Student Minister Donald Muhammad of Mosque No. 28 in St. Louis, Missouri, delivered the keynote address, opening with the first five verses of Surah (Chapter 90), titled, “The City” from the Holy Qur’an. “What will make you know what the uphill road is?” Student Min. Donald asked, setting the tone for a message rooted in accountability, sacrifice and the obligation to serve those less fortunate.

For Brother Earl, Student Secretary of Mosque 28B, in East St. Louis, Ill., the significance of 45 years runs deep. “This 45th anniversary is very significant because it is my birthplace in the Nation and the first mosque dedicated under the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s leadership after 1975,” he said. “This year will launch the restoration and re-dedication of the building as one of our Nation’s historical sites.”

The history of Mosque No. 28B is a testament to what a small group of determined believers can accomplish when driven by faith and vision. After the departure of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad in 1975, Minister Farrakhan stood up to rebuild and reestablish the Nation of Islam in the fall of 1977. By 1978, he had shared his vision with a small group of believers in the St. Louis community alongside his close friend, Minister Abdul Akbar Muhammad.

Under Brother Akbar’s direction, Brother Arvin X and Brother Jerry Oliver, along with his wife Beverly, held study groups in private homes that grew into Sunday meetings at Southern Illinois University East St. Louis Campus and eventually relocated to the Mary E. Brown Center at 15th and Piggot Avenue in East St. Louis.

In 1979, Brother Eddie Aziz identified the vacant Will McGaughy Administration Building at 2216 State Street in East Saint Louis, Illinois, which was up for public auction. A small group of approximately 15 believers pooled their resources to purchase the building. Working with a deadline given by Minister Farrakhan to Minister Abdul Akbar Muhammad, the believers labored tirelessly to prepare the building for occupancy. On May 3, 1981, Minister Farrakhan officially dedicated the building as Muhammad Mosque No. 28B.

Minister Abdul Akbar Muhammad, then known as Brother Larry X, served as the first minister of the mosque for one year before being called to Chicago to assist Minister Farrakhan directly.

Over the decades, the ministers of Mosque 28B have included Brother Robert Muhammad, Brother Gregory Muhammad and Brother Donald Muhammad. Today Student Minister Ralph Muhammad serves as the student minister. Each brother helped carry the mission of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan forward through changing times and enduring challenges.

“In 45 years we have learned a lot and have lost a lot,” said Student Minister Ralph Muhammad. “But when we think about the challenges we endured and the sacrifices we all made to build the brotherhood and sisterhood, you can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come and yet how far we have to go. Brother Akbar laid the foundation for us, and we are forever grateful to him. He gave us so many principles to live by, but sometimes we slow down and the fire begins to fade. It takes a strong willpower to stay the course, and we are happy to still be here after 45 years,” he added.

The evening also honored those who have given their time and dedication to the community. Awards were presented to mentors Vickey Kimmel and Darron Suggs for their service in helping youth become better citizens. Additional honorees included Edna Farmer, educator; Dr. Lillian Parks, posthumously, in education administration; East St. Louis City Manager Robert Betts; and Nation of Islam pioneer Sister Sarah Muhammad, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Forty-five years after 15 believers pooled their dollars to purchase a building on State Street, Muhammad Mosque No. 28B stands as a living monument to what faith, sacrifice and the guidance of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan can produce in a community that refused to quit.

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However, between the autumn of 1977 and the spring of 1978, Bro. Akbar began working with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, who had vowed to rebuild the Nation of Islam.

Min. Akbar would go on to travel to more than 180 countries as the International Representative of Minister Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, meeting with presidents, kings and heads of state.

Yet those who knew him best say his lasting impact was not measured in diplomatic halls or foreign capitals. It was measured in the lives he changed, one by one, in St. Louis.

Student Minister Donald Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 28 was among the first in the city to witness Min. Akbar’s impact. Describing him as an impressionable mover and shaker, he said, Min. Akbar “was reaching out into the community and bringing people of leadership into the mosque, like politicians, pastors and community leaders.” The mosque was packed every Sunday, said Student Min. Donald.

Student Min. Donald also recounted the pivotal moment when Min. Akbar aligned himself with the rebuilding effort under Minister Farrakhan. Min. Akbar had an office on Boyle Avenue in St. Louis when Minister Farrakhan came to town to meet, Student Min. Donald recalled.

“That was the first time I had ever come that close to the Minister (Farrakhan) in a small room. Minister Farrakhan was telling us how he was going to rebuild the Nation of Islam. We agreed to help him and we got started. In the rebuilding process, we went to East St. Louis to not clash with the followers of the Imam,” he said.

That decision required a physical home for the believers, one that East St. Louis, Ill., former Mayor Carl Officer provided. “When the Nation needed a building for a Temple in East St. Louis, I remember how folks that wasn’t our color questioned me of why I would allow them (N.O.I.) to get that building,” he recounted to The Final Call.

“I told them, ‘because they asked and I felt it was an appropriate position.’ We had a vacant building, and they would do a good job maintaining the building and having a place of worship and education for people. It just made sense to me, and I was proud to do it,” he said.

“When I think about Minister Akbar, first and foremost was his friendship. I appreciated his character and the way he served not only the Nation but, quite frankly, how he served the Minister (Farrakhan). His devotion to Allah (God), you never can diminish that kind of love. He was an honorable brother.”

The East St. Louis building itself carried a heavy history, once a funeral home turned abortion clinic. Under Min. Akbar’s direction, working alongside his captain Eddie Aziz, approximately 30 brothers and sisters pooled their resources and labor to transform the space into a place of life. Their collective work made possible the grand opening and dedication on May 3, 1981, with Minister Farrakhan as the special guest speaker.

Min. Akbar was known for three sayings that defined his standard: “Men sharpen men;” “Men make things happen;” and “Excuses are a sign of weakness.” These were not slogans. They were the operating code of every man who worked alongside him and the testimony of those men bears that out completely.

