The archdiocese said its Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review received an allegation that Father Pfleger allegedly sexually abused a minor more than 30 years ago. Father Pfleger denied the allegation in a written statement.

“On Thursday, July 9th, I received a call from the Vicar for Priests saying a woman who said she went to school at St. Sabina made an accusation that she was sexually abused by me at some time between 1993-1995. First, this is an absolute lie. For 51 years of my ministry I have been threatened, slandered, and attacked.

I was suspended twice because of my calling out of racism and suspended for unfounded accusations. My background has been investigated from high school, college, graduate school, and all the years of my ministry and all accusations were determined to be unfounded,” continued Father Pfleger’s statement, which was posted on his Facebook page,

“I have been publicly attacked due to my public positions against gun violence, my opposition against the inhumane policies and practices of Donald Trump, and even because of my friendship with Minister Farrakhan,” the statement continued.

Father Pfleger also stated, “Let me be clear, sexual abuse is wrong, and I realize that the Catholic Church has a long history of not dealing with accusations and has spend a number of years putting strong policies in place.

But I have said countless times I believe the current policy is wrong and unfair to the accused priest.” He stated the removal of a priest before an investigation or conversation with the accused does away with the existence of the “presumption of innocence.”

During the July 17 gathering an news conference at the Auburn Gresham church, Felicia Chase, chairperson of the St. Sabina Family Parish Council, read a letter calling for independent experts in the review process, greater transparency and protections for the dignity of both accusers and the accused.

“We have concluded that the policy itself requires serious examination and meaningful reform,” Ms. Chase said as parishioners responded with applause and shouts of “Amen.”

“Justice cannot exist if fairness is extended to only one side of the process,” she added.

The Archdiocese of Chicago said it is “committed to following the same thorough and impartial process with everyone so accused.” In a letter to the parish, Cardinal Blase Cupich said the process is intended to ensure fairness to everyone involved.

Supporters said the policy can damage the reputation of an accused priest before investigators determine whether an allegation is credible.

“It allows for falsehood and lies to be weaponized by Father Pfleger’s haters,” said former Illinois state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, whose remarks drew a standing ovation.

“He’s remaining unbending in his stance that he is innocent,” said Rickey Harris, a longtime St. Sabina parishioner.

Supporters said this is not the first time Father Pfleger has faced such an allegation. They said previous allegations, including those investigated in 2021 and 2022, did not result in findings against him. They also questioned the decision to remove him before an initial review of the latest allegation.

Demetric Brown, another supporter, spoke about Father Pfleger’s relationship with the neighborhood. “He is genuine. He’s real, and he loves us, and he loves the community,” Mr. Brown said.

Father Pfleger did not attend the gathering, but his statement was read.

“I will not stand by and allow my name, my ministry and the church I pastor to be slandered or defamed,” the statement continued. Members of the audience responded with shouts of agreement.

The parish council’s letter was hand delivered to the archdiocese by Cory Williams, Father Pfleger’s assistant for nearly 27 years. Mr. Williams, who has known the priest since childhood, spoke about his personal experience with him. “I’ve never seen anything that would give me pause or wonder about his innocence,” Mr. Williams said in an interview with a local TV station.

Parishioners also said the investigation has diverted attention from poverty, homelessness, violence and other problems affecting the community.

In his closing message to the parish from a letter dated July 13, Father Pfleger said he did not want the investigation to consume the congregation.

“I want you to know that I do not intend to let this drag on and drain this church family. … This battle is the Lord’s!” he wrote.

The post St. Sabina parishioners defend Father Pfleger, demand investigation reforms appeared first on Final Call News.

CHICAGO—For generations, members of the Nation of Islam have carried bean pies across America. That enduring tradition recently received national recognition when journalist Ahmed Ali Akbar earned a James Beard Foundation Media Award June 13 for telling the story behind one of the Nation’s most enduring symbols.

Ahmed Ali Akbar, a former Chicago Tribune reporter, won the James Beard Foundation Media Award in the Foodways category for his Tribune article, “The Hunt for the Bean Pie Street Sellers of Legend, and How This Dessert Is a Symbol of Liberation for Many Black Muslims.”

The award-winning feature explored the history, cultural significance and enduring legacy of the bean pie in Chicago and throughout various Black Muslim communities throughout the country.

For many in the Nation of Islam, the recognition honored far more than a dessert. It affirmed a story rooted in the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the principles of healthy eating, Black self-help, economic independence and the familiar sight of a well-dressed brother offering Muhammad Speaks and then, The Final Call newspaper alongside a fresh bean pie.

“I’m very shocked and surprised,” Mr. Akbar said after receiving the award. Beyond the professional recognition, he said winning the award was spiritually fulfilling because the story represents the transformative experience of the Black Muslim community.

He said he pursued and submitted the story because he wanted readers to understand how deeply meaningful the bean pie is to Black and Muslim communities throughout America.

For Mr. Akbar, the assignment was also deeply personal.

In an exclusive Final Call interview, he reflected on growing up eating bean pie while attending the Islamic Center of Saginaw, Michigan. During his James Beard acceptance remarks, he said he was raised on “a diet of anti-colonialism and Black Muslim theories of civil rights.”

He described it as a profound blessing to be the child of immigrant Muslims who was “physically, intellectually and spiritually nourished by a dish that symbolized Black liberation from the historical effects of slavery.”

Mr. Akbar said one of the greatest joys of reporting the story was traveling to Chicago’s South Side to meet Brother James 40X, a legendary bean pie salesman whose decades of distributing bean pies and The Final Call newspaper have helped preserve one of the Nation’s most recognizable traditions.

Bro. James, who attends Mosque Maryam in Chicago, later joined Mr. Akbar at the James Beard Awards ceremony, bringing the story full circle from the streets of Chicago to one of the country’s highest honors in food journalism.

For generations, that tradition has been carried through a dessert unlike any other.

The bean pie, made with navy beans, cinnamon and other baking spices, has long been compared to sweet potato or pumpkin pie. But among Black Muslims, it represents much more than a dessert. It symbolizes healthy living, Black pride, entrepreneurship and the effort to nourish both the body and the mind.

Mr. Akbar said the assignment began with curiosity about bean pie ice cream at Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream before expanding into a much larger story about Black Muslim history, entrepreneurship and community.

“I realized that Chicago had a very good claim,” he said, explaining that he discovered Chicago’s central role through institutions such as Supreme Bean Pie, Salaam Restaurant, Shabazz restaurants and other historic businesses that promoted the pie nationwide.

Mr. Akbar said he encountered several historical accounts regarding the bean pie’s origins, but said his reporting ultimately focused less on identifying a single creator than on documenting the communities that preserved and promoted it.

“Food becomes meaningful not because of the dish, but because of the people who promoted and shared it,” Mr. Akbar said. “It’s about the people and how they’ve nourished their community through this incredible history of healthy eating.”

Among the people who helped Mr. Akbar tell that story was Bro. Elijah Bey, manager of Supreme Bean Pie. Bro. Elijah said his own connection to the pie began almost from birth.

“I can’t even tell you when my first experience was,” he said. “That’s how young your brother came up on it.”

Raised in a Black Muslim bakery family in Oakland, Calif. Bro. Elijah relocated to Chicago in 2017 to help with the bean pie.

To Bro. Elijah, the bean pie represents one of the Nation of Islam’s most recognizable contributions to Black America. “It’s a staple in our Black community,” he said. “The bean pie is a unique pie.”

He described it as more than a healthy alternative to traditional desserts. It serves as a bridge between the Nation of Islam and the broader community.

That mission comes to life one customer at a time.

Bro. James 40X, whose decades of distributing bean pies alongside The Final Call newspaper have made him a familiar face throughout Chicago, said loyal customers return week after week for the pies, with some purchasing several at a time. He said introducing first-time customers to the bean pie is one of the most rewarding parts of his work, often offering them a sample so they can experience it for themselves.

For Bro. James, however, selling bean pies has always been about more than selling desserts. “It’s basically just like The Final Call, trying to get our people to eat healthy,” he said. “If you’re going to get a good teaching in The Final Call, if you’re going to read good, you may as well eat good too.”

That shared mission continues to guide the work of Supreme Bean Pie today.

Bro. Elijah said the proceeds support Muhammad University of Islam.

“The number one purpose is to fund Muhammad University of Islam,” Bro. Elijah said of the independent educational system and school established by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and continued by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

For Mr. Akbar, the reporting was never simply about tracing the origins of a dessert. It was about documenting a living tradition.

One aspect of his reporting that mattered most, he said, was refusing to treat the bean pie as a curiosity or novelty. “I think it’s important to just learn from different communities and not treat them as if they’re oddities,” he said, “but that they are important to somebody’s history.”

