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MXODUS Tour Report: Trailblazers into a new world of thought and universal consciousness—one step beyond!“And there is nothing concealed in the heaven and the earth but it is in a clear book. Surely this Qur’an declares to the Children of Israel most of that wherein they differ. And surely it is a guidance and a mercy for the believers. Truly thy Lord will judge between them by His judgment, and He is the Mighty, the Knowing. So rely on Allah. Surely thou art on the plain truth." -Holy Qur’an, Surah 27, verses 75-79
The touring group, along with Dr. Toni Humber, historian Florentine and Mother Tynnetta Muhammad (c) in the Town of Manta Clara, which joins onto the town of Yanga, which was named after the historic figure. Photos: Hakeem K. Muhammad
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Those who responded to the call came forward but not without great sacrifice, patience and some discomfort, which was transformed into sheer happiness and joy that they were singled out among many to become bearers of witness of the Divine Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Congratulations to all those who joined this first expedition and educational tour to Mexico for a job well done.
Beginning on Aug. 9 and ending on Aug. 18, everyone, including the children, experienced a heightening of energy and the spiritual transformation that have seriously changed their lives. We were exposed to the Black presence in Mexico joining the Indigenous People of Mexico from both the remote past into contemporary times. As a group, we realized that the journey and the route was indeed magical; and that we had landed literally in paradise, becoming enjoined with the nature of the land, rivers, sacred lakes, waterfalls, and tropical rainforests as we traversed from one end of the trail to the other. We found our ancient and contemporary roots like landmarkers, having been brought across the shore of the Atlantic chain during the African Diaspora and suddenly meeting our Black families, face to face, experiencing their love and reception of us with such joy and happiness. In the Town of Yanga and Manta Clara, they greeted us as their lost Brothers and Sisters, surrounding us with laughter co-mingled with tears and dancing. It was the time of their annual festival and we were greeted by the mayor and the officials of the municipal leaders of the town.
Group photo of tour participants at the foot of the statute of Yanga, the first freed Black leader in the Americas.
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Currently at the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, located in the city of Chicago, an exhibit is now taking place entitled, The African Presence in Mexico from Yanga to the Present, which highlights the powerful roots of Blacks in Mexico from ancient times to contemporary times. One of our special guides from Xlapa, the capitol of Veracruz, Professor Sagrario Cruz-Carraetero, personally conducted us through the museums in Xlapa that contains some of the mammoth stoneheads and other structures of the Olmec civilization. She, along with one of her associates from the University of Veracruz, is the actual curator of the exhibit that is currently featured at the museum in Chicago.
Quoting from the brochure of the Chicago exhibit, we read the following words about the importance of Yanga: “For nearly 500 years, the existence and contributions of the African descendents in Mexico have been overlooked. Almost a century after Africans arrived in Mexico in 1519, Yanga, an African leader, founded the first three African townships in the Americas (January 6, 1609). Since then, Africans have continued to contribute their cultural, musical, and culinary traditions to Mexican culture through the present day. No exhibition has showcased the history, artistic expressions, and practices of Afro-Mexicans in such a broad scope as this one, which includes a comprehensive range of artwork from 18th Century Colonial Caste Paintings to Contemporary Artistic Expressions.” (The exhibit continues to September 3, 2006.)
With the wide migration and expansion of the Original Black people throughout our planet from ancient times to the present, the question that raised more discussion is, if we can trace Black history from Africa to the Americas during the Diaspora, why should we be surprised that we pushed back the curtain of discovery back to our ancient roots in remotes times? The Honorable Elijah Muhammad has taught us that the knowledge of the Black nation and of the human family of the planet Earth can be traced back to the rich Nile Valley cultures of Egypt and the Arabian Peninsula at the time when we all emerged from one mother culture spreading out and establishing centers of high civilization everywhere on our planet.
I wish to express my heart-felt thanks to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for his support and prayers that our tour and journey be blessed with triumph and success. With the powerful presence of our God, Allah, Who Came in the Person of Master Fard Muhammad, and with the presence of His anointed servant and Messiah, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who paved the way and the path of our extraordinary journey.
“Certainly thou canst not make the dead to hear the call, nor canst thou make the deaf to hear, when they go back retreating. Nor canst thou lead the blind out of their error. Thou canst make none to hear except those who believe in Our messages, so they submit. And when the word comes to pass against them, We shall bring forth for them a creature from the earth that will speak to them, because people did not believe in Our messages.” -Holy Qur’an, Surah 27, verses 80-82
To be continued.