Final Call
By Richard B. Muhammad and Charlene Muhammad Final Call Staffers

What Happened to Gang Peace?

It's been two decades, what happened to the efforts to promote non-violence in America's streets and save lives?

LOS ANGELES - It's been 20 years since the historic gang truce between the Crips and Bloods in Los Angeles sparked peace work and inspired a national movement to quell urban violence in America's streets and save lives.

Gang members from four major housing projects in the Watts section of Los Angeles, Imperial Courts, Jordan Downs, Nickerson Gardens and Hacienda Village, established a peace treaty on April 28, 1992 but had been working on ways to bring about peace since the 1980s, say anti-violence activists.

"One of the primary reasons there was a need to come together because 1987-88 was the height of the gang war in L.A. We were experiencing about 1,000 to 1,100 murders a year and nobody was really winning the war that we were waging against each other," explained Aqeela Sherrills, director of Resources for Human Development California, a gang intervention organization. » FULL STORY

NATO intervention in Libya rooted in access to oil?

By Jehron Muhammad

The Libyan leader in 2006 voiced the reasons why his administration sought to put the revenue generated from Libyan oil fields into Libyan hands. "Oil companies are controlled by foreigners who have made millions from them. Now, Libyans must take their place to profit from this money."


WISOMMM leadership, community, prepares for battle that lies ahead

By Ashahed M. Muhammad -Asst. Editor-

NEWARK - The Women in Support of the Million Man March (WISOMMM) are getting ready for a long battle as the organization confronts its most significant challenge in the 17-years they have been in existence.


Trouble persists despite Obama 'end' to Afghan War

By Askia Muhammad -Senior Correspondent-

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan May 1 to sign a strategic agreement with the Afghan government and to deliver an election-year address to a war-weary U.S. TV audience touting the end to the longest war in U.S. history.


Abomination! Outrageous 'n----r cake' cannot hide behind 'art,' declare activists

By Saeed Shabazz -Staff Writer-

UNITED NATIONS - "There is nothing funny about oppression!" chanted New Black Panther Party members gathered in front of the Swedish Mission to the United Nations for a recent demonstration.


Activists Testify in NYC police protest trial

By Jennifer Peltz Associated Press

NEW YORK - Seizing an opportunity to spotlight their message, 20 critics of police stop-and-frisks began telling a judge that they shouldn't have been arrested during a demonstration last fall.


What Happened to Gang Peace?

By Richard B. Muhammad and Charlene Muhammad Final Call Staffers

It's been two decades, what happened to the efforts to promote non-violence in America's streets and save lives?

LOS ANGELES - It's been 20 years since the historic gang truce between the Crips and Bloods in Los Angeles sparked peace work and inspired a national movement to quell urban violence in America's streets and save lives.

Gang members from four major housing projects in the Watts section of Los Angeles, Imperial Courts, Jordan Downs, Nickerson Gardens and Hacienda Village, established a peace treaty on April 28, 1992 but had been working on ways to bring about peace since the 1980s, say anti-violence activists.

"One of the primary reasons there was a need to come together because 1987-88 was the height of the gang war in L.A. We were experiencing about 1,000 to 1,100 murders a year and nobody was really winning the war that we were waging against each other," explained Aqeela Sherrills, director of Resources for Human Development California, a gang intervention organization.


WISOMMM leadership, community, prepares for battle that lies ahead

By Ashahed M. Muhammad -Asst. Editor-

NEWARK - The Women in Support of the Million Man March (WISOMMM) are getting ready for a long battle as the organization confronts its most significant challenge in the 17-years they have been in existence.


Trouble persists despite Obama 'end' to Afghan War

By Askia Muhammad -Senior Correspondent-

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to Afghanistan May 1 to sign a strategic agreement with the Afghan government and to deliver an election-year address to a war-weary U.S. TV audience touting the end to the longest war in U.S. history.


Man convicted in Jewish neighborhood watch beating case

By Sarah Brumfield Associated Press

BALTIMORE - A judge recently convicted one brother and exonerated the other in the 2010 beating of a Black teenager they encountered while responding to a suspicious person report received by an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood watch group.


George Zimmerman disparages Mexicans on old Myspace page

By AP

MIAMI - Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman has an old MySpace page where he made some disparaging comments about Mexicans and also referred to a 2005 legal scrape involving his confrontation with law enforcement officers.


NATO intervention in Libya rooted in access to oil?

By Jehron Muhammad

The Libyan leader in 2006 voiced the reasons why his administration sought to put the revenue generated from Libyan oil fields into Libyan hands. "Oil companies are controlled by foreigners who have made millions from them. Now, Libyans must take their place to profit from this money."


Charles Taylor was convicted but who else is guilty?

By Brian E. Muhammad -Contributing Writer-

Last month a special international criminal court for Sierra Leone convicted former Liberian president Charles Taylor for war crimes. Some applauded the verdict, others questioned the authenticity.


