By Charlene Muhammad CHARLENEM
ROSEMONT, Ill. (FinalCall.com) – Elevated Places, a fast growing online talk radio show, was aired live from Saviours’ Day 2012 on Feb. 23 before an enthusiastic crowd of hundreds of believers and guests.
Millions of people know the term “Elevated Places” as the English title of the seventh Surah or chapter (Al-Araf) of the Muslim Holy Book, the Qur’an. The program’s aim is to provide a forum for the talented, skilled believers of the Nation of Islam to express themselves, said program host Dr. Ava Muhammad, an attorney and a national representative of the Nation of Islam. She believes strongly in their ability to build a new world, and the show is but one platform of demonstration.
“It’s really a dream come true to be able to provide a forum for the followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the guidance and direction of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in terms of expressing all that we have been blessed to take in, in terms of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding,” Dr. Muhammad said.
›The Elevated Places team works each Thursday evening to provide a one-and-a-half hour forum for high level conversation through www.blogtalkradio.com/elevatedplaces, Dr. Muhammad’s Blog Talk Radio channel.
From the Main Ballroom of the Stephens Convention Center, co-host and moderator Ashahed Muhammad, also Final Call assistant editor, joined Dr. Muhammad with a panel of guests that included Student Ministers Nuri Muhammad and Demetric Muhammad, educator and freelance writer Shahida Muhammad and Dr. Ridgely Muhammad, manager of Muhammad Farms. They discussed the show’s theme of why there must be separation from American society on various levels.
Brother Demetric Muhammad highlighted why race is a sort of third rail topic when it comes to the issue of separation and why some feel race is no longer an issue in America. Part of the problem is many Blacks believe they live in a post-racial society with President Barack Obama’s election as the first Black leader of the country, he said.
But the conversation about race must be elevated into proper context, he said, and the context given by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is Blacks are the real children of Israel–meaning the solution to the problem is a divine one.
On the impact of land as a priority relating to separation, Dr. Ridgely said Blacks must ask key questions like what is the value of land and whether they can live with or without it.
Brother Ashahed Muhammad noted some Blacks seem reluctant to separate from America because they’ve been here a long time and see her as a protective hedge. But in reality, it has been a legacy of punishment and suffering for Blacks, he said.
Shahida Muhammad equated the condition of Blacks with a toddler’s experience. “The person who is their primary caregiver, when they see that they’re gone, they suffer separation anxiety because they don’t know how to take care of themselves yet,” she said, as the audience erupted in applause.
“We may not realize it but the White race has been our primary caregiver. They have provided us with food, clothing and shelter to the point where we don’t think to do it for ourselves,” she added.
There is a solution, said Brother Nuri Muhammad. “We are a people that blame the White man for 95 percent of our problem but spend 97 percent of our money with him.” Blacks could either raise their hand against injustices, speak against them, or at least boycott them, he said.
“Keep the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad as a template over everything we’re looking at because it will help us, not make an excuse for our people, but understand,” he added.
A show highlight occurred when a caller, Brother Hassan from Belize, Central America, wished everyone a Happy Saviours’ Day! He and others in his country were celebrating the historic commemoration along with the Nation of Islam.
Elevated Places was the brainchild of several M.G.T., Muslim women, who wanted more access for Dr. Muhammad. Since 2010, her handful of callers has grown to several thousand listeners per month, including archive listeners.
The show is like a little branch on a giant tree, but its future is great as a viable talk medium for members of the Nation of Islam and the broader community ready for wisdom outside of the construct of a wicked world.
“I want to continue to press principles like seizing control of our children’s education, highlight work that The Final Call is doing, and broaden the audience as we continue forth,” Dr. Muhammad said.
The production team members are Ladonna Muhammad of Columbus, Ohio; Rona Muhammad of Philadelphia; Terrence Muhammad of Greensboro, N.C.; and Bobby Muhammad of Colorado Springs, Colo.