His reporting also explored how the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s emphasis on healthy eating, self-determination and economic development shaped generations of Black Muslims.

The Tribune feature noted that the Nation of Islam’s food programs addressed nutritional disparities decades before concepts such as “food deserts” and “food apartheid” became common in academic and public policy discussions.

Today, institutions including Supreme Bean Pie, Shawn Michelle’s Homemade Ice Cream, Imani’s Original Bean Pies and Paradise Desserts continue preserving and expanding that legacy, introducing new generations to one of the most distinctive foods in the Nation of Islam culture.

The James Beard Media Award has introduced a wider audience to a tradition that members of the Nation of Islam have carried for generations, affirming that the story of the bean pie is also a story of faith, healthy living, entrepreneurship and Black self-determination.

The post Supreme Bean Pie’s legacy honored appeared first on Final Call News.

CHICAGO—On command, women in pristine white M.G.T. Vanguard uniforms marched in disciplined cadence toward the casket of Mother Khadijah Farrakhan Muhammad. Behind them came ranks of the Fruit of Islam, their tan uniforms pressed to perfection, synchronized footsteps moving through the sanctuary of Mosque Maryam.

When the command for the Nation of Islam’s original salute was given, hundreds of right hands of the Nation of Islam Honor Guard, and people packed in the sanctuary.

Snapped sharply to their brows in unison before slowly descending to each person’s side—a final tribute to the woman Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad later described as “a top soldier” and one of the greatest helpers Allah (God) gave to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

The Janazah (funeral) service that was both solemn and triumphant was not simply a farewell to the beloved wife of Minister Farrakhan, but a celebration of the First Lady of the Nation of  Islam, whose quiet strength, unwavering faith and decades of sacrifice helped rebuild the work of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad while shaping generations of believers around the world.

Thousands filled the Nation of Islam’s international headquarters July 3 to bear witness to that legacy. The sanctuary overflowed with family members, believers, mosque officials, community leaders and dignitaries representing government, faith communities, civil rights organizations and the arts.

Mother Khadijah, returned to Allah (God) on June 27 at age 90.

Among those paying their respects were Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson; music legend Stevie Wonder; entertainer Janet Jackson; singers Stephanie Mills and Johnny Gill; actor and director Tasha Smith; hip-hop pioneers Chuck D and Doug E. Fresh;

Exonerated Five member and New York City Councilman Yusef Salaam; the Rev. Otis Moss III.; the Rev. Jeremiah Wright; Father Michael Pfleger; members of the family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. including, his widow Jacqueline Jackson, sons Jesse Jr., Yusef and Rep. Jonathan Jackson and daughter Santita Jackson;

Bishop Banza Mukalay; former U.S. Senator and U.S. Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun; media personality, the Rev. Mark Thompson, Rep. Al Green, Attorney Londell McMillan, and social justice advocate Tamika Mallory and numerous elected officials, clergy, artists and longtime friends of the Farrakhan family.

An outpouring of condolences from around the world were also announced.  Resolutions were received from Mayor Johnson, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Rep. Danny K. Davis, Gary, Indiana, Mayor Eddie Melton and Benton Harbor Mayor Marcus Muhammad. 

Messages of sympathy arrived from Bishop J. Drew Sheard, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Cornel West, Don Lemon, Chaka Khan, Katt Williams, Dave Chappelle, Yolanda Adams, Tavis Smiley, Charlamagne tha God, Russell Simmons, Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, Busta Rhymes.

T.I., Damon Dash, Ricky Dillard, Harvey Mason Sr., Michael Eric Dyson, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Raheem DeVaughn, CeeLo Green, Baby and Slim of Cash Money, 2 Chainz and scores of other faith leaders, artists and public officials, reflecting the broad reach of Mother Khadijah’s influence.

A life shaped and prepared by Allah (God)

Despite the distinguished guests and worldwide expressions of sympathy, the service remained centered on its true purpose.  In Islam, a Janazah service is not intended to mourn over the dead, but to bear witness to a righteous life lived in submission to Allah and to remind the living of their own accountability before God.

“Mother Khadijah cannot be measured by ordinary comparison because she was not an ordinary woman,” Student Minister Jeffrey Muhammad told the congregation. She belonged, he said, to “the category of women of discipline, dignity, intelligence, sacrifice and extraordinary love.”

The simplicity of the Janazah service reflected Islamic tradition. There were no musical performances or elaborate tributes—only prayer, remembrance and gratitude to Allah for a life devoted to faith, family and service.

Born Betsy Ross on Nov. 26, 1935, in Boston, Mother Khadijah’s life intersected with that of Minister Louis Farrakhan, at the time known as Louis Eugene Walcott in what many throughout the service described as Divine Providence. When Betsy was 8 years old, her older brother Richard brought home an 11-year-old friend after young Louis defended him from a neighborhood bully.

“Allah used young Richard as an agent of His perfect will to bring together two hearts, two souls and two minds,” the commemorative biography stated. The childhood friends became high school sweethearts and married on Sept. 12, 1953.

Two years later, while attending Saviours’ Day with their infant daughter, Mother Khadijah immediately accepted the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Minister Farrakhan would later recall that she accepted before he did. “She got up and went to the back and was joining on,” he remembered. “She joined before I did.”

Minister Farrakhan recounted how his uncle then came and encouraged him to get up and join as well.  That decision marked the beginning of nearly seven decades of service to Allah, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam.

More than Betsy, more than Khadijah

Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, National Assistant to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, urged mourners to look beyond the chronology of Mother Khadijah’s remarkable accomplishments and instead consider the Divine Hand that shaped her life.

“We read the beautiful obituary, which gave us a snapshot of her 90 years of living,” he said. “But she was so much more.  Her real history has not yet been written.  When it is told, we will see her even better.” 

Even her names, he explained, reflected Allah’s purpose. Her birth name, Betsy—derived from Elizabeth—means “God is my oath,” symbolizing unwavering faithfulness to God. “She fulfilled her oath,”  Student Minister Ishmael said. “She made her word bond.”

Years later, Minister Farrakhan gave his wife the name Khadijah, after the beloved first wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the first believer to accept Islam and the woman whose steadfast support sustained the Prophet during the earliest years of his mission.  Student Minister Ishmael explained the parallel was unmistakable.

Just as Khadijah stood beside Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Mother Khadijah became the first supporter of Minister Farrakhan’s decision to rebuild the Nation of Islam.

“When the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan decided to rebuild the Nation of Islam,”  he reminded the audience, “she was the first to say, ‘Go on with it.  I’m with you.’”

“For nearly 73 years, she did not stand behind her husband,” he said. “She stood strongly with and by his side in the mission of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.”

Then came the line that resonated throughout the sanctuary. “She was the greatest helper Allah gave to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.” Cries of “Allah-u-Akbar (God is great)” echoed throughout Mosque Maryam.

Student Minister Ishmael challenged the audience to think beyond titles such as wife, mother and grandmother. “She was more than what the eye met,” he said. She was fashioned by Allah to uplift a people, preserve a Nation and help fulfill a Divine Mission whose influence continues to reach around the world.

The woman behind the mission

While Minister Farrakhan became the public face of rebuilding the Nation of Islam, Mother Khadijah quietly helped construct the foundation upon which that work would stand.

Serving as the Nation’s first National Secretary and first National Accountant, she maintained financial records, processed correspondence and helped establish the administrative systems that supported the rebuilding of the Nation of Islam.

She also helped produce the earliest editions of  The Final Call newspaper, which began in the basement of the Farrakhan family’s South Side Chicago home.  Student Minister Ishmael noted that Mother Khadijah and her daughters “had her hand” in those first editions, performing the countless unseen tasks that kept the new publication alive.

An accomplished seamstress from childhood, she transformed that gift into a ministry of dignity.

Student Minister Ishmael drew a striking comparison between the historical Betsy Ross and Mother Khadijah. The first became known for sewing the American flag. The second, he said, became the “needle and thread of Allah,”

Helping stitch together the moral fabric of a people through the uniforms she designed for the M.G.T. and G.C.C. (Muslim Girls Training and General Civilization Class, the women of the Nation), the M.G.T. Vanguard (women ages 16-35) and other official garments that became symbols of modesty, discipline and righteousness.

“They represent the righteousness of God and the purity of heart that should be under the garment,” Student Min. Ishmael said, encouraging Muslim women to wear them “with dignity and grace.”

Her vision eventually became Newell  Apparel, clothing thousands of women throughout the Nation of Islam and beyond. More than garments, those uniforms reflected a civilization she helped build—one stitch, one family and one believer at a time.

A mother to a Nation

If Mother Khadijah Farrakhan Muhammad helped build the institutions of the Nation of Islam, those who knew her best said her greatest work was building people.