Is immigration fueling the rise of nativism in Europe?

By Cas Mudde New America Media

Far-right parties across Europe are gaining momentum, as witnessed by their recent successes at the ballot box in Greece and France.


Norway Muslims question focus on right-wing killer's sanity

By Julia Gronnevet Associated Press

OSLO, Norway - Muslim leaders in Norway say they are concerned that the anti-Islamic ideology of Anders Behring Breivik, the far-right fanatic now on trial for killing 77 people, is being overshadowed by questions about his mental state.


The Bahamas: A model for unity?

By David Muhammad

The Bahamas is probably the best example of Black Unity to the rest of the African Diaspora anywhere on Earth. As an independent nation in the Caribbean Region and a member of CARICOM, the Bahamas can teach a great lesson to us all.


Let’s make a deal: The lure and danger of 'yoyo' car scams

By Nisa Islam Muhammad -Staff Writer-

WASHINGTON - Along with liquor stores, carry outs, and beauty supply stores that clutter urban communities are car dealers that prey on people with bad, low or no credit. They promise a deal, you sign on the dotted line, give them your hard earned cash and leave with the car of your dreams.


Bad news about student loan debt during Great Recession

By FinalCall.com News

WASHINGTON - According to a Center for American Progress analysis, students who went into more debt to finance their education during the Great Recession are less well off today and Blacks and Latinos are particularly hit hard.


Students with Loans Deserve the 'Corporate' Treatment

By Julianne Malveaux -Guest Columnist-

Higher interest rates for student loans are a step backwards, often discouraging students from attending or continuing college, or extending the time it takes for them to finish degrees. This is especially true for Black, working class, and first-generation students.


Eurozone unemployment hits record high

By Pan Pylas Associated Press

LONDON - Pressure is growing on Europe's leaders to focus less on austerity and more on stimulating growth as the 17 countries that use the euro face record high unemployment and a recession that is spreading across the region.


Only four-fifths of men's pay for women in U.S.

By Charundi Panagoda

Forty-seven years after the Equal Pay Act was signed into law, women in the United States are still struggling against wage discrimination in the workplace.


Our Youth: The Most Powerful Generation We've Produced Since Slavery

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

They have no fear and they don't have any respect for the law because the law has no respect for itself. They don't have any respect for church... I want you to listen to me because
I am going to speak for them. » CONTINUE

Where Would We Be Without Pain?

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

When a misfortune comes into a person's life who has served God as best as they can, sometimes they wonder, "God, why should any misfortune come into my life?" Why not? How else will God know, and how will you know, who you really are if God only does what you want Him to do, when you want Him to do it? Pain is not a permanent condition. » CONTINUE

Strengthening The Black Community: Strategies for Reducing Violence

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

To this day, it is sickening and saddening that some of us are so mentally disturbed with a "plantation mentality," where we have to await for a signal from somebody else to determine what is in our own best interest. This is the reason why there is trouble in our communities.

» CONTINUE

Consecration, Service and Truth: Leaders Rising Among Leaders

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

I'm not trying to be "bold" and upset you; I'm just trying to be truthful, even at the cost of my life; because my life is not more precious than yours. "Greater love has no man that he lay down his life for his friend …" If I wanted my life spared, I would sit in the corner and be quiet like most do. » CONTINUE

The True Meaning of Education

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

Brothers and sisters, you have to admit that somebody has lied to us about ourselves, about God, about Jesus, about religion, and you’re really confused. That is why Jesus said, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." The question is: What truth will set us all free?
» CONTINUE

Message in Antigua: 'The Power of Caribbean Unity and Black Economics'

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

Dear people of Antigua & Barbuda: We have to think of more than just "Antigua & Barbuda," and think of The Caribbean as a "whole," because all of us are the sons and daughters of Africa. » CONTINUE

A Message To The Caribbean: First Love, Unify and Educate Self and Kind

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

I did not come to Port-of-Spain, to Trinidad, to be a divisive person, but how can I look at the division, and the self-hatred among Black people, and not address that with medicine? » CONTINUE

Justifiable Homicide: Black youth in peril, Pt. 2 'An Executive Decision'

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

Preachers and clergymen, this is the kind of message that you have to give to our people, that they may be aware of what is happening so that we can escape the wicked plans of our enemies. That is why you see on churches, "Jesus saves." There is no way that anyone can save this people without... » CONTINUE

Justifiable Homicide: Black Youth In Peril -Pt. 1

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

I want Black youth to hear this message, because police authorities are the same today as they were during slavery. In fact, this is how policing began. Police were formed to catch runaway slaves, bring them back to their masters and make examples of them to throw fear into other slaves. » CONTINUE

President Obama Must Reject Drive For War With Iran

By the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

Iran has never attacked another country? But what is your record, America? What is your record Israel? You want to build up the American public to go to war against that country? I don't care what they say; what Iran says! I say harsh things, too! But I've never hurt anybody, except with The Truth. » CONTINUE