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Coalition Of African American Muslims (CAAM) Respond To Controversy Surrounding Park 51 Project

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 9:55PM

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Thursday, September 2, 2010 at 1:00pm

WHERE: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20045

WHY: The controversy over the Park 51 Project (Islamic Center in Lower Manhattan) is indicative of a general rise in racist bigotry towards people of color in this country. While the issue has its particular and unique distinctions, it cannot be separated from the rising violence against African Americans and Latinos, or the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric and exclusionary politics driving the national debate on immigration.

As African-American Muslims, we feel our unique perspective has been missing from an emerging national discussion. We wish to join that discussion by first of all affirming that among our forbears are Muslims who have lived peacefully and productively in this country since its inception. They, and others among our people have sacrificed too much, both in enduring the horrors and brutalities of chattel slavery, and during the long march to freedom, civil and human rights for us to silently accept a return to Jim Crow exclusionary practices and policies that relegate either ourselves or our co-religionists from other ethnic backgrounds to second-class citizenry.

We commend all of those Jews, Christians and members of other faith and ethnic communities who have raised their voices in defense of the constitutional rights of all Americans. We also laud the work that other Muslim organizations have done in response to the current situation. We add our voice to theirs and will work for a country that reflects the diversity of its people and extends full and equal rights to all.

Ultimately, our success as a nation of diverse people will hinge on our ability to move beyond the limitations that our unique identities sometimes impose on us and claim the loftiest principles rooted in our common humanity.

CAAM Will:

* Work to expose the underlying foreign and domestic agenda being served by the ongoing demonization of Muslims;
* Be a voice for those who have been intimidated into silence;
* Establish networks between organizations representing those elements of the population, regardless of race or religion, who are suffering as a result of the politics of fear and exclusion.

Coalition Members:
Abdul Jalil Muhammad
Imam Abdul Malik
Amir Muhammad
Asma Hanif
Hodari Ali
Imam Johari Abdul Malik
Attorney Kareema Al-Amin
Imam Khalid Griggs
Minister Louis Farrakhan
Imam Nadim Ali
Nisa Islam Muhammad
Imam Siraj Wahhaj
Imam Talib Deen
Imam Umar Ibn Khattab
Imam Yahya Cason
Imam Zaid Shakir

Note: This is a partial list of initial endorsers.

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Each year hundreds of black Chicago youth are sentenced to hard time for low-level crimes

Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 12:15PM

Illinois is one of only a handful of states who still convict 17-year-olds as adults for non violent crimes. Most of the teens charged with felonies in Cook County were black and from poor neighborhoods. In most cases, those teens pleaded guilty to the crimes, regardless of whether they had a private lawyer or public defender. In many cases, the teens were sentenced to adult prison on their charges, many of which were nonviolent offenses.

The Chicago Reporter invites you to join them in launching the September/October issue on September 9, 2010 at M Lounge. Pick up a free copy of the issue and talk with the editors and reporters about the startling statistics on youth incarceration in Illinois.

Thursday, September 9, 2010; 6:00 p.m. – 8: 00 p.m.

M Lounge 1520 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60605

The Chicago Reporter is published by the Community Renewal Society. The Reporter is an award-winning bimonthly print and online newsmagazine that serves as a watchdog of government and other institutions. Community Renewal Society empowers people to build just communities by working to eradicate racism and poverty. It does so by publishing newsmagazines, organizing in progressive communities, providing training, and encouraging individuals and communities in sustained and strategic efforts to create systemic change.

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Min. Farrakhan urges Black people to network in business for real success

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 at 7:59AM

It is a rare occasion when the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan can appear in a fair and balanced manner on a media outlet whether it's print, radio or TV. Not much needs to be said here. Quickly, go to The Michael Eric Dyson Show and check out the interview. He indeed is a torchlight for America.