Bro. Jame Muhammad, a student of Min. Akbar since 1981, said, “I got my X in 1981 and he was my minister. I left the Nation and had been gone over 20 years. My wife passed away in 2018. I got his number and asked him if he would do the eulogy.

He said, ‘Yes, Brother, I’ll do that. Give me the date and the time.’ Now, here’s a brother that’s been with kings and rulers all over the country, but he had time for his little brother. He led by example.”

Kevin Bryant, who helped Min. Akbar compile his writings, said their relationship was a “paternal bond” built on mutual respect. “Bro. Akbar was a walking library, one of the last true griots (historian) of our time,” he said.

“The greatest impact he had on me didn’t happen in a meeting with a head of state, but across the dinner table during our time in Africa. I am a better man for knowing him and a wiser one for having had the honor of being his student.”

When the late Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael) came to St. Louis prior to leaving for Africa to transition, Min. Akbar and business mogul Michael V. Roberts Sr. collaborated on a fundraiser for the revolutionary leader.

“We raised more money at our two events than they raised at a larger event in D.C. after ours,” Mr. Roberts said. “I was ultimately enstooled as Roberts in Ghana. So many of my contacts and experiences in Ghana were as a result of Brother Akbar coming to meet me while I was there,” he added.

“Minister Akbar was a gift from God,” St. Louis attorney and activist Jerryl Christmas commented. “His leadership, intellect and passion for Black people and Africa is unmatched. He was the catalyst for exposing the Black boys and girls in our Rites of Passage program to Africa on five different occasions. His impact on St. Louis will never be forgotten.”

Steve Conley, who served as Min. Akbar’s technology consultant, said Min. Akbar’s accounts of meeting presidents and leaders across Africa and the Caribbean while traveling with Minister Farrakhan were “life-changing.”

“He was a dear friend and a teacher I listened to intently, a walking library and historian who lived the history. He directly influenced my move to the Caribbean and my decision to do business in Africa. I am forever grateful. Rest in power, my friend. Your influence lives on,” he told The Final Call.

“He would talk with us about how to act as men, how to carry ourselves, how to teach each other, looking into the field of business, getting in business ourselves. He had me to read all the time. He made me want to be better,” said businessman George Hairston, who joined the Nation of Islam under Min. Akbar.

Sister Pamela Muhammad, 74, who served as Min. Akbar’s Student M.G.T. and G.C.C. Captain (Muslim Girls Training and General Civilization Class, women of the N.O.I.), remembered Min. Akbar as a task master but was always in a gentle teaching mode.

“You couldn’t be stagnant. You had to always be working,” she said. “He was like a father, big brother, grandfather, mentor, all of that to my son and I. If the Minister [Farrakhan] said it, Brother Akbar tried to make it so. He was the Minister’s right arm,” she said.

Bro. Talib Muhammad, 71, said working with Min. Akbar, for nearly 25 years, allowed him to travel to three continents and visit many N.O.I. mosques.

“It was one of the greatest experiences that I could ever have in life. I learned how to become a diplomat. No one sits around Akbar and does nothing. He’s going to find something for you to do. This (St. Louis) is Akbar’s city. When he was the minister, Akbar made this city jump. His legacy is going to have to live through us,” he said.

Student Minister Ralph Muhammad of Mosque No. 28B in East St. Louis, Ill., said Min. Akbar was a “brother, mentor, confidant, spiritual guide, advisor and a father figure.” Min. Akbar officiated his wedding and the weddings of two of his children.

“Thank you, Brother Minister Akbar, for your love, kindness and tolerance. You will always be a part of me and my family,” Student Minister Ralph said.

Bro. Anthony Shahid, who first met Brother Akbar in 1975 as a young man, spoke with the conviction of someone still measuring the magnitude of the loss of such a servant and consequential human being.

“He was a giant amongst giants. He made stars, he made geniuses, he made us learn how to work, and he really burned Islam into our hearts,” Bro. Shahid, a longtime activist, said.

Recounting the 180 nations visited by Min. Akbar, he added: “Minister Farrakhan had a quiet man working behind the scenes, making sure he didn’t miss nothing, and he never worried about being in the highlight. He was always humble.”

Perhaps one of the most pivotal moments in St. Louis history where Min. Akbar made a tremendous impact was during the Ferguson uprising in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown Jr., on August 9, 2014, by a Ferguson, Mo. police office.

Ferguson is a suburb of St. Louis. After the shooting, Min. Akbar returned to St. Louis and went directly to the streets, standing alongside the youth, politicians and activists demanding justice for the Brown family. He helped organize a Ferguson October rally, where an estimated 10,000 people marched through downtown St. Louis protesting police brutality.

He also supported the slain teens’ parents, Michael Brown Sr. and Lezley McSpadden-Head, by assisting in their historic journey to Geneva, Switzerland, in 2014 to address the 53rd Session of the United Nations Committee Against Torture.

St. Louis businessman Ajuma Muhammad added a final word that encapsulated everything: “No words are able to describe what he means to the world. You say St. Louis, or you say Chicago. He was known in New York. He was known in Atlanta.

But all those places were too small. He wasn’t containable. What Allah blessed him with, he didn’t do nothing but just produce and raise the dead. He loved to pray and he never would let you praise him. His humble words were ‘All Praises Are Due to Allah.’”

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Brothers are recognized and awarded for their efforts with The Final Call newspaper sales and inviting guests to the mosque to hear the life-saving Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad as taught and exemplified by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

Out of approximately 125 mosques and study groups in the Nation of Islam, only nine men were awarded the title of the top F.O.I. of the year.

Student Supreme Captain Mustapha Farrakhan mounted the rostrum in an all-white F.O.I. uniform trimmed in gold. The men in the class wore their official F.O.I. uniform of navy blue trimmed in white and brown ones trimmed in gold. Every uniform has the red and white National Flag of the Nation of Islam on the shoulder, which represents the Universe: the Sun, Moon and Star.

