By Gregory Muhammad
The Nation of Islam Prison Reform Ministry within the Pennsylvania prison system has its beginning in early 1980 at the notorious Philadelphia Holmesburg Prison. This beginning is in accordance with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s rebuilding of the Nation of Islam. It is a lot of history with the reestablishment of Muhammad’s Prison Program as it was known in the 1980s.
In this article we want to recognize one of our inmate Study Group Coordinators, Brother Calvin X Floyd. He is currently incarcerated at SCI-Phoenix, in Pennsylvania.
Brother Calvin X shares his thoughts on how he met this writer: “I first met you in 1980 at Holmsburg Prison, when I was first held after being accused of first-degree murder. You remained somewhat obscure from the population because you were busy in the work of helping Minister Farrakhan in the early years of rebuilding the works of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. I was running around the prison with a small ragtag group of young brothers reminding men of the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, using all the ideas I’d learned from the men who left after the Honorable Elijah Muhammad disappeared. So, for approximately two and a half years, we were in that prison together. The next time I saw you was when I was transferred from Graterford to Western prison in 1989. Your energy level was higher and you were still at work and for the four years, we went through the rigors and pains of forging a small group of Believers, which actually reminded everyone that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was still alive.”
He continued: “We pushed the limits with fezzes and white shirts, with bowties, and faithfully held services weekly. Your communication with Minister Farrakhan made certain people envious of you, however, that factual communication was the spark of life throughout the population there at Western Prison. Those who opposed us only made us stronger. And those who hated and opposed us with outstanding opposition, were happy that you left, rubbing their hands together and licking their lips in anticipation of seizing the post for their own reasons. But you left instructions, ‘Brother, don’t let them take the Mosque!’ And my response was, ‘Yes sir!’ ”
Brother Calvin X goes on to share these following thoughts: “This, 38 years has been fulfilling, for I would not have grown were it not for the unfortunate set of circumstances that clothed me in this situation. So, I am grateful to Allah for the opportunity He gave me to benefit from the seasoning of the Study Guides delivered to us through Minister Farrakhan. I have learned that the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad become real only through severe tests and difficulties. For a Believer has nothing else to rely on but what she/he has internalized of the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. At this juncture, I believe things will grow more difficult, however, faith is the substance of things hoped for, and evidence of things not seen, and although hope is not a strategy, it serves as a compass point during trials.
In closing, he stated, “And the evidence of holding the course is the fulfilling of maturing in the teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, both of whom in themselves are living evidence of the presence of Allah (God) Himself, in the Divine Person of The Great Mahdi, Master Fard Muhammad. All praise is due to Allah for the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan!”
Today, Brother Calvin X coordinates our Study Group at SCIPhoenix in Pennsylvania. Our Student National Prison Reform Minister Abdullah Muhammad sent in the study material to enable the Study Group to have a proper study circle. According to reports from Brother Calvin, our brothers at SCI-Phoenix are deep into the study of the “Self-Improvement Study Guides” provided by Student National Prison Reform Minister Abdullah Muhammad.
We commend Brother Calvin for his steadfast stand and leadership as he represents the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and his Student National Prison Reform Minister Abdullah Muhammad to the inmate population at SCI-Phoenix.
A Big Thank You to Brother Calvin X Floyd!
(Gregory Muhammad is NOI Student Regional Prison Reform Minister for the Delaware Valley Region.)