Together, she and her husband raised nine children while opening their home to students, guests, dignitaries and believers seeking guidance. Family life revolved around prayer, discipline and service to Allah.

The values she instilled extended beyond her immediate household to dozens of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and generations of spiritual children who affectionately called her “Mother.”

Her nurturing spirit reached throughout the Nation. For more than two decades, she sponsored the Children’s Village during Saviours’ Day conventions, creating educational and cultural experiences that introduced thousands of young people to science, history, recreation and the principles of Islam.

Adults gathered at Mosque Maryam smiled as they recalled childhood memories shaped by her vision, while others quietly wiped away tears remembering her gentle encouragement and unwavering belief in Black children.

Her ministry also extended around the world. Accompanying Minister Farrakhan on diplomatic missions across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and the Middle East, Mother Khadijah met presidents, kings, queens and heads of state with the same grace she showed ordinary people.

Their daughter, Sister Khallada Farrakhan, recalled that wherever they traveled, her mother’s attention naturally turned to women and children, especially those whose needs were greatest.

For many gathered inside Mosque Maryam, those countless acts of kindness explained why the sanctuary was filled beyond capacity. They had not come simply to honor the wife of one of the world’s most recognized religious leaders. They had come to pay tribute to the woman who had quietly mothered an entire Nation.

Gratitude over sorrow

That spirit of thanksgiving reached its emotional climax as the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, adored in all white, rose to address the congregation after spending much of the Janazah seated not far from his wife’s casket.

Before speaking of his own loss, Minister Farrakhan thanked Allah, acknowledged the moving remarks delivered by Student Minister Ishmael and expressed his appreciation to those who had traveled to honor Mother Khadijah.

“I want to thank Allah for the wonderful words spoken by His (the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad) son,” he said. “I want to thank all of you who came so that you could pay your respect to this wonderful, wonderful wife of mine—and mother of all.” His voice remained steady, though emotion was unmistakable.

The sanctuary fell silent as all eyes fixed on the Minister. “This is the hardest day of my life,” he said. “Not to say goodbye,” Minister Farrakhan continued, “but to thank Allah openly and confess openly that this woman is the greatest gift that I have received, except the Coming of God, the raising of the Messenger and giving me life.”

For those gathered inside Mosque Maryam, the statement carried extraordinary weight. It came not only from a divine servant who has addressed presidents, scholars and audiences across five continents, but from a husband reflecting on nearly 73 years of marriage, partnership and shared sacrifice.

Then came the words that distilled decades of history into a single sentence. “She was and is the wind beneath my wings,” Minister Farrakhan said. “And I hope, with all my heart, that every man would be gifted with a woman like Khadijah.”

Before him sat rows of brothers of the Fruit of Islam, sisters of the M.G. T. and G.C.C. dressed in brilliant white, children, grandchildren, longtime believers and friends from diverse religious, civic and cultural communities. The Nation he and Mother Khadijah had labored to help build was gathered before him.

“I am so proud,” he said, “that Allah put it in my heart to rebuild the work of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and to lift His name again before the world. I defended him and taught on five continents about this great, great leader, teacher and guide.”

Gesturing toward the congregation, he smiled.

“I’m so proud of my wife … and the sisters and the brothers … and the beauty of all of you standing in unity as a mark of the high civilization that the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad wanted to see among our people.”

The congregation responded with sustained applause. Some embraced. Others nodded through tears. For a brief moment, sorrow yielded to gratitude. Minister Farrakhan closed not with a farewell, but with a charge to continue the work that he and Mother Khadijah had devoted their lives to building. “So, let’s keep it moving,” he said. “Let’s march on—till victory is won!”

A final salute

As the Janazah concluded, members of the F.O.I. gently lifted Mother Khadijah Farrakhan Muhammad’s casket and carried it from Mosque Maryam as family members and close friends followed.

Before departing for Oak Woods Cemetery, sisters moved through the sanctuary distributing peppermint candies, a tradition taught by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. As the candy dissolves, Student Minister Ishmael explained, only its sweetness remains—a reminder that while the bitterness of loss fades with time, the sweetness of a righteous life endures.

Outside, believers quietly lined the walkways. Some stood at attention. Others embraced family members and lifelong friends. The motorcade slowly assembled for its final journey as rain fell from the sky.

For nearly 73 years, Mother Khadijah Farrakhan Muhammad faithfully stood beside the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan as he labored to rebuild the work of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad.

She rarely sought recognition, yet her influence touched nearly every chapter of that work—from the Nation’s earliest administrative offices and the first editions of The Final Call, to the Children’s Village, Newell Apparel and the countless lives she nurtured through quiet acts of service.

As the procession departed Mosque Maryam, one truth had become unmistakably clear. Mother Khadijah’s earthly assignment was complete. But the family she helped nurture, the Nation she helped rebuild and the civilization she helped strengthen continue to march forward.

Mother Khadjah Farrakhan is survived by her husband, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, seven children: Sis. Betsy Jean (Maurice), Sis. Maria (Alif), Sis. Donna, Student Supreme Captain Mustapha, Sis. Fatima (Kamal), Sis. Khallada and Bro. Abnar (Toni); over 47 grandchildren, over 67 great-grandchildren, and counting, her sister Sylvia Diamond, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and a grateful Nation of Islam.

Perhaps no words captured that enduring legacy better than those spoken earlier by Student Min. Ishmael Muhammad. “Her real history has not yet been written.” Judging by the thousands who filled Mosque Maryam to honor her life, that history will be told for generations to come.

To view the Janazah service of Mother Khadijah Farrakhan in its entirety, visit media.noi.org.

The post A Nation gives thanks: Thousands honor the life, love and legacy of Mother Khadijah Farrakhan Muhammad appeared first on Final Call News.

A longtime international staff writer for The Final Call, whose work carried him from the streets of America to villages across Africa in service to the Nation of Islam and the cause of Black liberation.

Holding obituaries adorned with photographs chronicling his life and service, attendees filled the church pews while family members sat near the front of the sanctuary. The mood was solemn but uplifting as speakers reflected on a man remembered for his journalism, humility, sacrifice and commitment to helping others.

Brother Brian Muhammad, born Dec. 16, 1965, in Brooklyn, New York, made his transition May 31 at age 60. His journey, from a young man searching for purpose in New York City to becoming an international servant and helper of the Nation of Islam and one of The Final Call’s most respected writers, was recounted throughout the afternoon service.

Officiating the service was Student Minister Anthony Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 38 in Columbia, South Carolina, who thanked Rev. Dr. Willie J. Thompson Jr. and Oak Grove Baptist Church for opening its doors to the family and community before offering words of comfort to the family.

“Our prayers are that Allah (God) will lift the burden of sorrow from your hearts,” Student Minister Anthony told mourners. “Funerals are not for the dead. They are for the living,” Student Minister Anthony said. “As we gather here today, we pause for a moment to reflect on the precious and fragile end of life, knowing that we will not be here forever.”

According to the obituary, Brother Brian was introduced to the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad while attending Morgan State University, an HBCU in Baltimore, Maryland.

Drawn by the message of self-improvement, justice and liberation, he eventually joined the Nation of Islam under the leadership of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and became a devoted laborer in the work of resurrection and redemption.

His path led him to Muhammad Mosque No. 7 in Harlem, where he served on the secretarial staff and developed a reputation as a dependable laborer. There, he met Minister Abdul Akbar Muhammad, the International Representative of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, a relationship that would shape the remainder of his life.

In a recent appearance on the podcast “I Have A Testimony,” hosted by Student Minister Willie Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 46 in New Orleans, Brother Brian reflected on how his international journey began.

“That trip happened to be a very significant trip,” Brother Brian recalled of his first visit to Africa with Minister Abdul Akbar Muhammad. The delegation traveled to Egypt and later to Accra, Ghana. “It had an impact on me,” said Brother Brian.

The experience proved transformative. By 1993, Minister Farrakhan had agreed to hold Saviours’ Day in Accra, Ghana—the first time the Nation of Islam’s annual convention would be held outside the United States.

After Minister Akbar Muhammad helped secure the necessary resources, Brother Brian returned to Ghana in December 1993 and remained there through much of 1994, assisting with preparations for the historic gathering.

“He said, ‘I did not have Africa in my mind. I just wanted to help,’” Student Minister Anthony recalled in his remarks. “That spirit of service would define the rest of his life.”

Student Minister Anthony said Brother Brian devoted most of his adult life to the mission of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad as taught and exemplified by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

“Brother Brian Muhammad has been a great helper to his Nation and to every brother and sister that he came across,” he said. “I think we can all bear witness and say he always kept a smile, being a cheerful worker.”

He described Brother Brian as a “company man,” wholly committed to the work of the Nation of Islam. He was “One who was about the business of the Nation of Islam and striving to make sure things were right,” Student Minister Anthony said.