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21st African Festival of the Arts to host Annual Fest in Washington Park Labor Weekend

Friday, August 20, 2010 at 1:01PM

Largest Fest in Chicago Labor Day weekend Chaka Khan, Angelique Kidjo to headline

CHICAGO- One of Chicago’s largest festivals, “The African Festival of the Arts”, presented by Africa International House, takes place September 3-6, 2010, during Labor Day Weekend, and transforms Chicago's Washington Park, located 51st and Cottage Grove, into an authentic African village complete with spectacular entertainment, pavilions, food and more.

This year’s festival themed “Creating and Keeping the Culture” is the cheapest ticket to Africa with a number of events including live performances by legendary R&B singer Chaka Khan on Monday, September 6th. Two performances will take place Saturday, September 4th including West African born Angelique Kidjo, a Grammy-award winning recording artist deemed “Africa’s premier Diva” by Time Magazine and Tito Jackson from the famed Jackson 5.

Musical jazz talents Javon Jackson featuring Les McCann will perform Sunday, September 5th. The African Festival of the Arts is the flagship program of the African International House and is a series of festivals within a festival built around African culture, art, music, history and activities that appeal to all communities.Each year more than 250,000 attendees explore the festival grounds. The festival offers a virtual African village featuring pavilions that allow participants to enjoy interactive experiences with artists and artisans sharing their gifts and talents. Guests can also engage in community forums and village meetings to discuss social and cultural issues.

The festival highlights a marketplace comprised of over 300 vendors selling their wares. Shoppers will discover amazing treasures including fine sculpture, beaded furniture, jewelry and gem stones, fashion, health and skin care products, hand woven fabrics and textiles, museum-quality African art, original fine art and more. Festival producer and African International House President, Patrick Woodtor says, “the festival offers something for everyone and all communities in Chicago. We have implemented new pavilions and enhanced favorites. Our mission is to educate our audiences about Africa, the cradle of civilization, while celebrating her significance and impact on mankind.

”Chris Gardner author of The Pursuit of Happyness and TV One Founder Cathy Hughes will reign over the 2010 African Festival of the Arts as Grand Baba and Grand Yeye. The 21st Annual African Festival of the Arts is sponsored by State Farm Insurance, NBC 5, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Target, Illinois Department of Human Services, National Endowment for the Arts, BMOA, American Cancer Society, Chicago Park District, WVON, Walgreens, Illinois Arts Council, Chicago South Loop Hotel, Seneca Hotel, AT&T, Chicago Apartment Finders, ICE Theaters, The Urban Health Initiative, Black Enterprise and Being Single Magazine.

Festival tickets are $10.00 in advance and $15.00 at the gate. For tickets, call (773) 955- ARTS (2787) or www.africanfestivalchicago.com. Festival hours are 10:00a.m. to 10:00p.m.

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An Unbelievable Journey to Haiti

Friday, August 20, 2010 at 12:47PM

Author Akbar Muhammad and Wyclef Jean

Not long ago, I was asked by a Haitian brother "why is it that with all of your travels, you have never visited Haiti?" I explained that it was largely due to how Haiti was positioned in the media. The media can do some good but the media can also damage how you view situations, circumstances and individuals. Based on the way Haiti was portrayed by the media, I never had the desire to visit.

This month, I finally made the trip to Haiti and although I have traveled all over the world, it was one of the most memorable journeys I have ever taken. This trip marked my 140th country visited. It was an unbelievable experience because it reminded me of my first journey to Ghana's slave dungeons at Cape Coast in 1989. The experience in Haiti gave me a new appreciation and perspective on the path we took from enslaved Africans to free black people in the so called New World.

While in Haiti, I visited the historic port city of Cap-Haitian and the Citadelle La Ferrière, a massive and impregnable fortress dominating the northern plains of Haiti from a 3,000-foot peak was built by King Henri Christophe. These Haitian sites are tremendous testaments to the strength of black people to be liberated from their colonial masters just as the slave dungeons in Ghana serve as monuments to the enslavement of our people.

While there, I also learned of an interesting history about one of Haiti's early leaders who started the Haitian resistance against the colonial masters that very few Africans in the Diaspora know about. A man named Makhandal, started a revolt against the French slave owners in 1751. He prophesized to and promised his followers that one day they will rule the land of their suffering and enslavement. 40 years later, on August 14, 1791another man, Boukman having rebuilt Makhandal's movement, produced what became known as the Haitian Revolution. Then, the next leader became Toussaint L'ouverture.

