A spiritual and guided message impacts nationwide audience
By Charlene Muhammad -National Correspondent- | Last updated: Mar 3, 2017 - 1:14:56 PM
Mosque Maryam was filled to capacity Feb. 26 Photo: Michael Muhammad (R) Rowdy Williams AKA Brother N.I.P., in Houston Photo: Ebony Muhammad
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CHICAGO—Joy, peace, love, reflection, and introspection permeated Mosque Maryam during and after the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan delivered a stern message of guidance, warning, correction, and gratitude for part two of his Saviours’ Day address themed, “Have No Fear For the Future: The Future Is Ours.”
Shaleaf Hemphill from Chicago’s South Village neighborhood said she loved the message coming from a man she described as having a “pure heart.”
“I just wanna hug him, because you don’t see good people with hearts like that, and his heart is pure and you could just tell. I can’t wait to come back. I’m so serious,” she stated. She came to hear Min. Farrakhan with Dshonda Adams of University Park, who was invited by her co-worker Gina Muhammad of Mosque Maryam.
“It was so much stuff that he touched on, that I wish I could have recorded it, because some of the things I want to teach my kids and I wanted to show them. I wanted to show them, and they needed to hear some of the stuff that he was saying, because I try to teach them some of that stuff, but they look at me a little crazy, but when you hear it from somebody else, someone like him, who’s gonna come behind him? … Who can match this?” Ms. Hemphill added.
Dr. Wanda Evans-Brewer, a special needs educator, came to hear Min. Farrakhan because she was “tired of the trickery.”
She said she needed Min. Farrakhan’s teaching, because she’s in her fourth year of being a Ph.D on welfare. She said the education and employment systems are depreciating degrees, but in spite of that she’s doing tremendous work because of God’s covering, such as Min. Farrakhan discussed.
Two young men who heard the message in Chicago. Photo: Eric Ture Muhammad
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Dr. Evans-Brewer brought a former student, Lebrandon Hickey, who’s seen Min. Farrakhan on YouTube before. She felt he needed to hear and see Min. Farrakhan in person.
“I thought Farrakhan was outstanding, mind-blowing, brought out thoughts that haven’t even occurred to me yet at 28 years of life on this earth,” said Mr. Hickey.
What stood out most to him was the way Min. Farrakhan detailed government, people and the Bible. “It was all vital points that never crossed my mind vividly until I heard him speak over a podium. It made sense. It was a lot of clarity that happened during the service,” said Mr. Hickey.
For instance, he stated he was always made to believe, and thought, something was wrong with him, but Min. Farrakhan’s message helped him to see the opposite. Something was wrong with the system, he told The Final Call.
Brandon Muhammad and Na'il Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 27 in Los Angeles who are both in their early 20s were in Chicago for Min. Farrakhan’s highly anticipated address.
Na'il Muhammad said he heard Min. Farrakhan make things very abundantly clear, and give a comprehensive knowledge, completion, and summary of what’s been said and what needs to be said.
One message he understood from the Minister is that the youth must take ownership. “We have to take ownership of the Nation, embrace our roles, and take it to the next level,” he continued.
Brandon Muhammad said he took away how Min. Farrakhan really elaborated on the path the Nation of Islam was on at the time the Messenger, the Hon. Elijah Muhammad departed.
(Left to right) Qiyamah Muhammad, Karen X, Zainab Muhammad, Terra Muhammad, in Houston. Photo: Ebony Muhammad
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“He’s making sure the youth understand what time it is to make sure our faith is strong, so that when he’s not here anymore, the Nation will still be here,” the young man added.
Debra Walker attended the meeting with Rashida Muhammad, her old high school friend. She felt the service was great and Min. Farrakhan made some relevant points that made a lot of sense. Ms. Walker said she was surprised Min. Farrakhan was very versed on foreign policy issues, and, surprised that she never heard too many churches talk about foreign policy.
“He was very on point with his views on what he thought about the United States, and his foreign policy issues,” said Ms. Walker.
What resonated about Min. Farrakhan’s address for Mayor Marcus Muhammad of Benton Harbor, Mich., was the 83-year-old world leader’s forthright and frank words that cut across religious, political, economic lines, and how he illuminated and highlighted the shadow government and the wickedness stemming from their works.
“I think today he stood and confirmed what God had already given him, he’s showing and backing his servant up, that he absolutely is his man for this time and in our midst today,” said Mayor Marcus Muhammad.
Ms. Tara Porter, 24, traveled from Detroit for the message and told The Final Call it was the most powerful event she had ever been to.