“One thing that we know about Brother Brian, he was steadfast,” he added. “Even in the midst of health challenges, he never stopped working. He made sure he submitted his articles to The Final Call. He made himself available to the ministry class, and whatever was needed, Brother Brian Muhammad was there,” he continued.

“He did not waver in his work,” Student Minister Anthony added. “He is the embodiment of when we say, ‘My prayers, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah.’ We can say Brother Brian Muhammad gave it his all.”

Along with written tributes, more meaningful remarks also came from Student Minister Abdul Rasul Muhammad, General Manager for The Final Call.

“I met some of your best representation in the name of Brother Brian E. Muhammad,” he said speaking directly to the family. “He represented every member of the family with dignity and grace.”

Brother Abdul Rasul conveyed the love and condolences of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Mother Khadijah Farrakhan and the Farrakhan family, noting that Minister Farrakhan deeply appreciated Brother Brian’s service and enjoyed reading his work.

“He was our international staff writer,” Brother Abdul Rasul said. “He went after the stories that most people couldn’t tackle if their life depended on it.”

For years, Brother Brian’s reporting appeared prominently throughout The Final Call, often leading the newspaper’s coverage of major national and international events. He had the cover story in The Final Call at the time of his janazah.

“He was about the business of telling the truth,” Brother Abdul Rasul continued. “His name and his legacy will live on forever.”

The bond Brother Brian shared with Minister Akbar Muhammad remained strong until the international representative returned to Allah earlier this year. Following Minister Akbar Muhammad’s March 17 transition, Brother Brian posted a heartfelt tribute reflecting on the impact of the man many considered a mentor.

“A glimpse into the impact of Bro. Student Minister Abdul Akbar Muhammad,” he wrote. “May Allah be pleased with his many contributions and works in this cause. I, like so many, will miss my Brother and mentor who poured so much in us.”

“We will not fall into grief, for grief is for the wicked who receives death with the regret of unfinished, unresolved issues wrought from a life of injustice to one another,” he wrote. “Strive to live right and do right by one another so when the evil accident of time touches one of us, we accept the irrevocable Will of God,” Brother Brian posted of his friend and mentor.

Brother Michael Z. Muhammad, a contributing Final Call writer, offered a personal reflection on Brother Brian.

“Brother Brian is one of those extraordinary brothers that you only meet once in a lifetime,” he said. “Brother was dedicated to his craft, dedicated to the Nation of Islam. Brother was also always warm, friendly and had a massive heart.”

Student Minister Anthony reminded attendees that Brother Brian’s legacy would endure through the thousands of words he left behind.

“We don’t have to guess what Brother Brian Muhammad said. We don’t have to guess what Brother Brian Muhammad’s thoughts were,” he said. “You can look in The Final Call, and there he is.”

Journalism was not Brother Brian’s original path. Through years of work alongside Minister Akbar Muhammad, including assignments connected to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s World Friendship Tours, he developed skills that eventually led him to The Final Call.

Brother Brian began submitting articles as a freelance writer. Later, encouraged by then-Final Call Editor-in-Chief Brother Naba’a (Richard) Muhammad, Brother Brian became one of the newspaper’s most prolific writers, producing front-page stories.

International reports and analysis while contributing to projects such as The Sankofa Experience and Global Peeks. From 2009-2015 he was a contributing writer and later in 2015 he became a staff writer.

Final Call Interim Editor, Sister Starla Muhammad, shared her memories and reflections of her brother, colleague and friend. “Brother Brian was always willing to share his insight and information on various topics.

Especially those impacting our people in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Latin America and the U.S. He had a love and respect for Black people throughout the diaspora,” she said. He was a definite newsman, she added.

“I will miss our regular, weekly conversations where I would learn so much from him. He was always excited to share stories from his travels with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and Minister Akbar and what he learned from them. You could hear the excitement and passion in his voice as he recounted his experiences,” said Sister Starla.

“The entire Final Call Staff and our writing team will miss our dear brother tremendously and may Allah (God) comfort us all, especially his family.”

As the service neared its conclusion, mourners participated in the traditional janazah custom taught by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad by receiving a peppermint to symbolize the sweetness of a righteous life. Family members approached first, followed by believers, friends and guests who quietly passed by the casket.

Nation of Islam Student Mid-Atlantic Regional Minister Abdul Khadir Muhammad explained that just as the sweetness of the mint lingers after it dissolves, the memory of a righteous person remains after they depart this life.

Mourners then filed past in silence.

Outside, family members embraced one another while friends shared stories about Brother Brian’s impact and the responsibility of carrying forward the work he loved.

Also among those paying their respects was Brother Don Enoch Muhammad, an aide to Minister Farrakhan. “Brother was a soldier in the cause of Islam, and he was a beautiful brother and a dear friend,” said Brother Don Enoch.

“We thank Allah for the service that he gave to his Nation, to the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and also to Brother Akbar,” he added.

“We thank Allah for him. We love him,” Brother Abdul Rasul said. “He may be gone physically, but he will never be forgotten because we simply will not let that happen.”

Final Call National Correspondent Charlene Muhammad contributed to this report.

The post Honoring and remembering veteran journalist Brian E. Muhammad appeared first on Final Call News.

CHICAGO—A veteran Black educator’s legal fight against Chicago Public Schools is entering a critical phase after a federal judge allowed core discrimination claims to move forward, setting the stage for what could become a broader test of accountability within one of the nation’s largest school systems. The judge made the decision on March 27.

Abdul Muhammad’s federal lawsuit, Muhammad v. Chicago Board of Education, outlines what his attorneys describe as a pattern of obstruction, shifting requirements, and discriminatory treatment that began after he was selected by Lindblom Math and Science Academy’s Local School Council to serve as principal in 2022.

According to the complaint, the school council voted multiple times to select Mr. Muhammad for the permanent principal position, but CPS officials repeatedly delayed or interfered with the process.

The lawsuit alleges that after concerns were raised internally about his faith as a member of the Nation of Islam and his race as a Black man, district officials withheld a four-year contract, placed him on an interim agreement, and later launched investigations that culminated in his removal in March 2023.

The complaint further alleges that false misconduct allegations were compiled into investigative findings used to justify his termination, despite internal evidence later concluding that the most serious allegation—that he failed to report misconduct—was unsubstantiated.

In a significant development, U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood ruled that key racial and religious discrimination claims against the Chicago Board of Education could proceed.

In her Memorandum Opinion and Order, Judge Wood wrote that, at the motion-to-dismiss stage, the court must accept the plaintiff’s factual allegations as true and found that Mr. Muhammad had plausibly alleged discrimination under federal law.

While the judge dismissed some claims and certain defendants on procedural grounds, the ruling allows the core discrimination allegations to move into discovery, where attorneys can subpoena records, depose witnesses, and further examine internal CPS communications and decision-making.

With major portions of his case surviving dismissal, Abdul Muhammad is now preparing to advance his claims through discovery and potential trial—seeking to prove that CPS officials engaged in systemic retaliation, racial and religious discrimination, and the concealment of exonerating evidence.

“I was removed based on false allegations,” Mr. Muhammad said, describing what he called a “retaliatory and biased process” that derailed his career and damaged his reputation.

A contested removal and hidden findings

According to court filings and federal complaints, Mr. Muhammad, identified in legal documents as a “Black, male, Muslim member of the Nation of Islam,” was selected by a local school council to serve as principal in 2022 after a competitive process.

But despite that selection, CPS leadership delayed granting him a permanent contract and later removed him from the position in March 2023 following an internal investigation that cited multiple allegations of misconduct.

Central to Mr. Muhammad’s claims is an accusation that CPS knowingly relied on false allegations, particularly that he failed to report alleged misconduct involving a student, while withholding an internal Office of Inspector General report that cleared him.

“That report, a July 25, 2023 Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General report identified in complaints as Case #23-01011, concluded that allegations Mr. Muhammad failed to report misconduct were unsubstantiated.

Effectively exonerating him on the central claim, yet was not disclosed to him or federal investigators for nearly two years, according to his complaint to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General.”

“Despite this knowledge, CPS withheld the OIG report … and continued to repeat false claims,” Mr. Muhammad stated in a separate complaint filed with the EEOC watchdog office.

Federal complaints and legal developments

Mr. Muhammad has filed complaints with multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Education, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging civil rights violations, retaliation, and systemic bias.

His federal lawsuit claims racial and religious discrimination under Title VII and other statutes. In a recent Memorandum Opinion and Order, the court ruled that, while some claims and defendants were dismissed, key discrimination claims against the Chicago Board of Education survived, allowing the case to proceed.

The ruling means the case now moves into the next phase, where evidence can be formally obtained, witnesses deposed, and the factual record more fully developed.

