Justifiable Homicide: Black Youth in Peril

By Ashahed M. Muhammad
FCN Contributing Writer | Last updated: Nov 12, 2007 - 12:16:00 PM

FCN Video: Justifiable Homicide: Black Youth in Peril

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
Young audience listen intently to the message. Photos: Kenneth Muhammad/

MOSQUE MARYAM (FinalCall.com) - The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan delivered a stern message and a warning regarding God’s law of justice and respect for human life to the standing room only crowd at the national headquarters of the Nation of Islam, and those viewing in 120 cities across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Africa on Oct. 28.

Speaking directly to the hearts of those who came to hear his serious message of concern for Black youth, Minister Farrakhan set the tone for his message, titled “Justifiable Homicide: Black Youth in Peril,” by deconstructing the baseless claims of those attempting to describe him as a hate teacher.

“Today, I don’t want you to think that I am trying to teach hatred. To teach the truth, that might produce hatred, is not my fault,” said Minister Farrakhan. “If the truth of something makes you dislike it, that is not teaching hate; that’s teaching truth.”

Minister Farrakhan mentioned the increase in displays of anti-Black hatred in the United States and the spate of nooses being hung in many cities. He also pointed out increased incidents of racially motivated physical attacks against Blacks.

“This is to let Black people know that there is still a great deal of hatred for us in this society,” he said.

Using the example of the Armenian people, who teach their youth about the injustices they suffered at the hands of the Turks during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, as well as the Jewish people, who teach their children of their suffering during the holocaust, Minister Farrakhan said Black people fail to teach our children of the indignities that our forefathers suffered.

He then discussed the importance of the Reconstruction Period (1865-1877) in which progress was made by Blacks who had been elected to political positions and became business owners after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. To maintain White supremacy and the rule by fear, lynchings were committed by those intent on sending the message that Blacks should “stay in their place,” and not challenge White political and economic rule.

The principle of justice

Young Black men across the nation listen to Minister Farrakhan�s serious message of concern for Black youth.

Minister Farrakhan quoted the words of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who said “Justice is the principle of fair dealing. Justice is the law that distinguishes between right and wrong. Justice is the weapon that God will use in the Day of Judgment.” Minister Farrakhan also said the principle of justice is summed up in the teachings of Jesus, who said “whatever a man soweth, so shall he reap.”

“Did he [Jesus] say that those who live by the sword would die by marches? Did he say that those who live by the sword would die by massive protest? Did he say that those who live by the sword would die by prayers in front of public buildings, kneeling and begging and pleading? He said those who kill by the sword will die by the very sword that they used to kill others,” said Minister Farrakhan.

“The God of Justice will use the Law of Justice as a weapon against White supremacy, and also as a weapon against wicked governments that have misused their power and authority in destroying the lives of innocent human beings.”

Injustice brings its natural response

“Injustice brings its natural response. No matter how long it takes, injustice must be answered by justice,” said Minister Farrakhan. He used the example of the Palestinian people who have, as a result of the many injustices suffered by their people, chosen to use their bodies as weapons because they are unable to compete with the sophisticated weaponry of the Israeli Defense Force.

Many young Palestinians, men and women have chosen death instead of continuing an oppressed way of life, to which Minister Farrakhan said that before we judge their actions, we should look at the circumstances that produced such a violent response.

“They [Israelis] stole land—there is no innocence there. If there is no deliberative body there to give justice to the Palestinians, how will you charge them? Injustice disturbs the balance of the mind,” Minister Farrakhan said. “Look how long the Palestinians have been without justice. What has that injustice done to the balance of the mind?”

He said injustice without the proper redress of grievances creates uncivilized behavior, and often, violence. However, this can be avoided.

“A person will not resort to violence if they can feel in their heart that somebody cares,” he said.

Blacks marked for death worldwide

Minister Farrakhan recounted his travels to the African continent and his interaction with officials in many African nations. He told of the scourge of depleted uranium and atomic waste that has been buried in many African countries such as the Sudan, and the fact that in many African nations, the AIDS rate is so high that tens of thousands are dying, with entire generations being wiped out.

Some African nations such as Botswana have been forced to trade diamonds for AIDS medicine of questionable origins and effectiveness, while the wealth of Africa is being transferred to the European nations. This is all part of a plan placed into action by the “scientists of evil.”

“I’m talking about the ones that rule. When you know them you are coming face to face with Satan himself. You’re being killed and you don’t even know that you’re dying,” said Minister Farrakhan, reminding the audience of the words of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad who said, “You can’t fathom the depths of Satan.”

Black people, killing themselves

Minister Farrakhan cited statistics from a U.S. Department of Justice report which showed that in the year 2005, Blacks were victims of 800,000 violent crimes, and approximately 8,000 homicides. Black males between the ages of 18 and 25 accounted for 52 percent (6,800) of the nearly 13,000 male homicide victims in that year—most of them losing their lives at the hands of another Black man.

“Is this justifiable? If it’s not justifiable, then it is not excusable. And if it is not excusable, what price are we going to pay for the destruction of ourselves?” Minister Farrakhan asked.

“Black youth are in peril because you are killing your own people whom God wants to save, and killing your brothers is not justified. It is not excusable, therefore it is punishable by death. You have now invited death into our communities. The very enemy who is made a liar and a murderer by nature will be set loose by God and he will slaughter us just like he is [slaughtering] the Palestinians.”

Minister Farrakhan ended his message with this admonition to the audience:

“There is such a thing as justifiable homicide. When God gets ready to punish, He kills men, women and children indiscriminately, and nobody accuses God of being unjust.”

Those in attendance enjoyed Minister Farrakhan’s heartfelt and sincere message of warning and guidance for the youth.

“That’s what brought me here today. I want to participate because it’s about the youth. That is the future,” said Jerry Fort of Chicago, immediately following Minister Farrakhan’s lecture.

Reginald Washington agreed, saying, “I have a sense of hope that somebody is standing up,” said the 23-year old Chicago resident. “The message by Minister Farrakhan was uplifting, inspiring, and emotional. I learned a lot that I did not know.”

In Houston, Benson Jackson, a Communications major at Lamar University, commented, “I enjoyed the lecture. Minister Farrakhan was on point in that we are committing unjustifiable homicides on one another.”

Jamese Berry, a junior at Girls and Boys Preparatory Academy in Houston, said the message was “very interesting.” “He spoke the truth,” she said, while 19-year-old Royce Green shared, “Minister Farrakhan is always powerful.”

Jesse Muhammad contributed to this article.

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