Cover of my Acclaimed Book New Leadership into the 21st Century! See the Preview here & tell me who you think is a Great Leader for the 21st century bit.ly/1bnGYZ4 As we reflect back upon that era, we also see people who were great leaders shouldering the task of responsibility to help keep that spirit of courage, and dignity alive in the minds of the people. With the memory of physical slavery still fresh in our minds, our people could still hear the far reaching voice of the great Frederick Douglas calling upon America to release the yoke of slavery that was holding our people back from the life of human dignity that Allah had meant for all people to have. Then there was Marcus Garvey, Mary McLeod Bethune, Carter G. Woodson, and the African American press that helped to set the climate for positive thinking in the black community. Perhaps the two major voices that came along at that time were the voices of Booker T. Washington, and W. E. B. DuBois. These two giants stood front and foremost in the African American community pointing direction for the progress of life. While Booker T. Washington favored academic, agriculture, and industrial training as the method to bring us to a level of equal footing with others, W. E. B. DuBois chose the philosophy of agitation to bring America face to face with the injustices faced by her black citizens at the hands of white Americans. As we come to the era of Civil Rights, most of us who were directly involved knew that period as the struggle for Human Rights. As African Americans, we have always been aware of our civic responsibility. We fought America’s wars, we paid taxes, in some parts of the country, we even served in political positions, and the list goes on. But when it came time to be respected as a member of the human family, America fell short. Floyd McKissick, Brother Stokeley Carmichael, Rev. Ralph Albernathy, John Lewis, and the rest of those who lead the masses stepped up to the plate of responsibility. At this time again we see two great leaders whose voices were heard above the others pointing direction for the African American community. Dr. King with his philosophy of agitation, and calling on the conscience of America to give fair treatment to her black citizens, and The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, with his philosophy of do for self. It was through their leadership that the world found out about the unjust treatment the African American community was receiving at the hands of white America. It was through the use of protest marches, and demonstrations and the help of the news media, lead by Dr. King, that the eyes of America, and the world came to be focused on America, and the cruel, and inhuman treatment of black Americans. So we as African Americans were denied our civil rights not because we didn’t serve America, but because we were looked on as less than human. So the struggle was for our human respectability. Somehow as the movement progressed, this message got lost, and our vision of the goal got blurred. Suddenly we found ourselves marching to be able to sit next to someone at a lunch counter, or live in a neighborhood next door to white people, or to force someone to hire us at their business. We forgot that everything we were asking others to do for us, we had already been doing it for ourselves just a very few years before. Originally all we wanted as a people was that the laws that were already on the books protect us the same as they protected others, and the rest we could do for ourselves. As new laws were written for minorities, and put on the books, it seem that every one has benefited from them except us as a people. Others have taken these laws, used them to improve their lives, and the lives of their loved ones, while we as a people, are just like the lame man in Biblical scripture waiting by the pool for the water to be troubled so that someone can help us in so that we may be healed. Water in this scripture sense represents the human sentiments of society that we depend on to do for us what we can do for ourselves. Or Lazarus who sat by the rich man’s table waiting for the crumbs to fall. Or even Jonas who stole away on the ship, and went to sleep next to all the cargo, or material wealth on the ship. The ship is symbolic of America. While others have taken advantage of the laws that we were responsible for bringing into existence, we seem to be stuck in the period of protest, and demonstrations, and instead of using those laws to improve ourselves, we have made begging and protesting a way of life. Our so – called leaders have seized on our tragic situation and have used it to keep themselves gainfully employed. I do not believe that this was the vision of Dr. King. In fact, I believe that he would be quite disturbed if he was here to witness the outrageous activities of those who claim to carry on his leadership. I believe that the work that was accomplished by Dr. King was his contribution to the progress of the African American community, and ultimately to the total society because his life was a benefit to the world. However, we are not to view him as the ultimate leader as we are being lead to believe. Dr. King had a part to play. He did his work, and now its time for us to move on to the next level. We always want to remember his, and the contributions of all the Ancestors, but we don’t want to get caught up in sentimental memory, for then our progress stops. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad with his program of respect and doing for self, was also at that time a very powerful, and influential leader. While the media gave the praise to Dr. King for his stand on non – violent tactics, and highlighted integration more so than human rights, which was the real goal of the movement, they presented the Honorable Elijah Muhammad as a teacher of hate, thereby turning the attitude of many blacks against him. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad was taught by Fard Muhammad, who introduced him to the Islamic faith, although this was not the true religion of Al – Islam. The Marcus Garvey movement also influenced the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, as well. So with this philosophy of pride, dignity, and independent thinking he had for black America, it is little wonder why the powers that be, sought to turn blacks away from him by misrepresenting his teachings. Ironically, this idea of doing for self was put in the atmosphere by The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and today we see it alive and well in use by many of those who rejected his philosophy back in the day. With the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, and the passing of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the world looked on in wonderment and pondered the question, “who will they turn to now?” Suddenly, in stepped Imam W. Deen Mohammed with a new language, and a new vision for progress. But this progress is not only for the African American community, but it’s to be an example, for world progress. Imam W. Deen Mohammed is the only leader on the scene today that uses obedience to G’d, along with the example of Prophet Muhammad, and the courage of the Ancestors to advance the whole of mankind. He is the only leader we see on the national scene today that is calling on African America to reach deep within ourselves and tap our own human potential and use it to improve ourselves and our loved ones. It is then when we have accomplishments as do others, that we will garner the respect of others. His leadership is not based so much on the tangibles, such as focusing on issues like black and white as was done back in the 60’s. Rather his method is to teach us how to identify this new and more powerful kind of slavery that gives the appearance of freedom, but in reality, it’s the worse kind of slavery. It is the kind of slavery that we enjoy, and rush head long into, but in the end, it breeds apathy, ignorance, destruction, and destitution. So a leader would not only have to have vision, but moral vision, and possess a deep, and genuine concern for the well being of the people. Also that leader has to see all people as his people. Above all that leader has to be a servant of G’d. A study of the pattern of conduct both private and public will identify such a leader. A true leader has to be able to read the signs, or the abstracts in the society, and also teach those who follow him to be able to do the same. A true leader does not want to lord over the people, and have them focus on him as their savior; but rather he teaches them as much as he can, holding back nothing, thereby giving the people the power, and the mastery over themselves. The wisdom and the knowledge to be able to guide themselves, their families, and their communities to true freedom. With this method we can see why he cannot be bought and sold, or intimidated by this society. Imam Mohammed is the leader of the Muslim American Society, and is respected as a renowned leader around the world. It is this leadership that is setting the pace for human society. New Leadership Into the 21st Century gives direction not only for the survival of human society, but points to the real goal that we all should be striving for. That goal is “Human Excellence.”
Posted on: Mon, 12 Aug 2013 02:49:50 +0000
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