Student Supreme Captain Mustapha encouraged the men to strengthen the Muslim brotherhood and rededicate themselves to the work of being saviours in their communities.

He also lifted the 53rd surah (chapter) of the Holy Qur’an to bear witness to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s place in scripture and how what his father experienced with his vision of hearing from the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad on the Mother Wheel proves what the scripture says.

This year’s top F.O.I. were from the nine regions: Eastern Region, Brother Jaquan X; European Region, Brother Wayne 2X; Mid-Atlantic Region, Brother Abdul Salaam Muhammad; Southern Region, Brother James Muhammad; Southwest Region, Brother Malik Muhammad Sr.;

Western Region, Brother Nuri Muhammad; Central Region, Brother Michael Muhammad; Delaware Valley Region, Brother Elijah Muhammad and the 7th Region, Brother Nikki Muhammad.

There were three new categories added this year for the top Final Call sales in 2025 in the regions: Lightweight Champion, Study Group, Nashville, Tennessee; Middleweight Champion, Mosque No. 6, Baltimore, Maryland and the Heavyweight Champion, Mosque No. 15, Atlanta, Georgia.

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The two-hour workshop featured interactive discussion, allowing attendees to engage directly with panelists and share their own experiences with self-improvement and spiritual struggle.

Student Minister Daniel Muhammad from the Nation of Islam’s national headquarters, Mosque Maryam, moderated a distinguished four-member panel: Student Southern Regional M.G.T. Captain Nusaybah Muhammad, from Atlanta;

Student Western Regional Minister Abdul Malik Sayyid Muhammad, and Student Minister Abdul Arif Muhammad of the Nation of Islam’s Shura Executive Council. Each shared powerful perspectives on jihad as self-correction and the internal battle to overcome life’s challenges.

Student Min. Arif emphasized the 21 Study Guides in the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s “Self-Improvement: The Basis for Community Development” series, explaining how each guide answers fundamental questions about life’s struggles.

“‘Building The Will,’ ‘The Struggle for Balance,’ ‘Building Human Potential,’ and ‘The Price of Redemption,’ to name a few,” he said, noting that these study guides provide comprehensive frameworks for personal transformation.

“If you want to delve into self-improvement on one level, you have a visible enemy, Shaitan, the devil, and on another level, you struggle with yourself,” Student Min. Arif explained. “Everyone has an ego, a sense of self, and you have to be humble and patient with yourself and others.”

Sister Nusaybah spoke powerfully about the role of women in the struggle for self-improvement, emphasizing that jihad is not gender-specific but a universal human responsibility.

People must recognize that the struggle to purify ourselves and overcome our lower nature is the same for men and women, she stated. “Our strength comes from our willingness to confront our own weaknesses with honesty and courage,” she said.

Student Min. Abdul Malik Sayyid addressed the duality within human nature. “There’s a duality of God and Satan, and if you hate yourself, you can’t fight jihad, the devil, and win,” he stated, emphasizing that self-love is foundational to spiritual warfare.

Workshop participants expressed how the session transformed their understanding. Onunze Ubaka, 72, shared, “This workshop really helped me understand the self-accusing spirit and the devil within that I must conquer.”

The panel also confronted widespread misconceptions about jihad. A perpetual propaganda campaign against Islam has spread false narratives portraying jihad as radical Islamic fundamentalism or terrorism.

In reality, jihad has nothing to do with terrorism. The greater jihad is the spiritual struggle or striving within oneself against sin, a battle for righteousness waged in the human heart, panelists explained.

The workshop reinforced that true jihad is internal transformation, the daily commitment to overcome ego, selfishness, and destructive patterns. It is the struggle to live better, to align one’s actions with divine principles, and to build communities rooted in self-improvement and collective uplift.

As thousands departed Detroit carrying these lessons, the message was clear: the greatest battlefield is within, and the most important victory is over oneself.

—J.A. Salaam, Contributing Writer

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The Nation began in Detroit, Michigan, on July 4, 1930, when Master W. D. Fard Muhammad, the long-awaited “Messiah” of the Christians and the “Mahdi” of the Muslims, made His appearance in the segregated Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods where over 120,000 Black people lived.

There He met Elijah Poole, whom He renamed Elijah Muhammad. Every year, the Nation of Islam holds its annual Saviours’ Day convention to commemorate the Birth of Master Fard Muhammad, born February 26, 1877, in the Holy City of Mecca.

This year’s convention once again featured the Nation of Islam Historical Exhibit which was led by several youth which presented the opportunity that bridged generations and shared information on the Nation’s unmatched legacy.

Dr. Khalid El Hakim is the founder of the Black History 101 Mobile Museum. He was present at Saviours’ Day and witnessed the exhibit. His mobile museum has traveled to over 43 states and over 1,000 institutions.

“Sharing these objects inspires, educates and reminds our people that we are part of an amazing history. The gift of Islam to the Black man and woman in America is the greatest gift that anyone in the history of humanity has been given,” he said.

Sister Ilyasah Muhammad, 23, of Mosque No. 55 in Memphis helped coordinate aspects of this year’s exhibit and she explained the urgency of youth involvement in preserving history. “It’s deeply important for youth to take part in preserving our history because it’s up to us to ensure our history is not only shared but documented and told properly.

Every year we lose great giants who helped establish the Nation as we know it. It’s important that youth take on the mantle of preservation because our history, our legacy, understanding how we got where we are today, absolutely cannot die out with any generation,” she told The Final Call.

“It’s easy to forget some of the luxuries we have that our pioneers fought and died for, just as simple as being able to wear a garment and headpiece out of the house, or enjoying Saviours’ Day with thousands of people.

