Time to Stop Wasting Time

Our successes and failures bear witness for and against us. The condition of our community bears witness to our refusal to advocate a common cause. My difference with you has subordinated our common cause. The ego of "I" has subordinated the "We" of collective consciousness. Why must we use so much of our time and intellectual energy addressing such anti-revolutionary, anti-Black, anti-God and Goddess, mundane, myopic trivialities rooted in minds starved for attention and suffering from low self esteem and self loathing. Let us who willingly follow the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan double our efforts to get after the lost and found; mentor and protect the new converts from hypocrites and agents; stop profligate spending and be found working to pool our resources to assemble land to do urban gardening and agribusiness. "I" am the problem, "We" are the solution.

I am the Problem, We are the Solution

The problems within the Black community are solvable. The first step to solving our problems is to take a good look in the mirror. When you do, you will realize like I did, that I am the problem. No, I am not saying that I am the sole source of abberative behavior in the Black community. What I am saying is that I, my and me in my vocabulary is the problem. Selfish, self centered, egotistical leadership is the problem. Too much "I, my and me" in our conversations; not enough "us, our and we."


"The I has subordinated the we" the Honorable Minister Farrakhan told me this past week. "Our differences have subordinated the cause" he added. Unless we think, speak and act for the whole, our leadership is nothing but vanity. Until we settle our differences, the cause or our permanent interest will never be addressed and we will continue to suffer.

Today, we must begin to think, speak and act for the whole. No individual can rise above the condition of his people. There must be men or groups of men advocating one common cause. We didn't get to America because one individual decided to enslave African for 310 years. Nor was the Native American's land stolen from them by one or two persons - it was men or a group of men advocating one common cause.

It is time to do for self. Leadership must stop using I, my and me but rather think, act and speak for us, our and we. Like Jesus, we must say "I can of myself do nothing." Submission to Allah our Creator and unity will turn you and I to the We. When that happens, then it will be Allah (God) acting through the We.

Dancing with My Demons: Personal Reflections from Death Row

The execution of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis on September 21, 2011 re-stimulated some personal demons I thought I had long vanquished. When I speak of these suppressed personal demons, I am speaking of the fear of death, uncontrollable anger, and misdirected hate.

On March 1 and June 22, 2000, I witnessed two executions in the State of Texas. Odell Barnes and Shaka Sankofa both died before my eyes on death row in Huntsville, Texas. I served as spiritual advisor to both and I believe they were innocent. I am convinced that had either been wealthy and able to afford competent legal counsel, I wouldn’t have witnessed their deaths. In Texas, and across the United States, it is better to be rich and guilty, than to be poor and innocent.

Troy Davis, Odell Barnes, and Shaka Sankofa’s cases have similarities that unleashed my demons. In the case of Troy and Shaka, both had jurors that would not have found them guilty had they known the inconsistencies that were uncovered after their trials. Odell Barnes said to us from the death gurney in March, 2000: “I thank you for proving my innocence, although it has not been acknowledged by the courts.” Prior to his execution, the French Government had paid tens of thousands of dollars for appeals lawyers and forensic experts who raised more than a reasonable doubt as to Mr. Barnes’ guilt.

What is interesting is that all three men saw their cases as symbols of a larger struggle for freedom, justice, and equality. Odell Barnes said moments before he died: “May you continue in the struggle and may you change all that's being done here today and in the past." Both Troy and Shaka accepted that they may lose their lives, but the struggle against injustice must continue. Shaka said to me in the death chamber during the last 15 minutes of his life: “…You must expose this injustice to the world. You must continue to demand a moratorium on all executions. We must move forward Minister Robert Muhammad.” His words still ring in my ears and resonate in my soul.

During our struggle to save Shaka’s life, I had fasted for 40 days under medical supervision. Shaka was executed on the thirtieth day of my fast. During our last private visit on the day of his execution, we were talking about food because a tray of food was sitting in front of his holding cell. I asked whether that was his last meal. Shaka’s response to me that hot steamy day in June, 2000 was: “No sir! Brother Muhammad, to accept a (last) meal is to cooperate with injustice. Non cooperation with evil is an obligation.” Troy Davis, like Shaka Sankofa before him, refused his so-called last meal. It makes me wonder how many times we have cooperated with injustice and thereby perpetuated our own suffering by assuaging the guilt and affirming the humanity of our oppressors. In conclusion, I don’t see any easy path to liberation for us and our children. There will be no permanent change without the willingness to reason one with another, coupled with a long-suffering patience to unify our people, and an unwavering effort to pool our spiritual, mental, and economic resources toward formulating a long term strategic plan for building the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Only when we lose our fear of death, control our emotions, and direct our hatred toward what Allah (God) hates will we be free.

A part of me died last night with Troy Davis as before with Odell Barnes and Shaka Sankofa in 2000 – what died in me was the fear of death and any hope that the Black people and the righteous will ever get justice in America absent an intense struggle backed by the power of Allah (God) and His Christ. Shaka told me from his holding cell outside of the death chamber hours before his execution: “My brother, death is a complement to life. They make it something to fear so that they can control us. To be an effective leader, you must be willing to pay the price.”

Last night, Troy Davis, as Shaka Sankofa before him, died a free Black man. Now I know what the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan means when he says he is a “free” Black man. After my final dance with my demons last night, I too, am now free.