Mr. Muhammad underscored its significance. “She moved forward on discrimination—the biggest thing, racial and religious discrimination,” he said to The Final Call.

The case also includes allegations that internal communications referenced his faith in the Nation of Islam in a negative manner, raising concerns about religious bias.

Allegations of coordinated misconduct

Mr. Muhammad’s filings go beyond individual claims, asserting that senior CPS leadership—including the district’s chief executive—played a role in directing the investigation and subsequent actions taken against him.

He also alleges that multiple officials were involved in disseminating false information and suppressing evidence, and notes that some individuals connected to the case were later disciplined or removed following separate complaints of misconduct and bias.

“These actions were not isolated,” his Justice Department complaint states, but part of a broader “pattern of racially and politically motivated investigations.”

CPS has not publicly responded in detail to the allegations outlined in the complaints.

Historical echoes and ongoing struggle

Advocates point out that Mr. Muhammad’s case must also be viewed in a larger historical context—one shaped by decades of systemic inequities in education, employment, and public institutions affecting Black Americans.

From redlining and school segregation to modern disparities in discipline and hiring, the struggle for fairness in education systems remains ongoing.

Conclusion: Court ruling sets stage for next chapter

Legal experts note that such rulings are pivotal: they do not determine guilt or innocence but open the door for deeper scrutiny through discovery and, potentially, trial. For Mr. Muhammad, the next move is clear—press forward, compel disclosure of evidence, and seek accountability in court.

For the broader community, the case represents something larger: a continued demand that institutions entrusted with educating Black children operate with fairness, transparency, and justice—principles many say are long overdue.

The post Chicago educator’s federal case moves forward appeared first on Final Call News.

CHICAGO—On street corners across Black America, young men in suits sold The Final Call newspaper while boom boxes blasted Public Enemy, Ice Cube and Brand Nubian.

Bean pies sat beside cassette tapes in HBCU dormitories throughout the South. Conversations about survival, spiritual structure and Black empowerment flowed from barbershops to bus stops to rap lyrics.

Long before hip-hop became a billion-dollar industry fueled by corporate sponsorships, streaming platforms and luxury brand partnerships, the voice of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the teachings of the Nation of Islam became woven into the soundtrack of a generation searching for identity, purpose and direction.

From Bronx sidewalks to lowriders cruising through South Central Los Angeles, references to Minister Farrakhan echoed through rap lyrics, concert stages and album intros. Sometimes artists quoted him directly.

Other times, they sampled his speeches, invoked his name as a symbol of Black leadership, or mirrored themes of self-determination, accountability, and political awakening central to the Nation’s teachings. Minister Farrakhan has embraced the hip-hop community since its inception.

For many young Black listeners during the crack cocaine era, in the early 80s, the rise of mass incarceration and the post-Civil Rights Movement, Minister Farrakhan represented one of the few national and international Black voices consistently speaking about economic independence, discipline.

Community responsibility and cultural identity. Hip-hop artists absorbed those ideas alongside the realities of street violence, aggressive policing and urban neglect.

In hip-hop’s Golden Era of the late 1980s and early 1990s, politically conscious rap emerged as both cultural expression and protest music. Public Enemy brought unapologetic Black political commentary into mainstream music during a period marked by racial tension and heightened public scrutiny of Black leadership.

On “Bring the Noise,” Chuck D declared, “Farrakhan’s a prophet that I think you ought to listen to …” a lyric that became one of the clearest acknowledgments of the Minister’s influence within mainstream rap culture.

The line later resurfaced in the group’s collaboration with Anthrax on “Bring tha Noise,” helping introduce politically charged hip-hop themes to wider audiences across racial and musical lines.

That sentiment stretched from the East Coast to the West Coast. Following his departure from N.W.A., Ice Cube embraced a more politically charged direction in his music.  He reinforced Minister Farrakhan’s standing among artists seeking ideological grounding during an era marked by gang violence, economic struggle and social unrest.

The influence extended far beyond direct references.

Groups such as X-Clan and Poor Righteous Teachers infused their music with themes of self-knowledge, spiritual awakening, economic independence and Black pride.

Big Daddy Kane also incorporated Nation of Islam imagery and Minister Farrakhan samples into his music. On “Young, Gifted and Black,” Kane opened with a Farrakhan sample, reflecting the growing intersection between hip-hop and Black political consciousness during the era.

While some artists drew from the Five Percent Nation and other traditions, many listeners associated the broader movement of conscious rap with the Nation of Islam’s emphasis on study, discipline and community uplift.

As hip-hop evolved through the 1990s, references to Minister Farrakhan became more layered and symbolic. Artists such as Nas and Tupac frequently explored themes of systemic oppression, Black leadership and resistance, even when not directly naming the Minister in their lyrics.

Tupac’s “I Ain’t Mad at Cha” reflected another side of the spiritual and cultural conversations taking place within hip-hop during the 1990s. In the song’s video, one of Tupac’s friends undergoes a transformation from street life to a more disciplined lifestyle associated with Nation of Islam imagery.

The visual reflected a familiar transformation visible in many Black communities during that era: young men attempting to move from chaos toward discipline, spirituality and self-respect.

Rather than mocking the change, Tupac framed it with understanding and respect, reinforcing hip-hop’s ongoing dialogue about redemption, consciousness and survival.

On his 2008 Untitled project, Nas directly referenced efforts to silence controversial Black leaders, repeating the phrase, “They did not have the power to stop Louis Farrakhan” framing the Minister as part of a lineage of influential Black voices frequently targeted or marginalized in mainstream discourse.

Meanwhile, artists continued incorporating Nation-related imagery and language into mainstream rap culture. Album liner notes, interviews and concert speeches often reflected admiration for Minister Farrakhan’s advocacy on issues affecting Black America.

By the 2000s and 2010s, Minister Farrakhan references evolved from direct ideological endorsements into broader symbols of authority, intellect and fearlessness.

On DJ Khaled’s “God Did,” Jay-Z invoked the Minister while reflecting on media criticism and public scrutiny. “Sometimes I feel like Farrakhan talkin’ to Mike Wallace …”

He rapped, referencing the Minister’s televised exchange with veteran journalist Mike Wallace and comparing his own experiences navigating criticism to Minister Farrakhan’s confrontations with mainstream media.

Even artists not traditionally associated with conscious rap occasionally invoked Minister Farrakhan as a symbol of authority, discipline and influence.

Likewise, Freddie Gibbs has referenced Minister Farrakhan across multiple songs and interviews, often using his name as a metaphor for seriousness, leadership and intellectual authority.

The references illustrated how Minister Farrakhan’s symbolic presence continued to extend into newer generations of rap artists beyond the explicitly political era of hip-hop.

Perhaps no contemporary artist has embraced the Nation’s influence more openly than Jay Electronica. Throughout his catalog, Minister Farrakhan’s speeches appear as samples, introductions and thematic anchors.

Songs such as “A Prayer for Michael Vick and T.I.”, “The Overwhelming Event,” “Who Killed Michael Jackson??????” and “The Neverending Story” all feature direct references to Minister Farrakhan, Nation-related themes or Fruit of Islam (F.O.I.) imagery.

His music frequently blends spiritual reflection, political commentary and Nation of Islam teachings, while his public appearances alongside the Minister further cement the connection.

Even among younger generations of artists, Minister Farrakhan’s name continues to carry symbolic weight. On the widely discussed track “Control,” Kendrick Lamar delivered the line, “make Farrakhan think Saddam …” using the Minister’s name as shorthand for influence, command and presence.

The song, led by Big Sean and featuring Jay Electronica, reflected how Minister Farrakhan references remained embedded in modern rap competition and lyrical symbolism.

Other artists across generations continued mentioning Minister Farrakhan in their music. Immortal Technique used Minister Farrakhan speech samples on “No Mercy,” while Joey Fatts directly titled a song “Farrakhan.”

While Minister Farrakhan remained a polarizing figure in some political and media circles, many hip-hop artists viewed him through a different lens: as a voice speaking directly to the conditions affecting Black communities that are often ignored by mainstream America.

Not all references to the Nation of Islam came through direct mentions or formal ideological alignment. In many cases, artists referenced symbols, language and imagery associated with the Nation that had become deeply embedded in Black urban culture.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, references to bean pies, The Final Call newspaper, Fruit of Islam security, bow ties and Muslim greetings frequently appeared in lyrics as markers of Black consciousness, discipline and cultural authenticity.

For many Black listeners, those references immediately evoked memories of Nation of Islam members selling newspapers, promoting economic self-sufficiency and maintaining a visible presence in urban communities nationwide.

On “Steady Mobbin’”, Ice Cube humorously referenced economic struggle and street survival by rapping that someone “might start slanging bean pies …” invoking one of the Nation of Islam’s most recognizable cultural symbols. The reference resonated because audiences already understood the cultural shorthand.

