The Nubian Leadership Circle (N.L.C.) recently hosted its eighth National Leadership Summit. The most recent gathering was themed, “Standing our ground in being Black Nation Bound.” Leaders from various grassroots organizations convened virtually for another successful think tank promoting Black independence and liberation.
The summit’s main objective is to implement programs that promote unity and positive change in the Black community while also addressing subjects to encourage and develop youth empowerment, family, and community development in America and abroad.
Participants continued their work and updates in smaller established working areas called cadres in: International Affairs; Arts and Culture; Economic Development; Spiritual Renewal; Health and Education; Land and Food; Family Essence, and Communication Technology. Each attendee was able to participate in multiple cadres. At the end of the June 3 summit, Nation of Islam Student Minister Nuri Muhammad of Mosque No.74 in Indianapolis gave closing remarks.
The four-hour virtual meeting began with an opening statement from Sadiki Kambon, convener of the Nubian Leadership Circle. Mr. Kambon thanked everyone for their commitment to the mission of establishing a strong foundation to build on.
He told The Final Call that his mission is to fulfill what the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said to him when he first embarked upon establishing the Nubian Leadership Circle. Mr. Kambon said the Minister told him their efforts to bring a cross-section of Black people together in the spirit of unity had yet to be achieved. “It’s going to be a long road and it’s going to a difficult path, and he’s absolutely correct,” said Mr. Kambon.
Student Minister Nuri Muhammad opened his remarks on the importance of leadership and what it takes to lead Black people. He mentioned how he researched characteristics and leadership traits of great men in scripture and history but found that instead of speaking about them individually, he said that he found all of those traits in one man, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
There were 12 key leadership traits Student Minister Nuri Muhammad outlined he learned from Minister Farrakhan that are necessary to lead Black people. These traits include: Loving God, ourselves, and our brothers and sisters; Believing in God and His connection to the people that we serve; Understanding the concept of “we,” never “I”; Being non-judgmental; Being a principled servant; Working to see that the people you serve become better; Humility; Honesty; The willingness to acquire knowledge; Morality; Being a problem-solver and not complaining; and Taking good care of your health.
Mariah Meshae was a co-facilitator of the arts and culture session and emphasized how valuable this cadre is. “We are gathering creative artists and supporters of arts and culture that uplift our people. So, we can move in unity to create alternative messages that are out there in the media, in film and music, art and fashion, and how we are represented and presented,” said Ms. Meshae. There are three pillars for the Arts and Culture cadre which are: create, educate, and activate.”
“Black people, we consume the most media out of all groups, about 200 hours per month. We are getting most of our information through social media and get our cues … that’s why arts and culture is the gateway to us as a people understanding a lot of other serious topics affecting our people… .” she added.
Dr. Chenzira Davis Kahina from St. Croix, Virgin Islands, conducted the International Affairs cadre. She stressed the importance of connecting with embassies in other countries to help get more support for issues that are affecting Black people in those countries. “We have to navigate through areas not just our geographic space, but to have more connectivity in international global spaces,” she said. Creating and strengthening dialogue among people in other nations is necessary, she explained.
The importance of building on local levels is also important, Mr. Kambon explained. He described a new effort in Boston called Nubian Square, formerly Dudley Square. It is a commercial center located in the Roxbury neighborhood encompassing about one-and-a-half miles, said Mr. Kambon.
“We have a major development coming starting in October 2023, in Nubian Square in Boston owned by a Black man. (It’s) called Nubian Ascends (and includes) housing—a commercial district for Black People. We have Nubian Gallery … recently the Nubian Market opened up. We’re hopeful that this type of situation can occur in other locations across the country,” he continued.
“Things are falling into place because we want this to be the building block for something that is generational. I tell people that I hope my grandson will be training his grandchildren to continue to build within the Nubian Leadership Circle to build a Black Nation within the Nation. So, I’m encouraged and the folks who are working with me feel the same way.”
For more information and to become involved, visit: www.nubianleadershipcircle.com