Toussaint L'ouverture is widely known and accepted even as a French General but Makhandal and Bookman are not. Both of Makhandal and Bookman were Muslims. The suppression of Muslims in Haiti is little known but these two Muslim brothers were the catalysts of the movement towards the first and only successful black revolt in recent world history where enslaved Africans united to outsmart, to defeat remove their masters and claim their land as promised by Makhandal by declaring their sovereignty as the first independent black republic on January 1, 1804.

It is in that context that our delegation arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti post the notorious January 12, 2010 earthquake on a fact finding mission relative to the structural and social damages the abject conditions seven (7) months later. However we could not leave Haiti without visiting the Citadel. The journey is not easy by any means; located up the north coast of the country, the Citadel can only be reached by foot or horseback.

The Citadel is a large fortress, set atop a majestic hill and was constructed to keep the French from re-taking control of the island. This project was commissioned by King Henri Christophe, a leader of the Haitian Revolution, and is a testimony to the strength and ingenuity of the black man. I doubt the history recited to us by the Citadel tour guides who said French architects designed the structure, shaped like an enormous ship located on a high mountain. After King Henri Christophe began building the Citadelle in 1805, from 1810 to 1813, he erected a Palace called Sans Souci (translated Without Worry). Next to that Palace is church at the foot of the mountain that you encounter before you ascend toward the Citadel. With the massive dome and arched windows, the church resembles a large Mosque.

The members of our delegation were: Brother Rasin Ganga, Brother Joseph Makhandal, Brother Fuad El-Ghahuagi of the World Islamic Call Society, Sister Hadja Habibah Shakir from the Atlanta Masjid, our videographer, Opiyo Okeyo from Kenya, and Brian Muhammad, a contributor and writer for The Final Call newspaper. I am sure the delegation of seven was touched by what they witnessed on Haiti's northern coast in Cap-Haitian.

In the southern coast, tears filled the eyes of the group, looking at the earthquake damage that has yet to be cleared, thousands of tents and Haitians who reside in them. In this particular journey, we met the Muslim community and discussed the history and future of Islam in Haiti. Many of the brothers on this trip had known that there was a growing Muslim community in Haiti. Members of the Nation of Islam came to Haiti and brought the teachings there. Minister Louis Farrakhan's recorded messages translated into Creole by Brother Rasin made this possible using his own resources to spread this message in Haiti.

The nine (9) million plus people of Haiti are proud people who suffered through many tragedies and those of us who are historians see parallels between the January 12 quake to the past. Almost simultaneously, when Makhandal started the revolution in 1751 there were a series of earthquakes and some interpreted them as signaling a new beginning which later gave birth to the likes of Bookman, Toussaint L'ouverture, and Dessalines. All of them struggled against the French and it culminated into Christophe who became the first king of Haiti. During that time there emerged a northern and southern kingdom of Haiti and that lasted until the death of Christophe. However, the division was deeply rooted among the haves, the mulattos, and the have nots, the blacks.

What we experienced in Haiti shows that even though Haiti captured the world's attention with the earthquake, Haiti still needs the help of the outside world - not that they are beggars, not that they are waiting for someone to help them but they are a people who have a level of resilience and all they need is the push and the concern. Could the January 12th, 2010 earthquake signal a new beginning for the Haitian people who have suffered for so long?

Amidst Haiti's humanitarian concerns, however, there are important political changes occurring in the country. While we were present in Haiti, Wyclef Jean, the world famous humanitarian and entertainer and Haiti's most famous son, came to Haiti to declare that he will run for president. So, Haiti has again attracted the attention of the world while there is still suffering in Haiti. Any organization, group, religious group, or political group that can help Haiti in this hour needs to step forward. The Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO's) must be more engaged with the government and find a way to peacefully coexist and cooperate with the government in the best way to serve the people of Haiti.

For comments, contact Akbar Muhammad at aakbar@yahoo.com

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