Chicago-born rapper Common often referenced neighborhood scenes and community figures that reflected the Nation’s visible presence in Black communities, particularly on Chicago’s South and West sides. His music regularly emphasized self-reflection, social responsibility and Black consciousness.

Likewise, Queen Latifah emerged during an era when Nation of Islam imagery and rhetoric heavily influenced conscious rap culture. Her music emphasized Black pride, womanhood and self-respect while reflecting many of the same themes circulating through politically conscious hip-hop at the time.

In her song “Just Another Day,” she raps, “Stomach ache, had a steak, and take for a bean pie, Get a Final Call from the brother in the bow tie.”

Neo-soul artist Erykah Badu frequently incorporated themes associated with Black nationalist and Nation of Islam cultural spaces, including spiritual awakening, self-knowledge and references to Minister Farrakhan himself.

On the song “Me,” Ms. Badu declares, “I salute you Farrakhan … ’cause you are me,” reflecting the Minister’s influence within broader currents of conscious Black music and culture.

Busta Rhymes also continued reflecting themes familiar to audiences influenced by the Nation of Islam and broader Black nationalist thought. His 2020 album, “Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God,” blended apocalyptic imagery, spiritual urgency, social critique and messages of accountability.

The project reinforced ideas that had long appeared throughout his music: cultural survival, discipline, awakening and resistance during times of chaos.

For many listeners, those references were not abstract symbols. They reflected everyday life in Black America.

Decades later, the imagery remains recognizable: brothers in suits on street corners, newspapers tucked beneath their arms, bean pies on folding tables and the echoes of Minister Farrakhan’s speeches woven between bass lines and drum breaks.

From the crack cocaine era to the streaming era, Minister Farrakhan’s imprint on hip-hop culture remains embedded not only in lyrics but in the music’s ongoing search for identity, purpose, and liberation.

The post From the mic to the Minister: Farrakhan’s voice in hip-hop appeared first on Final Call News.

The Lying in Repose for Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., held Feb. 26 and 27, was not merely a public viewing. It was Chicago’s civic memory gathering to honor one of its master builders.

Inside, the mood moved between solemn reverence and spontaneous affirmation. The Final Call observed children wiping tears after viewing his body, clutching the hands of parents and grandparents who whispered, “That’s the man who told us we were somebody.” Moments later, the quiet would break. From the line outside came an impromptu chorus: “I am somebody!” The words echoed down the block, rising above grief into declaration.

Mourners filed slowly down the aisles toward the casket placed before the stage, marking the beginning of a week of remembrances stretching from Chicago to South Carolina and Washington, D.C., before returning home again. The Jackson family followed the hearse from Leak & Sons Funeral Homes in solemn procession. Pallbearers carried the casket up the steps of the building Rev. Jackson helped found in 1971, as dignitaries, including  Rev. Al Sharpton, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and former Congressman Bobby L. Rush, gathered inside.

“Though it’s a day of mourning, it’s certainly a day of honor and celebration,” Mayor Johnson said.

Jesse Jackson Jr. thanked the public for the outpouring of support and called the moment an opportunity to set aside political division and reflect on a man who brought people together locally and globally.

Attendees received commemorative bookmarks bearing Rev. Jackson’s image. The small keepsakes felt intentional—silent encouragement to read, to learn, to grow and to become advocates for change, just as he had urged generations to do.

In Chicago, the city that shaped his organizing genius, the tribute carried deeper resonance. Here, Rev. Jackson was not only a statesman. He was neighbor, pastor, strategist in equity and police brutality cases, and architect of modern Black political power who, despite access to the White House under multiple administrations, chose to live among the community he fought to uplift.

Chicago made him and he remade Chicago

Long before presidential debates and international diplomacy, Rev. Jackson was organizing in Chicago’s neighborhoods. Through Rainbow PUSH, he led corporate accountability campaigns and economic boycotts that pressured major companies to hire Black workers and invest in underserved communities. Rooted in Operation Breadbasket and South Side church activism, his work reshaped the city’s economic landscape.

By the 1980s, he had refined what became known as coalition politics—uniting Black voters, labor, faith communities, Latinos and progressive Whites around shared demands for justice. His 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns expanded Black voter participation and shifted the national conversation toward economic equity and social inclusion.

“He leveraged power in high places, but he never lost touch with everyday people,” said Omar Shareef, who has known Rev. Jackson since 1983. “We have to continue bringing down the walls for the next generation.”

Equally significant were the institutions he built. Weekly Saturday meetings at Rainbow PUSH became a civic forum where pastors, elected officials, labor leaders and grassroots activists addressed the community directly. Annual conventions brought national and international figures to Chicago to debate policy, human rights and economic justice. Those gatherings transformed the Kenwood neighborhood, bordered by Bronzeville, Hyde Park and Washington Park, into a permanent organizing hub, reinforcing the principle that Black political power requires structure, discipline and continuity.

A spiritual campaign in political terms

Rev. Jackson’s 1984 presidential bid unfolded during a heightened racial climate. His candidacy challenged the American political establishment in ways few campaigns had before. In that atmosphere, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, National Representative of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, publicly defended Rev. Jackson’s campaign, rejecting suggestions that his involvement was politically harmful.

Speaking May 3, 1984, at a conference of the Association of Black Journalists in New York, Minister Farrakhan described the effort as “a spiritual campaign couched in political terms,” arguing that stepping back would signal disunity at a moment when Black America was awakening politically.

When Rev. Jackson ran, he came under heavy criticism and threats from members of the Jewish community for his balanced Middle East position and his advocacy for the Palestinian people. Rev. Jackson had met with and advocated for Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. Rev. Jackson and his family were threatened. To protect his brother, Minister Farrakhan dispatched the F.O.I. (Fruit of Islam, the men of the Nation of Islam) to protect Rev. Jackson and his family.  

In a message delivered “July 21, 2019, titled, “The Man Jesus and How Not To Fall Into Idolatry,” Minister Farrakhan said that the F.O.I. , “… handled the assignment with great dignity and love.”  

In another message titled, ‘If Satan Cast Out Satan, His House is Divided Against Himself; How Then Will His Kingdom Stand?’ delivered October 30, 2016, Minister Farrakhan shared additional details on this important history. 

“When my brother, Reverend Jesse Jackson, asked me in 1983 at the 20th anniversary of the March on Washington if I would help him, because he was about to announce his running for the nomination of the Democratic Party for the presidency of the United States, I said, ‘Well, Rev. Jackson, I would have to think about it.’  So, I went back to The Final Call building, which was our headquarters at that time, and I asked laborers in The Nation, male and female, who had been around the Honorable Elijah Muhammad for a long time:  ‘Should we do something like that?’  I wouldn’t tell them what my thought was because this is not a ‘cult.’ I really believe in freedom, justice and equality; so I never order people, I just tell you what the truth and what the facts are, and leave it to you.  And if I give an order, I try to give it with a smile—that’s the way my Teacher taught me,” Minister Farrakhan explained. 

“After asking them, they agreed that we should help Rev. Jackson.  And that’s what I wanted to do; because if he wanted to run for the presidency of the United States, that’s big.  And so ‘the bigger picture’ was ‘submit yourself to help your brother,’ and that I did. … Members of the Jewish community: When we were saying ‘Run, Jesse, Run!’ they were saying, ‘Ruin Jesse, Ruin!’ Then some members of the Jewish Defense League (JDL) wanted to attack Rev. Jackson and his family, so the F.O.I. stood up to protect Rev. Jackson before the Secret Service had that responsibility.  But when I spoke up against members of the Jewish community, not knowing that I was turning over a hornet’s nest …  the hornets came out to sting me,” Minister Farrakhan said. 

“So, there came a time when Rev. Jackson had to let me go as his surrogate speaker; and he said some words that I said—which I didn’t say.  But, it’s okay; it was convenient.  The bigger picture was Rev. Jackson,” said Minister Farrakhan. 

Throughout the years, Minister Farrakhan and Rev. Jackson maintained their bond of brotherhood.

More than four decades later, during the annual Nation of Islam Saviours’ Day message on February 22, 2026, delivered by Student Minister Ishmael Muhammad, Minister Farrakhan revisited that history and reflected on his relationship with Rev. Jackson in the aftermath of his brother’s passing. “You don’t know our relationship,” he told the thousands of people in the audience. 

Recalling the historic 1995 Million Man March, Minister Farrakhan described Rev. Jackson approaching him privately. “And he said to me, Minister Farrakhan, how much time are you gonna give me to speak?”

Minister Farrakhan said he refused to limit him. “I said, ‘Oh, Reverend Jackson, I can’t give you any time. You get up and say whatever it is you want to say, and when you finish, we’ll move on with others.’ I never told my brother 10 minutes, five minutes. That’s my brother.”