“The fact that he is so willing to give so much, is just so amazing to me. Lots of people get to that level (of notoriety) … and don’t have to give you all the knowledge that they have. But, he is so open and so willing to help. It’s just pure love and I just look up to him tremendously.”
Torrance “TJ” Cooks, 18, a senior at Bolden High School in Chicago, has heard the Minister speak in person before and came to Mosque Maryam to see and hear him again.
“I think more Black kids in Chicago, should come out and listen to what he has to say. It’s impactful to me because it makes you think more,” he said.
Darren Howard from Rockford Illinois a first time guest was moved by the message of Min. Farrakhan as the “last man standing.” In the Muslim Minister, added Mr. Howard, he sees a leader that speaks to modern times and what it is that Black people must do to get through and backing it up with Biblical and Quranic text.
“Like the saying about him being the last man standing is true. There is no leader that speaks the way Minister Farrakhan speaks,” said Mr. Howard.
Minister Farrakhan’s message was broadcast live via internet as Muslims, visitors and guests filled Nation of Islam mosques and study groups around the country to watch his address.
The Crowning Event of Black History Month was an overwhelming success in Harlem’s Mosque No.7 as people young and old came out to hear the address. Launise Noel is 88 years old and decided to come hear the Minister after receiving a flyer inviting her out to the mosque.
She has been an avid Final Call reader for years and she explained that “I’ve found the Muslim community to be good and an asset to the community and not a liability. They don’t smoke, steal, or drink no more. I really love the work that Farrakhan is doing and I am glad that I came today.”
Freda Wilkins, a 46-year-old, first-time guest said there is a beauty of the way the Minister loves Black people. “The effort that he puts in us, with the strength and the belief to make things better for us and our future which is our children I enjoyed hearing. He opened my eyes to everything that’s going on in the world, he made me more aware and that’s the beauty of his message today,” she explained.
“I feel that it was a detox for everything that I didn’t learn as a child or learn in school. The Minister opened my eyes and he opened my eyes to remind me to stay awake. His intellect is so powerful, he’s so strong and the fact that he is willing to die for us is a beautiful thing,” said Deryck Johnson, 26 also a first time guest.
Guests and visitors in Muhammad Mosque No. 29 in Miami were excited to receive the Minister’s message of guidance. Yereima Layne, 21, who heard the Minister for the first time said she was going to consider the Minister’s words.
“It opened my eyes to something new today. I heard little information about how the government is putting chemicals in the food that disrupts chemical imbalances for males dressing as females and females being masculine. It was a whole lot of information at once,” she said. “Some of it, it was just so true, it was really powerful. I think as a people, we do need to come together, especially the youth. Many youth are caught on sports and entertainment, and following celebrities, not listening to leaders that can lead society. So, honestly I think the whole message today was powerful and I think we need to move forward as a people and really just take action.”
Houston’s Muhammad Mosque No. 45 was packed to capacity with guests, visitors and citizens of the Nation of Islam. The energy was explosive, during the entire webcast.
Lewa Lewis, 30, a guest who has been listening to Min. Farrakhan speak since 2014, stated that having a comprehensive knowledge and understanding stood out the most to her. “We look at a situation in how it will benefit us first, and we don’t look at how the situation will benefit us working together collectively. That’s what I’m taking home with me.”
Carl Danielson of Columbia, Md., watched the broadcast at Muhammad Mosque No. 6 in Baltimore. He called Min. Farrakhan “a man’s man” who talks strong whenever he hears him. “This man doesn’t stumble in his speech. He doesn’t hesitate or act like he’s scared of White people. He makes me stand a little taller every time I hear him. He’s right, his work does speak for him and no one can say anything about it. I know and love the Honorable Elijah Muhammad because of Minister Farrakhan,” said the 45-year-old bus driver.
Tarik Summers, 22, is a student at Morgan State University, an HBCU located in Baltimore. She said she was surprised the Minister knew who New York-based rap artist Loaded Lux is.
“That blew me away. He’s older than my grandmother and if I asked her who Loaded Lux was, she would just ‘shoo’ me away. This man is like that,” she said.
“Some of what he was talking about I didn’t quite understand but I know passion when I see it. I’m with Farrakhan, if anyone wants to know. I’m with Farrakhan.”
(Eric Ture Muhammad and J.A. Salaam reported from Chicago, Nisa Islam Muhammad reported from Baltimore, Ebony Safiyyah Muhammad reported from Houston, Janiah X reported from Miami and Daleel Muhammad reported from New York.)