Our Nation didn’t start out this huge, but today we reap the benefits of those who came before. We must acknowledge and recognize all that we benefit from and make sure the stories of those who came before are never forgotten,” said Sis. Ilyasah.

She explained that Student National Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad, a great-grandson of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Student Minister and Student Imam Abdul Salaam Muhammad of Mosque No. 6 in Baltimore, and Sister Dr. Stacey Muhammad, who have historically organized and put together the exhibit, helped and encouraged youth of the Nation of Islam to become involved in the planning.

“Being able to see artifacts like letters with instructions for how we were to conduct ourselves showed how deeply Master Fard Muhammad cared about our success.

Seeing what the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad produced, like the H&G whiting fish box or the M.G.T. yearbooks, reminded me that Master Fard Muhammad gave us something that can never be taken away.

We have a Nation we are building that is the best, and we have the ability to completely free ourselves from our oppressors and provide for our own,” said Sis. Illyasah. “The people absolutely loved the docuseries that was played.

Every believer who came through was so engaged with the material, the physical artifacts and the carousel of historical pictures displayed. You could tell how appreciative the believers were to get a glimpse at our history.”

The N.O.I. Historical Exhibit was open to attendees Feb. 20 and 21 and included artifacts from the vast and rich history of the Nation of Islam preserved in protective glass cases for attendees to view.

Table Talks, a collection of over 300 hours of archived recordings of intimate moments and conversations at the dinner table of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, is also a part of the exhibit.

The recordings were compiled prior to 1975 by Brother Sultan Muhammad, the grandson and pilot of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and bequeath to his son, Student National Imam Sultan Rahman Muhammad.

Sister Aalia Muhammad, 23, described how the exhibit bridged the generational gap. “Since the exhibit was led primarily by the youth, there was a bridge built between the elders and the youth because of the opportunity to interact one-on-one during the exhibit.

Whether explaining the beautiful rich history of the historical picture slideshow or touring the artifacts to discuss our Nation’s beautiful history,” she said.

“I had the opportunity to speak with believers ranging in age, believers who had personal encounters with some of the artifacts being displayed. Not only was I sharing beautiful rich history, but I received so much feedback and testimony from believers and pioneers who toured the exhibit and shared with me their personal testimonies and stories over the years.”

Sister Jadayah Muhammad expressed her honor in sharing the Nation’s history and participating in the exhibit. “It was an honor to help share the great history of our Nation with other people. I felt honored, curious, and fascinated at each point, to get to see and help share documents that came from the time Master Fard Muhammad was present,” she said.

“To see things like an M.G.T. bar pin from decades ago, to read letters from Master Fard Muhammad and to learn about the history of aviation in our Nation from the models of planes. We did family table talks this year, helping families record their own generational history so that 100 years in the future, in 2126.

People can ask what Saviours’ Day was 100 years ago and we’ll have that record. We helped families be part of the narrative too. It’s projecting to the past, sharing it in the present and creating something for future generations,” she said.

Young people who had the opportunity to visit and explore the exhibit during Saviours’ Day weekend were also moved by the experience.Brother Dartavrus Muhammad, 16, visited the exhibit and was deeply impressed. “I was very surprised to know how much happened during the time the Honorable Elijah Muhammad was (among us). I never thought someone could have a plane like that,” he said.

His younger brother, Terreon Muhammad, 13, shared his thoughts. “I see myself and other Black people in the exhibit and how powerful we can come together. It shows how much power we have and what we can do if we unite. It shows how these Teachings are a reality, how it’s now present and how it’s going to have a great impact on our future.”

Brother Zuri Muhammad, 24, from Mosque No. 55 in Memphis, also assisted with the exhibit. “This exhibit makes me feel closer to those who have paved the way and laid the foundation,” said Bro. Zuri.

Sister Qadira Muhammad, 29, focused on the educational aspect of what was presented. “We helped people internalize the information in different ways. We had the youth committee to ensure we had all the spaces we needed, like the ‘Preserving Our Story’ space, which was our table talk archival project to interview believers because our history is now, too.

This was a historical moment, and I thank Sister Dr. Stacey, Brother Imam Sultan and Student Minister Abdul Salaam who helped set the foundation for us to do what we did. … The Nation’s history is Black history.”

Brother Khalifah Muhammad, 24, has worked with the N.O.I. Historical Exhibit for 10 years. “It was beautiful to see the effects the artifacts had on the believers present this Saviours’ Day. We are encouraging people to have their own table talks at home and write our own history essentially.

It’s extremely important for youth to engage in our history because it gives them an opportunity to see things they may have never seen and they, too, are part of history. There will be generations in the future that will look back and see what we are currently doing. This will give a deeper appreciation for those that came before us who laid the foundation to where we are.”

The Nation of Islam Historical Exhibit at Saviours’ Day 2026, led by young Muslims, proved that when generations unite through shared history, the gap closes and the Nation’s unmatched legacy lives on.

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While the storm made no distinction between rich and poor on May 16, 2025, the recovery effort tells a different story, one that echoes historical patterns of racial inequality.

The slow recovery in North St. Louis has become a case study in how natural disasters amplify existing inequalities. Predominantly White South neighborhoods received immediate infrastructure repairs and streamlined insurance payouts.

While North City residents face overlapping jurisdictions, underfunded aid programs and institutional barriers that reflect decades of disinvestment in Black communities.

As extreme weather becomes more frequent, the question looms: Will America’s most vulnerable communities be left to rebuild alone, or be displaced entirely?

Yet amid the rubble, a spirit of resistance endures. “We are a people that has the fortitude and resilience to rebuild our communities,” declares Felice McClendon, executive director of Delmar Main Street, a local economic development group.

Unity in crisis, division in recovery

Mr. Shegog, a community servant working in North City’s recovery, sees the tornado’s aftermath as both a tragedy and an opportunity. “The progress and empowerment of our people lies heavily on unity,” he told The Final Call.

