[Source: BrotherJesseBlog.com]
by Willie Muhammad
In November of 2010 I wrote a letter in response to a story featured in Ebony Magazine titled, “Is Black Leadership Dead?” The article was written by Brother Kevin Powell, whom I have great respect and admiration for. However, I disagreed with his answer to the question which served as the title of his article. In the article Brother Kevin basically agreed that Black leadership was dead and did not mention the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
Now six years later, I am compelled to write another blog regarding the same omission. This time, I must honestly say that I am even more bothered.
I saw that the great up and coming Black Psychologist Dr. Umar Johnson was being interviewed on the popular morning show The Breakfast Club. I tuned in to hear what he had to say about the recent events and the latest updates on his efforts to open a school for Black boys. Midway through the interview I was shocked when I heard DJ Envy say there were no Black leaders. I thought that Charlamagne Tha God would remind DJ Envy about the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan but he also said nothing. I listened to the entire interview and the leadership of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan was NEVER mentioned even though they talked about action items that Blacks can use, which the Minister has already proposed, planned and executed. While they discussed whether or not Blacks today could wage an effective economic boycott, which they doubted could be done, DJ Envy said the following beginning at the 24:55 minute mark:
“I think they would if we had a leader. I think with us who is the leader? Who do we look up to?…People need leadership, when I say leadership. People need to know what to do.”
In fact during his first appearance he talked about the economic boycott he called for during Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2015. Envy, Dr. Umar and Charlamagne Tha God talked about the effectiveness of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan exposed millions to a side of Dr. King that had been kept away from the masses and that side was the impetus for his call for Blacks to use their economic strength. The Minister used that little known fact to galvanize many to participate in an economic boycott. At the conclusion of this same economic boycott we saw and read news stories/articles about major retail chains deciding to close hundreds of stores. The leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, a Muslim, inspired many including Christians to not allow their love for Jesus to be exploited by merchants.
In addition to the economic boycott the Minister has called for 16 million Black wage earners to give 35 cents a week to a national treasury known Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint. In one year the fund would amass $291 million to be invested first in farmland and then in other industries and projects. With these funds the Minister has already purchased acres of farmland. What other leader has done so?
Almost every action they discussed Black people needed to do, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has done, and inspired many others to do. Dr. Umar talked about our need for schools, businesses and establishing international relationships. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has inspired the opening of schools in many major cities across America. One, the Muhammad University of Islam, is right in Chicago.
As it relates to international alliances, the Minister has had several World Friendship tours where he was received as a Head of State by other World Leaders. While there he has opened up doors and established relationships for Blacks in America. Here are just two examples of what took place from these World Tours. The late Muammar Qaddafi wanted to place $1 billion dollars under the supervision of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to be used to create economic growth and development for Blacks in America. In Cuba the Minister was able to get Fidel Castro to provide FREE scholarships for Blacks in America who desire to become medical doctors. I can go on and on.
If I had the chance to speak to my dear brother DJ Envy, I would remind him that we do have a leader and that is not the problem. The problem is not enough of us want to be a follower. When I say follower I am not talking about becoming a member of the Nation of Islam. I am talking about having the mindset to take the initiatives which the Minister gives and use our resources to move out on them. This responsibility falls on the shoulders of all who hears the Minister.
Anytime the omission of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s decades of leadership takes place we must NOT be silent. To do so is a sign of ingratitude. If there is no leadership then how do we see the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan? As a celebrity, a preacher, or just some respected elder that we can take pictures with and show our grandchildren that we once met him? The more I reflected on this recent omission, the more I further realized that the prophecies found in the scriptures about how the Son of Man will be treated are definitely being fulfilled. In Ezekiel 33:30-33 its reads,
30 “Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’ 31 So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money. 32 You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!
This fits Black America and our response to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. We sit and complain about the state of the Black community and cry out for plans of action. We do so while the man God has placed the solution to our problems is right in our very midst telling us what we need to do to better ourselves. Yet we do nothing! There is a consequence for such inaction. It hurts me to say that much of what we are suffering as a people, from the murder of innocent Black men by law enforcement, broken homes, economic dependence on others and presidential disrespect; is as a result of us rejecting and refusing to follow what God is given to us through the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. When it is all said and done, every knee will bow and every neck should bend and we all will attest to what is said in the 33rd verse of the 33rd chapter of Ezekiel.
33 But when all these terrible things happen to them—as they certainly will—then they will know a prophet has been among them.”
I believe that those on the Breakfast Club have love for the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. I just wanted to take this opportunity to encourage them to look at what the Minister has done and is doing. Doing so will help us to see we have already been given the course of action that can transform our community.
(Student Minister Willie Muhammad is the New Orleans Representative of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Nation of Islam at Muhammad Mosque No. 46.)
