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Approximately 300 people filled Faith United’s sanctuary, reception room and lined the rear walls to hear Atty. Shabazz discuss his mentor’s life and legacy in the liberation struggle and his work of helping Minister Farrakhan rebuild the NOI.
Dr. Khallid passed away under mysterious circumstances at age 53 in a North Georgia hospital on February 17, 2001. Medical reports cited a brain aneurism. During his talk, Atty. Shabazz shared historical facts of Dr. Khallid’s childhood and adult life leading up to his passing.
Guests included NOI Interna-tional Representative Minister Akbar Muhammad, Mother Tynnetta Muhammad, wife of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Western Regional Minister Tony Muhammad, Minister Emeritus Abdul Wazir Muhammad, Chief Ernie Lonewalker and his wife Warrior Woman, Faith United community liaison Molly Bell, the Kryst Unity Center’s Rev. Richard Byrd (a.k.a. Meri Kara) and community activists Dorothy Freeman and Karlotta Muhammad.
From the outset, Atty. Shabazz addressed the nationwide “Khallid Muhammad question” and drew applause when he made his intentions clear: “I have not come to Los Angeles to cause division amongst Black people and Black organizations, but I have come from a unique position and unique vantage point to try to heal some of the wounds in the Black nation, so that we may move on in an African united front towards our liberation and independence.”
He said his focus was to show that Dr. Khallid was one of the greatest Black leaders to ever live, and that although Dr. Khallid embarked on a different path from his spiritual father and teacher, he always loved Minister Farrakhan, the NOI and his people.
He also refuted questions of loyalty as Dr. Khallid’s successor and standing with Minister Farrakhan as a MMM co-convener. “Black people are tired of division, and we don’t need any more division in the Black nation and in the Black community. I’m a student of Khallid Muhammad but I don’t mind, and I don’t care what nobody thinks about it, I love the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan!” he declared.
He added, “Just as much as Khallid Abdul Muhammad helped to shape my life and was a captain and minister over me, I must also say that Minister Louis Farrakhan has had a profound effect on my life. And I must carry this mission out right now to heal the wounds in the Black community.”
Gloria Terry, the eldest of Dr. Khallid and their five other siblings, was overwhelmed by the tribute, which included poetry and music by poet and guitarist Nefatari and the Nappy Tongue Grassroots Poets.
She said that, like Dr. Khallid’s preaching ability, his magnetism of the youth came natural. “His key was if you want something, you have to get involved with it. He would get out there and play basketball with them, football, whatever it took,” she remembered.
She added, “He never had anything that was too good, I don’t care if it was a suit. He would take the tie off and get tennis shoes from one of our Brothers and get out there.”
Min. Wazir called the presentation wonderful. “Bro. Malik and his dedication to Min. Khallid and his desire to stand in his spot and restore the good work that he has done is very good. So good that he and all of those—Panthers, Muslims, Christians—who desire to see Black people free, who were part of the [Million] Youth March in New York City, are coming together with the multitudes. [His] standing as co-convenor with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, it’s a definite plus,” he observed.
The Sankofa Media Network, Pan African Front and “Freedom Now,” a weekly radio program heard every Thursday on KPFK/90.7 FM, organized the tribute.
Dedon Kamathi, Sankofa organizer and “Freedom Now” host, said that the event was designed to strengthen the movement for a united front: “It is part of our process to facilitate a broader unity with a wide spectrum of ideological movements within the African world.”