“Our survival relies on our ability to set aside differences. If we focus on the fact that we are humans suffering and want to help one another, that rallying call gets us from destination A to B.”

Mr. Shegog draws parallels to Black economic self-sufficiency movements of the early 20th century that were systematically destroyed. “When you look at Tulsa, East St. Louis,  Atlanta, and Durham, these are examples of when we tried to be self-sufficient, it was intentionally wiped out,” he said, referencing the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and 1917 East St. Louis riots.

“That same spirit that helped create Black millionaires in the early 1920s ushered in over St. Louis on May 16, 2025. Now it’s up to us to rebuild together.”

But unity alone cannot overcome systemic obstacles. “There is a program headed by Julian Nicks to help residents with or without insurance, but they must apply,” Mr. Shegog said. “The Personal Property Assistance program has a February 14, 2026, deadline.

Only 1,700 property owners have applied, but approximately 4,900 eligible households have not. FEMA dollars may not be fully spent while residents still need support,” he added.

The Delmar divide

In St. Louis, Delmar Boulevard serves as a stark dividing line. This 9.1-mile corridor separates two Americas. According to several reports and studies, in South of Delmar, the median income is $50,000, 73% of residents are White, and home values exceed $300,000.

North of Delmar, where over 95% of residents are Black, median income is $18,000, and home values average $75,000. This disparity, rooted in decades of redlining dating back to the 1930s Federal Housing Administration’s “residential security maps,” was magnified after the May 16 tornado.

“It feels like yesterday, because it looks like yesterday, depending on what side of the street you are on,” Ms. McClendon said. “On the north side, just one block over from Delmar on Enright Avenue, you can still find people living in homes without windows. I’ve seen people in homes without roofs and in tents on their property, trying not to lose what they had.”

Many homes were passed down through generations and paid off, leaving families without mortgage-required insurance. “So, where is your insurance? It’s embedded in your mortgage, and if you don’t have a mortgage, you may be uninsured,” Ms. McClendon explained.

She traces North City’s vulnerability back further. “It goes way back to slavery, where people were divided from each other. What we see stems from Jim Crow laws and redlining. Even our life expectancy is determined by zip code. This is systemic.”

Predatory practices and political paralysis

Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard of the 10th Ward has witnessed how bureaucracy becomes a weapon. “If the right people are not over the money, it’s a nightmare,” she told The Final Call. “They bog it down with bureaucracy and politics. What we are looking at is going to take decades to recover what has been already several decades of despair.”

Ald. Hubbard describes a familiar St. Louis tactic: “‘If all else fails, we’re going to turn it into race.’  The quickest way to obstruct progress is to make it North and South, Black and White. One side keeps going, and the other side gets stuck.”

She witnessed predatory developers swooping in immediately. “I was begging people not to sell. I met a man who cashed out within two weeks. Somebody offered him $30,000 for two houses, and he took it. I still talk to people to keep their land. God ain’t making no more land.”

The long road ahead

Yolonda “Yogi” Yancie, 10th Ward Committeewoman and storm victim, lives the reality daily. “Many news cameras have stopped coming where our stories still must be told,” she said. “Seniors and displaced families need immediate repair of roofs, windows, doors, and fences.

We desperately need recovery funds.” There was one bright spot: “Washington Montessori school reopened after the new year. The joy of seeing foot traffic and hearing school buses has brought normalcy back,” she said.

And for 89-year-old Shirley Everett, a resident of North St. Louis’ Penrose neighborhood who owns seven houses—bought one for each of her grandchildren—the work continues. She has lived in her home since 1964.

She said the tornado damaged two of her homes and blew the roof off of hers. The rain severely damaged the inside. Fortunately, unlike many, Ms. Everett had insurance on all of her properties and two of them are being remodeled. Her home had to be completely gutted.

Mayor Cara Spencer acknowledged the challenge in December 2025. “Total damages exceeded $2 billion,” she said. “The city allocated $24 million for recovery. We’re working with the community to develop what that rebuild looks like. But the rebuild is going to be a yearlong process.”

The mayor noted federal response fell short. “It was clear FEMA was not going to run the response as it did in Joplin, Missouri. The federal apparatus is not the same. Those were responsibilities we had to take on.”

Despite $52 million in FEMA assistance, $30 million from the NFL Rams settlement, $100 million from Missouri, and $180 million for demolition, the math doesn’t add up. “We have about $450 million allocated for $2 billion in damages,” Mayor Spencer said. “That’s not enough.”

As North St. Louis enters its ninth month of recovery, the struggle continues. The tornado may have passed, but the storm of systemic inequality rages on, and the people of North City are determined to weather it, rebuild and reclaim what has always been theirs.

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The three-day gathering of events began with Jum’uah (Friday congregational) prayer service held in the masalla (prayer hall) at Mosque No. 28. For the students of Muhammad Islamic Academy, who typically view Student Imam Sultan’s live webcast from Chicago, the in-person experience was a source of immense joy. Their faces, filled with pure delight, reflected their intensive focus on every word from the imam.

Two students shared their thoughts with The Final Call. “I was really paying attention to the lessons today,” said 12-year-old Brother Yusef Mujahid. “The lesson I learned is that Christians and Muslims should not be divided over religion. I love Islam because I feel it’s my natural religion to be in,” he said. 

Sister Fahima Muhammad, 9, added, “We watch him every Friday for Jumu’ah and it was really good to meet him. I was excited to be here.”

During his kutbah (message), Student Imam Sultan emphasized the profound meaning behind the six words taught and given by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad: “Accept your own and be yourself.” 

“This connects us not only to the Muslim world, but it connects us to the origin of our nature, which goes beyond religion into a new reality the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan have been preparing us for,” he told the brothers and sisters gathered. He described this new reality as “a new heaven and a new earth, a new political system and an entirely new people,” founded on the principles of Freedom, Justice, and Equality, as represented by the Nation of Islam’s flag. 

