicle newspaper regarding growing HFD issues

In one of the front cover stories of the July 9, 2009 edition of the Houston Chronicle newspaper, Council Member Jarvis Johnson is quoted in an article regarding the escalating issue of racism being exposed in the Houston Fire Department.

“An isolated incident is one isolated incident, but when an isolated incident becomes a pattern, you may have an inherent problem in the department,” said Councilman Jarvis Johnson to the Houston Chronicle.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Council member Johnson has also called for a citywide zero-tolerance policy on racism

HOUSTON MAYORAL CANDIDATE GENE LOCKE RELEASES STATEMENT ADDRESSING HOUSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT'S CONTROVERSY

2009-07-12T15:04:00.000-05:00

Locke Statement on Recent Events at HFD
Contact Kim Devlin - 516-510-3001

Statement by Gene Locke
Regarding Recent Events at the Houston Fire Department
July 9, 2009

“I am shocked and outraged by the recent sexist and racist individual acts involving two female firefighters. I strongly support the men and women of the Houston Fire Department and the recent events are in no way a reflection on these great public servants who risk their lives for us every day. However, these cowardly acts by a few reckless individuals are deplorable and cannot be tolerated. I encourage the chief and the mayor to continue their investigation until the perpetrators are found. These individuals should be punished to the fullest extent of fire department policy and if applicable, to the fullest extent of the law.

Going forward we need to make sure that the fire department and every other department in the city is a place of opportunity and promotion for women, minorities and all deserving employees.”

HOUSTON CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL BLACK UNITED FRONT WEIGHS IN ON RECENT HFD CONTROVERSY

2009-07-12T14:51:00.000-05:00

The local chairman of the Black United Front, Kofi Taharka, recently released these words addressing the racism, sexism and discriminatory culture of the Houston Fire Department dominating media headlines recently.

MAYOR BILL WHITE HAS SHOWN A SEVERE LACK OF LEADERSHIP

"Mayor Bill White has shown a severe lack of leadership in his timid response to the multiple white supremacist/racist and sexist incidents publicly exposed at the Houston Fire Department. The noose hagging and racist/sexist death threats come as no surprise to those who understand the structural nature of white supremacy/racism and sexism in city government. After months of urging from community members, fire fighters and police officers to address these issues finally the Mayor has been forced to provide a response which is less than adequate. It is crystal clear that the people of this city are the only force that can bring forth the necessary changes. Given these facts we ask is Houston really a world class city that should host national and international events?"

Forward,
Kofi Taharka
Chairman National Black United Front - Houston Chapter (NBUF)

Activists, Black Firefighters Respond to Graffiti Written Death Threats Against Female Firefighters

2009-07-07T18:42:00.000-05:00

The Houston Black Firefighters Association parking lot was packed with media and community representatives trying make sense of racially derogatory death threats made against two female firefighters in the form of graffiti this morning. Myself and HBFFA President Otis Jordan voiced our concern for the safety of these females and called on city leadership to do the job of securing a non-threatening work environment for it's workers. Jordan gave Mayor Bill White an "F" regarding race relations and stated that if Capt. Keith Smith had recieved a just punishment for havin a hangman's noose on HFD property, maybe others would not feel so comfortable in committing such acts. There will be a massive rally held on the steps of City Hall at 12 noon of July 28th to call attention to and organize in protest to this kind of hatred. We hope to see you there!!