Minister Farrakhan concluded his remarks on his brother with loyalty: “And I will never be found dogging his name when he did so much to help a people rise to win. … That’s my brother.”

Institution builder, not just candidate

Rev. Jackson’s legacy rests not only in votes but in infrastructure. Rainbow PUSH became a pipeline for civic leadership, producing advocates, diplomats and elected officials. His international interventions, from negotiations abroad to anti-apartheid advocacy, demonstrated the global reach of a movement rooted in Chicago.

For many Chicagoans, that empowerment was personal.

“The giant has fallen among us,” Mr. Shareef said. He traveled with Rev. Jackson for years and later helped care for him as his health declined. “He powered through his pain. He always thought he was still on the playing field.” Even in a wheelchair, Rev. Jackson pressed corporations to meet with Black leaders before opening stores and mentored young professionals. “He leveraged power in high places, but he never lost touch with everyday people,” said Mr. Shareef. 

Generational impact: A living testament

The crowd at Rainbow PUSH reflected generations shaped by his influence.

Afrika Porter, who grew up inside the organization, said Rev. Jackson shaped her identity from childhood. “Reverend Jackson told us first that we were somebody. He spoke life into us,” she said. “I am because of Reverend Jackson. We are because of Reverend Jackson.”

Outside, Bro. West Side repeated the words that defined an era. “Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive. And always remember, I am somebody.” His voice joined others who turned waiting into witnesses as he highlighted that Rev. Jackson was an example for the youth. 

Carolyn Ruff, an activist and former Rainbow PUSH choir member, described Rev. Jackson as inseparable from Chicago’s identity. “He was Chicago. Keep hope alive. He always encouraged people that they are somebody,” she said.

Brian McCoy, youth sports advocate and longtime Rainbow PUSH member, reflected quietly. “Committed, faithful.” For young people learning Jackson’s story for the first time, he offered guidance: “Read about Jesse Louis Burns. That was his name before it was Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson. Then you’ll know that anything is possible.”

From mourning to mobilization

Rev. Jackson lay in repose at Rainbow PUSH, 930 E. 50th St., on Feb. 26 and 27. Thousands passed the open casket. His remains will travel to Washington, D.C., and South Carolina, including a lying in state at the South Carolina State House in Columbia.

Chicago’s People’s Celebration is scheduled for March 6 at House of Hope, followed by a private homegoing service at Rainbow PUSH.

Organizers frame the observances not as an ending but as a charge—to translate grief into organizing around voter engagement, economic empowerment and coalition building.

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr.’s legacy lives in Chicago’s alliances, its political confidence and its insistence that Black voices belong at every table.

The torch has been passed. The question now is whether the city that shaped him will carry forward the courage that helped reshape the nation. Final Call staff contributed to this report.

The post Keep Hope Alive: Chicago reflects on Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. appeared first on Final Call News.

Awa ND’iaye, 17, a high school senior at Muhammad University of Islam and employee at the restaurant, helped save a man’s life after he stumbled into the business bleeding from a gunshot wound, just as staff were closing shortly after brunch service.

The incident happened on 621 East 67th Street in Woodlawn, when a young man who had been shot nearby ran to the restaurant screaming for police. Staff soon realized he was losing a dangerous amount of blood from his leg. Restaurant owner Nahla Carmella Muhammad immediately called 911.

But it was the calm focus of Awa, combined with the decisive leadership inside the restaurant, that turned a terrifying moment into a testimony of preparation, faith and community responsibility.

“I heard somebody banging on the door,” Awa recalled. She said she was finishing up a plate for a late customer when she saw someone running outside and then heard the urgent pounding. When the man entered, Awa said it was not immediately clear how badly he was hurt.

“That’s when I noticed where he actually got shot,” she said. “Then we actually saw the blood because at first we didn’t see it.”

A quick-thinking response in a crisis

As the restaurant rushed to help, Awa said Ms. Muhammad asked someone to get towels to stop the bleeding. Awa, remembering her training, grabbed an apron instead.

“I saw that there were aprons there, so I grabbed an apron while my co-worker grabbed a towel,” she said. “I didn’t want her to take it as me trying to talk back … but I told her it’ll be a lot better to tie an apron around his wound to stop the bleeding than a towel that couldn’t really wrap around it.”

The apron was used as a tourniquet and tightened around the man’s leg to slow the bleeding until first responders arrived, according to reporting.

Ms. Muhammad confirmed the apron made the difference. “I went to say give me some towels so that we could stop the bleeding,” she said. “She (Awa) said, ‘no, no, we need an apron … so it can be tied around his leg.’ It worked much better,” said Ms. Muhammad.

Paramedics transported the man to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition.

Training that meets the moment

Awa said she recently completed an eight-week emergency medical training program through the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine called MedCEEP, which stands for Medical Careers Exposure and Emergency Preparedness.

The program, founded by Dr. Abdullah Hasan Pratt, teaches youth hands-on emergency skills including CPR, airway simulation, overdose response and bleeding control, while also exposing students to medical careers and mentorship opportunities.

“We learned different things like how to deal with a drug overdose, how to stop the bleeding,” Awa said, adding that the program also included discussions on gun violence because of how common it is in Chicago.

The experience strengthened her long-term goals. “At first I was 99.9% sure I wanted to be in the medical field, but that definitely cleared the point one percent,” she said. “I do still want to be a pediatric surgeon.”

Awa also said the incident revealed a sobering truth: training is only powerful if people carry it with them beyond the classroom. “Now it really taught me a lesson to listen to everything else he said.”

She explained, referencing the emergency supplies and wound-care tools students were given during the program. “Now I’m going to strive to actually take it with me now that I see that this is something that’s very real.”

A mother’s pride and a community’s message

Awa’s mother, Karriemah Muhammad, said her daughter’s actions confirmed what she has long believed about the importance of investing in young people’s gifts early, especially in communities facing constant threats.

“I was very concerned … but once I heard what she did and how she used the training she received … I’m just so proud of her,” she said. “It reaffirmed for her, her desire to move into medicine.”

Ms. Karriemah Muhammad urged parents to seek out programs that develop practical skills while removing financial barriers. She noted that MedCEEP is free and offers training that is both relevant and accessible.

“With the MedCEEP program, he offered this training to young people for free,” she said. “That is phenomenal … I’m hoping and praying that it inspires people not only to send their children, but to also financially support it so that it can continue.”

She also emphasized that parents must share resources and opportunities instead of withholding information. “As parents, we need to share information. We can’t gatekeep,” she said. “Even if your child hasn’t expressed an interest … expose them.”

A bigger mission behind the moment

Dr. Pratt, a South Side emergency medicine physician at the University of Chicago Medical Center, said Awa’s response reflects more than one summer of training. It represents a growing standard of readiness being cultivated among young people and students in the community.

He described the ability to remain calm, communicate respectfully and prioritize safety as the mark of someone prepared not just to survive trauma, but to lead through it.

“She calmed the person down who was shot,” Dr. Pratt said. “Who wouldn’t want an Awa right there in your worst moment?”

In previous reporting, Dr. Pratt explained that his work is rooted in both community health research and spiritual responsibility, grounded in principles of self-sufficiency taught by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the Eternal Leader of the Nation of Islam.

“When we approach violence, I think not only from an evidence-based point of view, from a community-based point of view, but even with the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, being able to be self-sufficient has to be at the core root of those solutions,”

Dr. Pratt said. Dr. Pratt is the founder of two initiatives designed to disrupt cycles of violence by building capacity, confidence and preparedness among youth: TRAP (Trauma Recovery and Prevention of Violence) and MedCEEP.

Through TRAP, as reported in The Final Call July 2025, students learn trauma response skills, de-escalation and emotional resilience in some of Chicago Public Schools’ most impacted neighborhoods.

“We looked to focus on Chicago Public Schools that are closest to the problem first,” Dr. Pratt said. “The schools that send us the most children who are victims of gun violence, that’s where we started our ‘Stop the Bleed’ training and the TRAP program.”

MedCEEP extends that mission by introducing young people to medical careers and hands-on preparation. Since its inception, the program has impacted more than 2,000 youth across Chicago and has reported a 98% graduation rate and 100% college acceptance for students who apply.

“If they can learn how to save a life, they can use that as an empowering way to pursue a career in medicine,” Dr. Pratt said. “Everybody should learn this”

Awa said she hopes the public understands what her experience revealed: first aid training is not optional in communities navigating violence. It is essential.

“I believe it’s very important,” she said. “I really don’t think you even necessarily want to have to go into the medical field. I feel like first aid is just a basic training that everybody should learn no matter what.”