He also stressed the importance of introspection and self-improvement. “We have to look first within ourselves and ask some very hard questions about our progress and our intentions and we have to recommit ourselves to perfecting our character,” he urged.

He cautioned against falling into empty rituals, a common pitfall in the old world of religion. “As sororities, fraternities and organizations have slogans, regalia, pins and identifiers, what are the true identifiers of a Muslim?” he asked. “It is a transformed character in the image of God Himself.”

He continued, “If we can look in the mirror and say, ‘I love you and I am satisfied with you as a servant of The Most High,’ then we are on the right track of the self-accusing spirit that will take us into the heavens that we have been promised. A heaven here, after we have purified the heart, the self and the earth of the evils within and without.”

On Saturday evening, Dec. 20, the spirit of community was further strengthened as nearly 80 people gathered for dinner and conversation in the lower level of the mosque. During this event, Student Imam Sultan introduced the Table Talks Project, a collection of intimate recordings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s informal discussions with dinner guests. These recordings, archived by Student Imam Sultan’s father, also named Sultan, offer a rare glimpse into the personality and wisdom of the Eternal Leader of the Nation of Islam. 

As excerpts from the recordings were played, a reverent silence filled the room and tears fell from the faces of many as they heard the voice of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. 

Student Imam Sultan explained the deeply personal and educational significance of these recordings, stating, “For the nation baby, those born in the Nation of Islam, for me what made me accept my own and be myself was the Table Talks. It gave me an insight into the Teachings in a way I did not have and it was also early education in Islam, so I could view Islam in a way to understand that Islam is not a religion. It is a way of life.”

He emphasized the importance of a consistent focus of conversations based on The Supreme Wisdom Lessons—and its practical implementation. “We have to get back to our studies of our Lessons,” he stated. 

The Table Talks recordings, spanning hundreds of hours, were carefully preserved and made available through Student Imam Sultan’s dedicated efforts to bring this invaluable resource to light.  As an early Saviours’ day Gift, everyone present received a copy of the second volume of the Table Talks, along with a QR code to access the online subscription, furthering the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s desire to see these talks shared with the world.

The weekend concluded on Dec. 21, with a powerful call to action in a lecture titled, “Accept Your Own and Be Yourself.” The sanctuary was filled to capacity and the audience’s appreciation was evident through numerous rounds of applause and bearing of witness. With a tone both direct and gentle, the Student Imam Sultan spoke of the importance of self-sufficiency and ownership. 

“When you can steal away from that plantation and have something for your own, this Teaching gives you your own, something that can help you or another person,” he said.

The message resonated deeply with the attendees, especially the youth. “The message was very inspiring and well-spoken and needed for us, especially young people,” said Bro. Bryant Moore, 26. “I really enjoyed his message.”

Bro. Garrion Hayden, 23, added, “I liked the part about having ownership and having substance, that moved me. And the part about what’s happening in other countries and how we must be prepared when it comes here.”

Sis. Atiera Muhammad of St. Louis reflected on the cultural richness of the weekend of events. “We were very blessed to have his presence and it was enriching to hear all the Arabic and the different phrases we were introduced to.”

In his powerful and moving closing remarks, Student Imam Sultan Muhammad reiterated the theme of unity, quoting the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad: “We are not an organization, we are a world!” He declared, our brothers and sisters in Islam, Christianity, and those who are Hebrew, we are one. The Qur’an comes to seal our relationship as a family by revealing to us the Nature of Allah (God), in which we are Created. Allahu-Akbar (God is the Greatest).” 

For more information on the Table Talks Project, visit www.tabletalks.org.

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Upon seeing the success of the March, the enemy to the rise of Black people went after the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Nation of Islam and Black people.

Three decades later, the question is asked: What happened during that historic period? What progress has been made, and what are Black men doing to better their communities?

During the weekend of October 18 and 19 in East St. Louis, Illinois, members of Muhammad Mosque No. 28B, in conjunction with the City of Cahokia Heights, hosted a community forum.

Special guests included Student Minister Dr. Wesley Muhammad of the Shura Executive Council of the Nation of Islam, Student Minister Donald Muhammad of Mosque No. 28 in St. Louis, Missouri, and longtime St. Louis activist Brother Anthony Shahid, along with local leaders, politicians, and Million Man March participants.

The discussion centered on the impact of the March and issues facing Black America, as well as what can be done to reignite the spirit of that magnificent and historic day. The panel was moderated by Brother Earl Muhammad of Mosque No. 28B. There were 11 speakers, each offering their perspective on the March’s legacy.

“The Million Man March was not a single day in history; it was a movement that echoes today and throughout tomorrow,” said Robert Betts, East St. Louis City Manager.

“But we, as Black men, we got to stand up and speak out. We have to do better. However, it won’t be done until we take more responsibility and accountability for our own destiny,” he added.

Building on Mr. Betts’s sentiments, Student Minister Ralph Muhammad, of Mosque No. 28B, emphasized unity rooted in love. “We can have unity, but it has to come out of love,” he stated. “People are saying it’s getting worse.

We are bankrupted as Black people, and our Black men have fallen under a conspiracy to keep us non-productive. That’s why we need to reawaken to the spirit of love and unity,” he said.

Dr. Debra Powell, the former first female mayor of East St. Louis in its 134-year history, gave her perspective on the March’s impact. “I feel the [Honorable] Minister [Louis Farrakhan] made the right call and the people showed up, but we need to ask ourselves where do we fit in life’s puzzle. It needs to start internally first. We must figure out who we are and what our mission is so we can cultivate our talents,” she said.

Francella Jackson, chief of staff for the mayor of Cahokia Heights, Illinois, expressed concern about the community’s current state. “Our people are very distracted and are not learning anymore,” she observed. “We used to read books and go to the library.