Party of Lincoln is run by Jefferson Davis

"African-Americans have been brainwashed into not being open minded, not even considering a conservative point of view," Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain said Wednesday September 28, 2011 on CNN's The Situation Room.

Mr. Cain, here is why Blacks don't vote for so-called conservatives or today's Republican Party: They are the modern day Klu Klux Klan sans the hoods and sheets.

The new Klu Klux Klan doesn't lynch Blacks anymore. They just take over state legislatures and take us back to the "good ole days" when a 'darkie' knew his place. The new Klan puts in voter ID laws designed to suppress the Black vote. Klanservatives deny ex-felons, who have served their time and fulfilled their debt to society, the right to vote. They leave millions of children in poverty, want to destroy Headstart, Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, public sector jobs and the public school system. The former plantation aristocracy and financiers that make up today's GOP, want to bleed the middle class and blame the poor for America's problems. Like a scene out of Birth of a Nation, this new breed of Klan member wants to protect America by creating fear of Muslims, immigrants, and other groups. Conservatives trot out first responders and war veterans like Xmas decorations when its in season while cutting their benefits and not focusing on educating, employing, and caring for them when they are disabled or retired.

What is wrong with our brother? What prevents him from seeing why we don't vote for his brand of conservative. It has nothing to do with liberalism or brainwashing. Black people are not going to join the political party of Abe Lincoln because it has been taken over by Jefferson Davis.

Public Policy Matters

Houston - There are four groups of people in Houston. Those who oppose Mayor Parker because of her sexual orientation; those who oppose her policies on principle; those who oppose her because of her sexual orientation, but use public policy as the reason; and, those who trust the voters' choice, but are disappointed in the way Mayor Parker has implemented her policies.

In truth, liars, drunkards, adulterers, fornicators, murderers, and thieves have occupied the mayor's seat in Houston. Yet, we seemed to have gotten along just fine in the past. What is so different now? Some view the mayor's sexual orientation as sinful and therefore, we have brought God's wrath upon this city. Really? Well there is a born again, evangelical governor in Austin who is running for president. How do you explain the statewide drought and wildfires? Is the state cursed? Certainly your not suggesting he is gay or sinful are you? Why didn't his prayer rally at the Reliant Dome in Houston produce rain and end the drought? In fact, it got so hot afterward, it set a new record. Is God listening to anybody today?

For the record, I don't have to agree with Mayor Parker's sexual orientation to engage in intelligent dialogue about public policy issues. Public safety, community development, economic development, health and human services, transportation, and public works are functions of government that affect all of the citizens of Houston. There is too much at stake to play games with the future of this city. Yes, morality matters. But it is hypocritical to strain at the gnat of Ms. Parker's sexual orientation, while swallowing the camel of cutbacks in education and health care, mass incarceration of our youth, tax breaks for the rich, while increasing "fees" on the middle class. Stop the foolishness. Lets get down to business.

How to Avoid a Long Hot Summer in Houston, Texas

Houston - The city of Houston is going through a budget crisis. Mayor Parker is forced to cut 20-30% from city departments and 5% of the workforce in the police department. This means less parks and recreations, library hours and summer employment coupled with a thinned out police department. This is a recipe for disaster. The FBI interagency taskforce claims there are 10,000 identified gang members and 200 gangs in Houston. In 2010, the Houston Chronicle reported that during 2010, Blacks were stopped more than any other group in the city. Their stated reason was that low income communities have a higher crime rate (and coincidentally more Black folk).
There has to be a concerted effort by the Greater Houston Partnership to provide employment and support activities that will keep children occupied during the summer. The real responsiblity lies with Black leadership waking up, listening and talking with our youth. We also bear a greater responsiblity to produce jobs to employ our children like every other ethinic group does for their own children. We must now take responsiblity for our own community and stop looking downtown for the utimate solution to our problems. Downtown and big business can help, but it is up to us to put together the plan and carry it out.Let's get moving now! In this way, we can avoid a long hot summer in Houston, Texas.

Time to Decide What's in Our Own Best Interest

Black people have to decide what is in their own best interest. This is something we have to do for ourselves without outside influence or interference.

The miserable conditions that Black people live under in America and around the world would make a brass monkey cry. Our condition in the Western Hemisphere is the direct result of the world's greatest crime - the transatlantic slave trade.

Africans, Arabs, Europeans and Americans participated in the slave trade. Animist, Muslim, Christian and Jews have the blood of millions on their hands. The stolen labor of enslaved Africans in the so-called New World created untold wealth for Europe and made possible the Industrial Revolution that gave the West the technological advantage it enjoys today.

At the end of the day, any honest leader of Black people will have to lament over the terrible condition of our people. They will be forced to admit, it is not getting any better for the MASSES of Black people. Unless and until a decision is made to do that which is in the best interest of our people, nothing will change for the better. Nobody is going to do for us what we refuse to do for ourselves.

Now is the time to put all options on the table. Assimilation, integration, accommodation or separation, reparations, repatriation? Time is running out. Our people are suffering and dying. We can't afford to wait 40 more years for the answer. Black leaders have to decide whether they are truly Black leaders or the tools of others while wearing a black face. Decide now or we perish.