Boston honors Minister Don and Sister Shirley Muhammad

By Saeed Shabazz -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Jul 23, 2009 - 9:23:29 PM

Sis. Shirley Muhammad, fourth from left, and Bro. Don Muhammad to her right, with family members at dinner honoring their contributions to Boston and the state of Massachusetts.

For one day, June 19, 2009 the city of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts took the time to honor two people who had, according to their friends and supporters, made a difference in the lives of the many, many, people who had been fortunate enough to encounter the two.

The resolutions from the governor of Massachusetts and the Boston City Council said that Minister Don and Sister Shirley Muhammad were being honored “for their great contributions to the citizens.”

According to Larry Ellison, president of the Mass. Assoc. of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, the idea to honor the two arose during a conversation that it “was time for the entire city to show” Min. Don and Sis. Shirley how much love there was for them.

“Two very positive role models in the community, who I grew up with,” Mr. Ellison told The Final Call. “We knew Min. Don was having some health issues, and we didn't want to wait to show him and the woman that stood by his side—holding the family together—while he toiled in the community with the youth.”

Min. Don Muhammad and Sister Shirley Muhammad have been married for the past 54 years, and they have five children, 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

During their years of marriage both have been active as members of the Nation of Islam; both also rising in the ranks to serve in various leadership capacities.

The city council resolution talks about the Muhammad's dry cleaning business and a health food store run by Ms. Muhammad; and how she once served as a Cub Scout Troop den mother for her youngest child.

“Talk a little, work a lot,” Min. Don told The Final Call. “We haven't done anything but follow the Hon. Elijah Muhammad and the Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan, putting into practice their teachings and instructions,” he said. “We are cogs in the wheel,” said Sis. Shirley.

They both shared with The Final Call how “magnificent” the program was. “My friends and others had said that the community wanted to honor Sis. Shirley and I, but we never expected such an outpouring,” Min. Don admitted. “I am so thankful to Allah!” said Sis. Shirley.

One of the 16 committee members responsible for the night of tribute, Rev. Sean O'Harrison, associate pastor at the South Street AME Church said, “I watched how Min. Don was able to work with the youth and get them out of the gangs. He encouraged me to better understand how the city was run; and how to use that to help keep our youth on the right path.”

Through the mosque, Min. Don instituted programs such as the Muhammad's Youth Enrichment Academy, and established a “surrogate parents” affiliation with a local elementary school.

Billy Celester, a former police department superintendent and a dinner committee member said he remembers Min. Don for showing how the community could work together with the police back in the 1980s to stop drugs and gang violence.

“Finally we were able to honor the two people who had given so much to the community, especially the youth in Boston,” Mr. Celester told The Final Call.

The governor of Mass., Deval Patrick noted in his resolution how the tireless efforts of Min. Don, Sis. Shirley and Mosque No. 11 brought real change to the Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods in the late 90s, which led to the building of Unity Plaza and the $11 million Grove Hall Mecca Mall, which according to observers, brought the economically ravaged communities back to life.

“Min. Don and Sis. Shirley have always been a beacon in our community; and we don't want their light to ever go out, so we are establishing scholarships in their name,” Mr. Ellison said.

He said the scholarships would be a way of continuing their legacy. “When the children of the future want to know about Min. Don and Sis. Shirley, we'll have the scholarships to show as an example how important the two of them were to us,” Mr. Ellison said.

The Final Call