Now they play games and don’t read or think. I feel we have gone backward. I am a Missionary Baptist woman, but you have ministers who have been bought and sold out. However, the Minister [Farrakhan] and the men of the Nation [of Islam] have stayed true.”

Brother Anthony Shahid spoke passionately about strength and consistency. “We have to speak with strength to our people,” he declared. “No matter what organization you belong to, unity is the key. Once we come together, like the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad said, our unity is more powerful than an atomic bomb. All we have is each other, and we cannot stop.”

Student Minister Dr. Wesley Muhammad provided insight into understanding unity. “I caution us to not confuse unity with conformity,” he explained. “There are many Black organizations, and you will never find us condemning organizations that have different thoughts than the Nation of Islam.

We need to re-conceptualize what the work is because every organization is doing an aspect of it. No Black organization is doing all of it. The work is so big, and our problems are many, every effort is helpful,” Student Minister Dr. Wesley, who is also a member of the Nation of Islam Research Group, added.

The event had a profound impact on attendees. Damon W., who spent almost three decades in prison, was overjoyed to meet Student Minister Dr. Wesley Muhammad.

He credited the student minister, author and researcher’s books with keeping him enlightened. “This was one of the best days in my life,” he shared. “I had a chance to hear a man with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.”

Chris McIntosh, a journalist, reflected on the original call to the Million Man March. “The Minister put out a call, and it happened,” she said, speaking about Minister Farrakhan. “It was a message that was clear and concise. The message said what you can do and not what you couldn’t do. He brought it across every faith.

It didn’t matter if you were Baptist, Catholic, or whatever, if you were a Black man, he needed you in D.C. It wasn’t just a message of the moment. The Minister talked about the future because he had the vision to see what was happening then and now.”

As the forum concluded, it was abundantly clear that the spirit of the Million Man March continues to inspire and challenge Black men to take responsibility, unite in love, and work consistently toward the betterment of their communities.

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St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer was visibly moved as she approached the podium to a standing ovation. The welcome set the tone for an evening filled with concern and calls for accountability.

Community members asked pressing questions about the recovery process and the delay in financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mayor Spencer assured the crowd that her administration was doing everything in its power to address the crisis.

According to the mayor, the initial funds sought from FEMA are from the Individuals and Households Program (IHP). This program provides direct assistance to individuals affected by disasters.

The open forum, moderated by Rev. Darryl Gray, a community activist, allowed residents to ask questions directly to Mayor Spencer, the police chief, and other city officials. Some significant concerns raised were, where will those without housing go? And how long will it take for funds to be distributed in the predominantly Black area of the city in North St. Louis.

Mayor Spencer stated that she was in a helicopter the day after the tornado assessing damages. “The average tornado stays on the ground for about 2 to 3 miles. But the duration of this one was on the ground for 23 miles and got stronger, but the classification was not changed from an EF3, but I argued this was an EF4,” she told the audience.

“We must have a long-range plan to house people. Our shelters have been able to house about 250 people and that’s a fraction of what is needed,” she said.

Despite party differences, Mayor Spencer, a Democrat, acknowledged the quick response of Missouri’s Republican Governor Mike Kehoe. “At 8:30 a.m. the next morning, Governor Mike Kehoe was on the grounds and went with me to assess the damages,” she said.

One of the hardest-hit areas in St. Louis was the historic Ville neighborhood, home to many notable figures of the past, including Arthur Ashe, Chuck Berry, and Tina Turner. It was also where Homer G. Phillips Hospital, the only hospital for Blacks from 1937 to 1955, was located, along with Sumner High, the oldest Black High school west of the Mississippi River.

“When the governor and I went to the Ville neighborhood, we walked into the destroyed Harlem Tap room, which had three stories a day before. The governor shook the owner’s hand and promised to do everything he can to help him rebuild,” Mayor Spencer said

The consistent sentiments from each speaker who addressed the community meeting were the acknowledgment of the collective efforts from everyone to support one another during the recovery and rebuilding process.

U.S. Congressman Wesley Bell, a Democrat, who represents Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, talked about the National Disaster Declaration submitted to the White House to secure federal assistance for St. Louis.

“I won’t be happy until the checks are cashed, and those resources are in this community,” said Congressman Bell. “Even after the national media is gone, the work will continue. We must be in this for the long haul, because this is not a quick fix,” he said.

The day before the community meeting, Rep. Bell and a bipartisan Missouri delegation sent a letter to the White House requesting federal assistance.

“A major disaster declaration would unlock vital federal assistance to support these operations, including Public Assistance for emergency protective measures and infrastructure repair,

Individual Assistance for displaced and impacted residents, and Hazard Mitigation assistance to help reduce the risk of future disasters. These resources are essential to stabilizing affected communities and safeguarding public health and safety,” the letter stated in part.

Even though Mayor Spencer was scheduled to leave the meeting early, she opted to stay. “I cannot leave and will not go until all of your questions are answered. I’ll get someone else to cover for me,” said Mayor Spencer, as some in the audience applauded.

To date, the estimated cost of the damage is over $1.6 billion. Over 5,000 homes were reportedly damaged. There were 5 reported deaths and 38 people were injured.

The mayor explained that the priority is clearing debris. “We are deploying all of our departments, all hands on deck, forestry, parks working 12-hour days, prioritizing clearing roads to make sure people can get in and out of areas. Our city workers work their tails off,” she said.

Despite some of the applause the mayor received, some residents were not impressed.

Lisa L. was not happy with the outcome of the meeting with Mayor Spencer. “I feel that they are trying to backdoor us and setting us up to take our property. I heard a lot of what they are planning to do for us, but people need help now,” she told The Final Call.

Amir Brandy, a community activist and homeowner, also attended the forum. Mr. Brandy was also not pleased. “This meeting was a dog and pony show. … Many of these homes are in such bad shape and some are still falling down.

