Minister Louis Farrakhan on Nelson Mandela 'The Revolutionary'

“When revolutionaries—true revolutionaries—come into the world they change people’s minds, they change people’s hearts and they change the destiny of nations. Such a man is Nelson Mandela.”

 -- Min. Louis Farrakhan

July 18, 2013

The Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Republic of South Africa on Passing of the Great Leader, Nelson Mandela

The Embassy of the State of Palestine to the Republic of South Africa on Passing of the Great Leader, Nelson Mandela

Pretoria, 6th December 2013

The Embassy of the State of Palestine to South Africa sends its sincere condolences to the Mandela family and the South African people and leadership on the passing of the great leader and son of Africa, Nelson Mandela.

His teachings of bravery and compassion will live on, particularly in the hearts of the Palestinian people.

Nelson Mandela was a great leader who stood out for his courage and determination to free his people from the injustice legislated upon them during the harsh Apartheid-era with wisdom and care for humanity. He taught the world the true meaning of a hero.

The Palestinian leadership, led by Mahmoud Abbas, is grieved by the loss of the inspirational leader Nelson Mandela and has declared a day of mourning in Palestine. This is signified by the Palestinian leadership’s order for all flags of the State of Palestine to be lowered to half-mast.

As President Mahmoud Abbas mentioned, the Palestinian people are mourning the loss of the great international leader. Mandela’s life and teachings stood and will continue to stand as a hope for the Palestinian people and whose approach to injustice stands as a model to Palestine.

Nelson Mandela was a man with high values and principles who not only fought the injustice of his own people but also the injustice subjugated on those worldwide, particularly on the Palestinian people. Mandela played a pivotal role in the Palestinian struggle for freedom. In his famous quote, Mandela said: “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians”. He was one of the bravest and most important men in the world who supported the Palestinian people in their right to self-determination. His efforts and compassion for the Palestinian cause will be forever appreciated.

The Embassy of the State of Palestine in South Africa is sure that the seed of solidarity with the Palestinian people planted by Nelson Mandela will grow on through South Africa at large. The Embassy of Palestine would also like to thank South Africa for its strong position in favour of Palestine and for honouring the Palestinian people with the support from its greatest leader.

The loss of Nelson Mandela reminds Palestinians of the loss of the great Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Both leaders fearlessly defied domination and intimidation from their respective oppressors and selflessly put their lives in stake to defend their people. They were exceptionally brave men whose efforts will not be forgotten.

The Embassy of the State of Palestine once again conveys its heartfelt condolences to the Mandela family, the brave leadership of South Africa, the ANC, the South African people and to the world at large for this painful loss. May Almighty God help ease your and our mourning and may the legacy of Nelson Mandela live on forever.

Tamer Al-Massri

Media Officer, Embassy of the State of Palestine

South Africa's Jamiatul Ulama on the passing of Nelson Mandela

On the Occasion of the Passing of Mr Nelson R Mandela

A PRESS STATEMENT

(For Immediate Release)

We condole the Mandela family and join all South Africans and the people of goodwill around the globe expressing sadness upon the passing of Mr Nelson R Mandela, an international statesman and the most recognisable global icon of the struggle for freedom and the restoration of human dignity in modern times.

Mr Mandela’s withdrawal from public life few years ago was a conscious decision and a mark of his greatness, yet a realisation that no matter how crucial the role he played was, there would be a time the nation and the world would be without him

He passed on the baton of leadership, leaving it to us to continue with the many struggles he courageously led by example in ending civil strife and seeking reconciliation. His qualities of humility, grace and visionary leadership set him apart among peers and he shall remain a source of immense inspiration for generations to come.

The world will forever remember him for his selflessness, spirit of sacrifice and sense of purpose which led the liberation movement to end the injustices of apartheid and make South Africa free. We shall remain indebted in gratitude to Mr Mandela for his contribution.

On the occasion of his passing, let us all remember Mr Mandela with dignity and in a manner befitting the remarkable attributes of his life through a renewal of our own commitment towards the ideals he lived for.

E.I. Bham (Moulana)

Secretary General 

6 December 2013

Deen Intensive Academy Islamic Conference coming to Houston, Texas December 19-22!

If any of you attended the inaugural Deen Intensive Academy in Washington D.C., earlier this year, you know what happened. If you weren't able to attend but you heard about it, then you know that it is an Islamic conference that you do not want to miss. The next one is in a few weeks in Houston, TX. Act now and make your plans to be there!

A Complicated History of Blacks and War in America

In WWII, several Tuskegee Airmen at Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945. Photo: Library of Congress

Black soldiers have fought, bled, killed and died in America’s wars, even while being subjected to a life as second and even third class citizens in the land in which they lived. It is a complex history rife with contradictions and injustices.

The Revolutionary War

Crispus Attucks, who was a slave when he died in the Boston Massacre in 1770, is widely considered the first casualty of the Revolutionary War. In 1776 Congress passed legislation allowing Black men to enlist in the Armed Services, and as a result, thousands of Black men joined the Army and fought in the war, on both sides. 

The Northern states opened their ranks to freed slaves, however, in the South, it was forbidden to give weapons to slaves as the plantation owners feared retribution from those considered their “property.”

The British offered freedom to any runaway slaves who fought on their side, and many did.

War of 1812

On June 17, 1812 due to simmering tensions, the United States declared war on Britain. Historians say Black men accounted for 20 to 25 percent of the U.S. Naval personnel and performed valiantly. 

