“To be Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.”
—James Baldwin
CHICAGO—James Baldwin, novelist, essayist, poet, and playwright was one of the most influential writers and intellectuals of the 20th century. Known for his poignant essays, novels, and plays, Mr. Baldwin used his sharp literary talents to address the complex intersections of race, identity, and social injustice in America.
Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, National Assistant to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and a son of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, was a featured panelist at a recent event honoring the life and works of Mr. Baldwin at the historic Harold Washington Library on Nov. 2.
Mr. Baldwin passed away in 1987 at age 63, but his words continue to resonate through the walls of time, echoing the struggles and triumphs of those who fight for justice and equality.
Panelists also included Dr. Anthony Monteiro; scholar, activist, educator, and an expert on the works of W.E.B. DuBois and James Baldwin and Tasha N. Robinson, M.Ed., MPA. They presented an original documentary screening, of “To fulfill the unfulfilled” on the legendary author’s life, followed by a roundtable discussion.
The event was hosted by the Chicago Public Library in partnership with the Philadelphia-based Saturday Free School for Philosophy and Black Liberation.
Over 100 people crowded into the small auditorium where viewers were captivated by the film that featured Mr. Baldwin and highlighted how he and other civil rights leaders like Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,
Malcolm X and Medgar Evers fearlessly challenged the media and White America. Mr. Baldwin was a key figure in the civil rights struggle and movement and was vocal about injustices facing Black people.
The panel wasted no time in discussing the lack of knowledge or the forgotten history of Black heroes and freedom fighters and the importance of Blacks preserving their own history.
“The system is broken; it was doomed from its inception. We have been forced to form in a system that is unnatural. This is a system that was built for White people, by White people and Black people must come to terms with that,” explained Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad.
Ms. Robinson emphasized the need to teach Black children the history of the civil rights struggle and how America is purposely trying to hide it. She stressed that Black heroes previously learned about years ago when she was in school, are no longer being taught about.
Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad added that it is Black people’s responsibility to teach their own history and children and not depend on other people to do it.
Dr. Monteiro also narrated the Baldwin documentary and answered a question posed by an audience member about the political climate of the past, today’s climate, and Blacks faith in the Democratic Party. Dr. Monteiro responded by explaining that Blacks cannot put their faith in political parties and added that politicians must be held accountable for what they say.
Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad agreed and added how little power politicians truly possess and how political candidates are selected before they are elected. Blacks must recognize that hidden hand that is controlling the system, he explained.
He also reminded the audience of a meeting Mr. Baldwin had with the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad in the summer of 1961, during a period of intense civil rights activism and racial reckoning in America.
In his 1963 book, “The Fire Next Time” in the second essay titled “Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region in My Mind,” Mr. Baldwin discusses the Nation of Islam in depth, providing insight into different approaches to Black liberation and empowerment.
The title of Mr. Baldwin’s book is taken from a line in a spiritual song, “Mary don’t you weep,” which includes the lyrics: “God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water but fire next time.”
The reference to fire is interpreted by Mr. Baldwin as a warning of impending judgment and destruction. Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad passionately told the audience that, “The Black struggle has not been about civil rights; the Black struggle has been for human rights and for a people to exercise their right to self-determination.”
Culminating the event audience members were serenaded by a soulful musical performance by jazz saxophonist David Boykin and his band who offered a message of healing through their music. Mr. Boykin paid tribute to the late James Baldwin covering music by Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong, among others.
The next day on Sunday, Nov. 3, Dr. Monteiro attended services at Mosque Maryam where Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad delivered his keynote message, “The Survival of the Black Community: Who of the Presidential Candidates Can Save the Lives of the People of America From the Wrath of God,” part 3.