Look at Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters. Whenever they want to gentrify a city, these disasters create the perfect scenario to justify coming in and taking over. They didn’t offer solutions, but just a lot of talk. People are in great need now,” he said.

The post Community forum held in St. Louis as residents still reeling from tornado appeared first on Final Call News.

With wind speeds reaching 152 mph and hail the size of tennis balls, the storm carved a path up to one mile wide. Most tornadoes are 100-400 yards wide and often impact suburban or rural areas.

This tornado traveled northeast for about 23 miles. It struck from Clayton, Missouri—the county seat and financial center of St. Louis—and impacted both affluent and historically under-resourced neighborhoods.

The devastation was shocking to see as solid brick buildings, some nearly a century old, crumbled as if they were made of wood. So far, five fatalities have been reported. The historic Centennial Christian Church suffered severe damage, including the collapse of its steeple.

Tragically, Patricia Ann Pendleton, a long-time church volunteer, was killed when part of the church’s roof caved in. The church stood in the Fountain Park neighborhood just across the street from where a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once stood. 

Despite the storm’s severity, as of May 21, no official state of emergency had been declared for St. Louis. When asked by a reporter if she had heard from President Donald Trump or from anyone in Washington.

Newly elected St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said that the city was still waiting to hear back from the White House and that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) had yet to arrive, five days after the tornado struck.

In a May 21 letter from Missouri, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, both Republicans, wrote that they “support Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe’s May 19 request for an emergency disaster declaration, pursuant to the Stafford Act, following devastating tornadoes and storms in the St. Louis region.” 

“The city looks like a war zone. You can’t tell if this is St. Louis or the Ukraine,” said Jihad Khayyam, a community organizer. Entire blocks appeared decimated, with debris covering once-vibrant streets.

The tornado didn’t discriminate, tearing through both well-established neighborhoods and struggling communities with equal force. But as recovery efforts begin, it’s clear that the impact is far from equal.

In the absence of any federal or state response so far, grassroots organizations and former public officials have stepped up to fill the void. Action St. Louis, led by executive director Kayla Reed, was on the ground almost immediately, setting up operations at the O’Fallon Park YMCA to distribute supplies, food, and support to residents.

She was joined by former Mayor Tishaura Jones and former Missouri Congresswoman Cori Bush, who worked alongside volunteers. “I’ve seen them here, serving, helping, being present,” said Debbie Milton, one of the volunteers. “That means something.”

When Ms. Reed was asked if she had seen Mayor Spencer during the recovery, Reed replied candidly: “I’ve not seen the current mayor at this place. I have seen one of her staff come here. I’ve gone to other places, and that’s been consistent.

There was a press conference, but everywhere I’ve gone, they have not seen the current mayor at this hub since we’ve been open on Saturday.” She did acknowledge the presence of Dan Guenther, a former alderman and current member of the new mayor’s administration, saying he had been on-site “every day” to support the recovery efforts.

Mayor Spencer did place CEMA (City Emergency Management Agency) Commissioner Sarah Russell on paid administrative leave as an investigation begins into the actions of the agency leading up to the tornado. 

Allegations include that the warning sirens failed to activate. According to a May 20 news release from the mayor’s office, there were many complaints from city residents who argued they had never heard warning sirens before the tornado hit.

Ms. Reed, known in the city for her community advocacy, pointed to the broader issue that looms over this tragedy: inequality. “The tornado is the same no matter where it goes, but the impact is different because it’s sitting on top of a history of investment or lack of investment,”

She said. “When a natural disaster hits, it’s a structural disaster, and the implications are serious. We need to have an equitable approach to that.”

“In communities like North St. Louis, where decades of disinvestment have left residents vulnerable, recovery is not just about clean-up, it’s about survival. Many families do not have the ability to access home equity loans, unlike residents in areas such as the Central West End. As a result, rebuilding will be slower, harder, and far more uncertain,” said Ms. Reed.

“We’re watching a natural disaster collide with political decisions made over the last 50 years that have shaped inequality in St. Louis,” she continued. “We are aware of that, which is why our focus was here from the beginning.”

The last major tornado to hit St. Louis was on April 22, 2011, an EF4 that left a trail of destruction, but also brought swift state and federal support. In contrast, this year’s EF3 has yet to trigger the same level of response.

Developers are already eyeing areas hardest hit by the storm, raising fears that disaster capitalism could push out long-standing residents in favor of new high-end developments.

“Bricks are a developer’s paradise,” said Amir Brandy, whose property was damaged by the tornado in the Fountain Park community. He referenced the city’s unique architecture and its historical reputation for reportedly having the best bricks in America.

But now many of those brick buildings are reduced to rubble in many neighborhoods, and developers can purchase these homes for pennies on the dollar, he said.

“I have lived here all my life and have never seen anything like this. It is like a war zone. I hope they declare this as a state of emergency because a tornado did come through here and not just strong winds,” said Sister Carolyn Muhammad, a member of the Nation of Islam who attends Mosque 28 in St. Louis.

Local organizations like BFL (Better Family Life) and Action St. Louis continue to rally volunteers and push for equity in the recovery process. But without official recognition of the crisis at the federal level, the burden of rebuilding falls mainly on the shoulders of community groups and the people they serve.

“People are just sitting on their porch, don’t have insurance and don’t know what to do. It brings tears to your eyes to see people forced to pack up and leave their homes. And most of them don’t have nowhere to go.

The sheriff of St. Louis, Alfred Montgomery, has been out here every day, night and day knocking on doors with us,” said Jihad Khayyam, director of community engagement and development for BFL.

As the city works to dig out from the debris, one thing remains clear: St. Louis is not just facing the aftermath of a weather crisis; it’s facing a moral one. The decisions made now could either heal or deepen the wounds that have long plagued its most vulnerable neighborhoods.

—J.A. Salaam, Contributing Writer

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