The Civil War (1861-1865)

In the American Civil War, Blacks fought on the side of the Union and the Confederacy. Though controversial, Blacks served the Union Army and Navy, ostensibly, with something to fight for since the North was seen as more open to delivering freedom. As for those in the South to be fighters for the Confederacy, they were used primarily for labor. The military officials and slave owners still feared giving them arms which could be used to exact retribution. Though Black soldiers fought bravely, they were still discriminated against in pay, received shoddy equipment and often were not given uniforms.

World War I (1917-1918)

Although the U.S. Armed Forces were still segregated  like the rest of society, Blacks eagerly volunteered to fight bolstering America’s forces by over 350,000 soldiers.   At first Black soldiers were relegated only to support roles, however, the United States, as a part of the Allied Powers saw fit to “allow” Black soldiers into the theater of war.

According to researchers at the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, The New York National Guard 369th Infantry regiment, nicknamed “The Harlem Hellfighters” were under-appreciated for their brave efforts in WWI. Five hundred members of the regiment received the French “Croix de Guerre,” or “War Cross” and researchers also said “The Harlem Hellfighters” spent more time in continuous combat than any other American unit during that war. 

In WWI Harlem Hellfighters who won the Croix de Guerre for gallantry in action. Left to right. Front row: Pvt. Ed Williams, Herbert Taylor, Pvt. Leon Fraitor, Pvt. Ralph Hawkins. Back Row: Sgt. H. D. Prinas, Sgt. Dan Strorms, Pvt. Joe Williams, Pvt. Alfred Hanley, and Cpl. T. W. Taylor. Photo: U.S. Historical Archives

World War II (1941-1945)

The Tuskegee Airmen fought valiantly while protecting the lives of White soldiers, however, upon returning to the military bases, White German soldiers who were enemy combatants and prisoners of war received better treatment than they did. Many Tuskegee Airmen died, ashamed to show their pictures or even talk about their experiences.

Following WWII, these highly trained and skillful pilots returned to the United States and were denied positions as commercial airline pilots because  at that time, companies did not hire Blacks.

It was not until 2007 that President George W. Bush presented the Congressional Gold Medal to the remaining living Tuskegee Airmen  or their widows, as a commendation and public recognition of their service and sacrifice.

Jasiri X - The Most Relevant Artist in Hip-Hop releases 'Strange Fruit (Class of 2013)'

Jasiri X releases his new video dedicated to the memories of Renisha McBride, Jonathan Ferrell and Kendrick Johnson, 'Strange Fruit (Class of 2013)' was produced by Religion and directed by Haute Muslim

Watch Video: http://youtu.be/w4mvb7LefAg

Free MP3 Download at http://jasirix.bandcamp.com/ 

Follow Jasiri X at https://twitter.com/jasiri_x

LYRICS 

They say Jasiri X you preach too much 

I'm like Black people we asleep too much 

A Black President but he doesn't speak for us 

Another Black body lynched is not unique to us 

Meanwhile Kanye's rocking confederate flags 

Jay Z and Barneys going half on sweaters and bags 

It's not their fault it's ours all we measure is swag 

They getting money get money what's better than cash 

Forever in last riding in Berratas and Jags but don't crash 

If you do and need help don't ask 

Cause all Renisha got was a shotgun blast 

Just for knocking on the door left rotting on the floor 

Half her face gone but no one was locked up like Akon 

Black life comes with no insurance like State Farm 

Race wrong black people better put ya brakes on 

End up on a strange porch ended up as stained corpse 

Different city same sport 

It's not a accident if you hit the witness you aimed for 

Bullets left her face torn 

Victim in a race war make a nigga hate more 

Show up at that same door let that 38 roar 

What will be my fate Lord death by an officer? 

Who I ran to thinking help he would offer up 

10 shot to the chest stretched now they chalking 

Another black man looking fresh in that coffin or 

Beaten to my ribs cracked rolled up in a gym mat 

Blood on my kicks match police say I did that 

No crime the kids black cased closed casket shut 

But take his organs fill em with newspaper and patch em up 

Now tell me if that bullshit is matching up 

I know you just wanna see her twerking then back it up 

But that's what happens when we make our rappers leaders 

And our most intelligent just wanna be on TV speaking 

And they give reality TV shows to preachers 

and we think activism is Facebooking and Tweeting 

12 years a slave we still fighting for freedom 

Just look at the headlines seeing is believing

Excellent interview w/ Khalilah Camacho-Ali from the popular documentary 'The Trials of Muhammad Ali'

I just completed an excellent interview w/ Khalilah Camacho-Ali, former wife of Muhammad Ali, who played a key role in making sure the documentary, The Trials of Muhammad Ali, turned out the way it did. 

She said when she was approached to be a part of it in the very beginning, she told the director, Bill Siegel, that Minister Louis Farrakhan's valuable perspective MUST be included if the truth about the champion fighter was to be told. 

(Photos: Tim Sixx)

If you've watched the documentary, you know she has a lot of personality, and believe me, she was the same way in person. Very colorful, expressive, and direct.  

A delight to interview! You'll love it!

Thanks to Edward Steave & Warren Muhammad for their expert camera work and in advance for what I'm sure will be flawless editing resulting in a valuable finished product.

Even if you are not one who typically likes documentaries, I think you will enjoy this one.

For more details regarding nationwide showings go to: http://kartemquin.com/films/the-trials-of-muhammad-ali/events