Where Does he Live and what is His Mental Condition?
[Editor’s Note: This article is reprinted from Volume 29, No. 34 and The Final Call will continue to reprint articles written by our late and dear Mother Tynnetta Muhammad.]
“So if We take thee away, still We shall exact retribution from them, Or We shall show thee that which We promise them–surely We are Possessors of power over them.” —Holy Qur’an, Surah 43, 41-42
For the past several weeks, we have presented to our readers a review of an expedition that took place on the Pacific Coast of Mexico in the area known as Costa Chica. In a 200-mile radius of the Pacific coastline live communities of a predominantly Black African origin mixed into the Indigenous Mexican population, who have comingled for over 450 to nearly 500 years since the Spanish colonial era up to the present day. Several members of the Nation of Islam, along with our special guests were invited to attend a gathering of these Afro-Mestizo communities arranged by the president of the Afro-Negro
(Black) Association in their twelfth Encuentro or gathering, which was formerly organized under the direction of Father Glynn, a Catholic priest originally from Trinidad. He has spent 25 years studying and working with these populations of African descent who are the most marginalized and oppressed people of Mexico.
We began with a wonderful letter and response from our brother, Runoko Rashidi, a well-known Black historian and world traveler and author of some 12 books and reports of the Black Presence in all cultures around the world. We also published a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ridgely Abdul Mu’min Muhammad, on the state of the agricultural condition of the land and its farming community in this area. This followed with a beginning report from one of the representatives of the Ministry of Education, Sister Wanda Muhammad from Atlanta, Georgia. Now, we will continue with her report as well as from Sister Angela Muhammad, a trained food scientist, from Columbus, Ohio.
Later that evening we had an opportunity to participate in one of three circles engaged in strategic dialogue about issues facing the communities in Costa Chica: Constitutional Rights, Agriculture and Education. Our delegation distributed themselves across the groups according to our interests and expertise.
The education dialogue focused on identifying strategies to get the education system to incorporate the true history of the Black Mexicans into the curriculum and exploring why this is not happening. Many concepts were discussed that affirmed the common struggle of the Black family all over the globe wherein history starts with slavery and does not acknowledge our contributions to high civilizations. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s approach to education was shared in terms of opening our own schools and teaching children their true history starting in the home.
Other strategies
- Translating the resources that we in the United States have compiled into Spanish and sharing them with our Mexican family that does not have said resources. (Dr. Runoko)
- Convening an international conference wherein world researchers, such as Dr. Runoko, could come together and develop strategies to address the inadequacies in education and develop strategic solutions for education.
(Mother Tynnetta)
– Study and implement strategies from models such as the one developed by Alberto–son of a world renowned archeologist who discovered the tomb of Pacal. This model incorporated grios (storytellers) to share the oral traditions of the people of Brazil. The Minister of Art and Culture eventually incorporated this resource into the school system.
– Follow through on the establishment of a student exchange program, a concept already proposed by Mother Tynnetta through the Honorable Elijah Muhammad Educational Foundation.
(Sis. Mavis Muhammad)
At the closing session, Dr. Ridgely Mu’min Muhammad (Student Minister, Ministry of Agriculture), Sis. Mavis and Sis. Wanda F. Muhammad (Student Coordinator, Ministry of Education, Muhammad Mosque #15) represented their circles by giving a summation of the discussions.
The most subtle yet most powerful learning was the teaching and sharing by Mother Tynnetta and Bro. Jabril of the wisdom of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Their words helped us connect our experience with the urgency of time and our responsibilities. We were not the only beneficiaries of this wisdom as Mother Tynnetta shared with those who we came in contact with during the trip.
The experience in Mexico is a bearing of witness to the universal truth, reality and presence of God as taught by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. His vision of the reunion of the original family is being manifested through the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s establishment of the Millions More Movement and the Ministries, which are now in action on the global stage.
Sister Angela Muhammad
The purpose of this writing is to capture my thoughts and experiences as it relates to the recent educational and exploratory journey to Mexico. My goals for this trip were to learn about the Gentes Negros in Costa Chica and the agricultural challenges facing them; to determine how they could best utilize sustainable farming practices and develop food products that could be utilized as a basis to establish wealth for their communities. On a more personal note, I wanted to understand how I could best serve members of our Mexican Family with the tools that Allah has blessed me to acquire through my academic and work experiences. Needless to say, by the end of the trip I developed a love for the people, and a great respect and admiration for their cohesiveness and ability to use whatever resources were at their disposable to achieve common objectives.
If I ever had any question as to whether or not we and our Mexican Family shared the same genetic blueprint all I had to do was watch the opening ceremony of the Encuentro. Skin tones, hair textures, and facial features were varied, like ours. Their movements and rhythms were very fluid, energetic and as graceful as any African dance troupe I have ever witnessed. Even the dance performed by a group of young men (some dressed as women) showed footwork very similar to any what I’ve witnessed at college fraternity and sorority step shows.
The title of this article reflects that everywhere we go or travel in the Wilderness of North America and wherever we find the descendents of the slave trade in the Americas or elsewhere, our condition and our plight is the same, “covered in the mud of civilization.” This is why it was necessary for the Almighty Creator, God, had to intervene in our affairs today and send someone, a Divine Master and Teacher, to spiritually resurrect us and redeem us from our slave masters and the colonial rulers whether on this continent or elsewhere. All Praise is due to Allah who came in the person of Master W. F. Muhammad.
“So hold fast to that which has been revealed to thee; surely thou art on the right path. And surely it is a reminder for thee and thy people, and you will be questioned.” —Holy Qur’an, Surah 43, verses 43-44
To be continued.