—Toure Muhammad, Contributing Writer

The post Teen’s emergency training saves shooting victim appeared first on Final Call News.

The annual “Adopt-a-Pod” program, led by Student Minister Abdul Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, returned December 16 to provide hope, joy and inspiration to approximately 60 detained youth—primarily young Black males.

“This is our yearly Adopt-a-Pod program, where we come into the juvenile detention center with our incarcerated young people from all over the city,” said Student Min. Abdul. “We bring food from various restaurants. We bring gifts. We bring in some of our Chicago celebrities, and we just let them know—we love you.”

The initiative, which began in response to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s 1995 call at the Million Man March, to “adopt an inmate,” has expanded to serve entire housing units, or pods, inside the facility.

With food catered by Jerk 48 and Let’s Eat to Live, youth were offered not only a hot meal, but also emotional and spiritual nourishment. They heard heartfelt messages from artists such as LaRoyce Hawkins, Korporate and Big Twan, educators and activists—many of whom had walked similar paths.

Chicago-based content creator Korporate, a favorite among young audiences, brought gifts for the youth to give to their loved ones—allowing them to be givers despite their incarceration. “It’s deeper than presents,” he said. “These young brothers needed a chance to feel like they could still give something. That reminded them they still have value.”

Reflecting on what he saw in their eyes, Korporate added, “Man, I saw pain, but also potential. They just needed someone to look at them and see more than a case number.”

He also shared his own story of resilience, reminding them he once slept on couches and struggled to survive. “You can fulfill your dreams if you stay committed,” he said. “You just gotta want it and work harder than anyone else.”

Others echoed the importance of being present. “When I looked into the eyes of the youth upstairs, I saw hunger to be understood,” said Andre Lake of the Unity Movement. “I saw gratitude for someone actually showing they care.”

Judas Charles, founder of Elite Athletes Performance, said the smallest gestures made an impact. “Just seeing the smiles on their faces when they got the food—it was dope,” he said. “They talked about what they were going to do when they get out. They were ready to be better and do better.”

Sister Ardella Muhammad of Mosque Maryam, who shared her own background with the youth, noted their surprise that she could relate. “They started asking questions, wanting to know more. That’s the beginning of change,” she said.

The event was about more than inspiration—it was about consistency.

“Year after year, we show the youth that they are not forgotten,” said community advocate Shawn Redwell. “This isn’t about fame or celebrity; it’s about our obligation as adults to give back and make sure we watch over our youth by any means necessary.”

The spirit of mentorship was also reinforced by Big Twan, a respected content creator in Chicago. “They need to see people who look like them, talk like them, been through the same things—and made it,” he said.

Longtime prison educator Sister Marilyn Muhammad reflected on the weight of the moment. “Most of those boys are younger than my grandchild,” she said. “They’re just misguided. But today, they felt seen. They felt valued.”

“This work doesn’t make headlines,” Student Min. Abdul said, “but it changes lives. And that’s why we keep coming back—until they know they are loved, and start to love themselves.”

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Despite the heavy snowfall, hundreds of family members, believers, artists, dignitaries, elders and youth gathered Nov. 29 for the 90th birth anniversary celebration of Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, the wife of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

First Lady of the Nation of Islam and beloved Mother of the Faithful. The evening doubled as a fundraiser for Mother Khadijah’s Children’s Village, the Saviours’ Day sanctuary she envisioned for the Nation’s youth.

The atmosphere was alive with gratitude. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan entered first, followed by the grand entrance of the honoree Mother Khadijah, both smiling warmly as the room rose twice in thunderous applause.

It was a moment that reflected not only respect, but deep affection for a woman whose spiritual, cultural and maternal presence has quietly fortified the Nation of Islam for more than six decades.

The celebration unfolded as a tapestry of artistic and cultural tributes. Praise dancers moved in reverence.  A martial arts demonstration showcased discipline and protection. A drill exhibition by the Fruit of  Islam (F.O.I.) and M.G.T. Vanguard demonstrated precision and focus.

Poet Harold Power delivered an intense spoken word performance on the unseen burdens borne by a woman married to a divine servant. The N.O.I. National Youth Ensemble performed as young dancers demonstrated the elegance and dignity of the waltz.

Violinist Ameerah Muhammad added soft, soulful notes that drew the audience into stillness. A video was played of the winners of the “I am Mother Khadijah Farrakhan” video essay contest, who read their tributes to her, describing how she has impacted their lives as young Muslims.

Tributes rolled in from around the country, Stephanie Mills, Stevie Wonder, Tyrese, Busta Rhymes and Doug E. Fresh, each recognizing Mother Khadijah’s quiet power, dignity and unwavering support of her husband’s mission.

Stevie Wonder affectionately called her “the sunshine” of countless lives as he serenaded her with a portion of  “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” and, in true cultural fashion, delivered the beloved refrain of the “Black Happy Birthday song”—the unofficial traditional birthday anthem in Black communities.

Among the most heartfelt moments of the night came from Grammy-nominated singer Kelly Price, who shared a story from more than two decades ago when Minister Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah first met her.

As she looked into the Minister and Mother Khadijah’s eyes, she recounted performing at a BET event, feeling the weight of a difficult day, and then watching the crowd part “like the Red Sea” as Minister Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah approached her.

Her testimony echoed what many in the Nation of Islam already know: Mother Khadijah’s embrace is expansive, rooted not in bloodlines but in love, sincerity and service. Artists, activists, leaders and everyday people have felt the warmth of her presence.

Many speakers returned to a single theme: Mother Khadijah’s unmatched sacrifice. Children and grandchildren spoke with reverence, describing a home grounded in faith, modesty, discipline and devotion to Nation-building.

“She is the cornerstone of our family and this Nation. We stand on her back,” said daughter Khallada Farrakhan, recalling years when she safeguarded the home while her father rebuilt the Nation of Islam.

Stories of simple meals, egg salad, bean soup and righteous cereal, mixed with the joy of seeing the pantry finally overflow when blessings increased. Mother Khadijah fed her family, the laborers who helped rebuild the Nation, and anyone in need.

She designed uniforms for the women of the Nation of Islam, guided the household and supported the mission of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and her husband through sheer will and enduring love.

Grandchildren remembered her humor, tenderness and protection from “groundings and chastisements.” Great-grandchildren recalled her spiritual instruction, her gentleness and her ability to make any space feel like home. One young great-great-grandchild, Wali, proudly called himself “the face of the Supreme Bean Pie,” drawing laughter as he proclaimed, “Great-great-grandma, I love you.”

“She has always been a safe place,” one granddaughter said. “Her home, her heart and her arms have always been open.”

Student Minister Ilia Rashad Muhammad, who traveled from Memphis with his wife Angela Muhammad, recalled a lesson from Minister Farrakhan that Mother Khadijah was “the womb that bore him,” symbolizing the sacred environment that nurtured the spirit and work of one of God’s greatest servants. “We would not have him, were it not for her,” he said.

“It is such a privilege to be present here to commemorate the 90th birth anniversary of the Mother of the faithful,” said Student Minister Abdul Arif Muhammad, member of the Nation of Islam’s Shura Executive Council.

“She is a woman who has persevered, who has stood strong amidst all the challenges she has faced. She remains steadfast in her faith in Allah in the Person, Master Fard Muhammad and the Exalted Christ, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and the Messiah, her husband, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan,” Student Min.

Arif said. “We honor her for her courage and for her commitment. She is a sterling example to all of us. So, I’m in awe just to be in the presence of her and her family this evening,” he added.

A daughter’s promise and a new chapter for the Children’s Village

In an emotional highlight, Sister Maria Farrakhan, daughter of Minister Farrakhan and Mother Khadijah, announced that the community had raised 96% of the funds needed for the 2026 Children’s Village. She then pledged publicly to carry her mother’s vision into the future.

“Mom and Dad, you will no longer have to carry this alone,” she said. “Tonight, I make you a promise. I now pick up the baton. This is a daughter’s promise.”

Her pledge drew a standing ovation and marked a new chapter in the Village’s life, one that honors Mother Khadijah through service, sustainability and generational continuity.

Near the end of the evening, Minister Farrakhan expressed tender gratitude for the love poured upon his wife. “I love you for loving her,” he told the audience. “What you did for Khadijah, you also did for me.”

He thanked the community for giving her flowers while she can enjoy them, reminding all that honoring Mother Khadijah is inseparable from honoring the divine mission she has supported for decades.

At 90 years old, Mother Khadijah Farrakhan stands as a beacon of faith, culture and unwavering support. On this night, crowned with gratitude, beauty and unity, her Nation rose as one to say: We love you. We honor you. We thank you.

The post ‘A Night of Love, Legacy and Refined Culture’ Community honors Mother Khadijah Farrakhan’s 90th Birthday appeared first on Final Call News.