Engaging the youth, preparing for the future

By Ashahed M. Muhammad and Nisa Islam Muhammad -Final Call Staffers- | Last updated: Dec 1, 2014 - 1:01:05 PM

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, (center) is seated with participants of the Black United Students International Conference at Morgan State University. Photo: Robert Muhammad

A major message with serious impact at Morgan State University (FCN)

BALTIMORE - Though the narrative in the media is that Black youth are irredeemable and don’t care about the future, hundreds of middle school, high school and college students convened at Morgan State University for the 2nd annual Black United Students International (BUSI) conference.

The conference brings together students from America’s historically Black colleges and universities for strategy sessions and networking purposes. More importantly, elders are involved and specifically charged with engaging, inspiring and motivating the youth, and that is exactly what happened.

“You are the most important people in this room,” said Richard B. Muhammad, Editor-in-Chief of The Final Call and moderator of the event. “The younger you are, the more important you are, the more vital you are because any nation that loses its young people has no future,” he added.

“Elders are responsible for the children,” said Richard B. Muhammad. “Too often we blame the children for the failures of the adults,” he added.

During the interactive panel discussion, the conference theme—centering on the subject of reparations—generated a lively discussion. The young people, ranging in age from the early teens to the early twenties, were engaged throughout.

Morgan State University Professor Dr. Ray Winbush during his enlightening yet easy to understand presentation on reparations said there have been studies indicating that if you calculate the free labor of enslaved Blacks in building the Western world, it would amount to roughly 10 trillion dollars. It is about justice, and not a handout, he noted.

Black people celebrate the Fourth of July, also called Independence Day, even though Black people were not in a state of “independence” on July 4, 1776. Many Black people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, including wearing all green, even though we are not Irish at all, he noted.

“We are told to forget about slavery,” said Dr. Winbush. “We celebrate things often times because we don’t know what the truth is, and we need to know what the truth is.

Enoch Muhammad, director of Hip Hop Detoxx showed the students how sound, imagery and language impacts their thinking and guides their actions. He played Hip-Hop songs from what many consider to be the “Golden Era” in which rappers delivered positive and educational messages through their lyrics. The same music that is used to degrade and insult can be used to inspire and uplift, he said.

“If this is what real Hip-Hop is about, then what are we listening to today” he asked.

He then played lyrics from songs that are currently very popular. Many of the young people began to move to the beat and rhythm of the songs instantly after hearing just a few notes of music. He also played an assortment of musical selections that the young people were familiar with to show how music spans generations. Most rappers, and young people tend to simply go along with what appears to be popular for fear of being different.

“Many choose to be followers because it is easier to follow than it is to lead,” he said.

The young students from Booker T. Washington Middle School enjoyed themselves, but they were also forced to think. One presenter, Farajii Muhammad, who hosts a weekly radio show on Morgan State University’s radio station assisted the youth in interacting with the elders by having everyone introduce themselves to another person at the conference they didn’t know. They also had to tell the other person something about themselves that was special and unique.

Danesha Walker, 13, said the conference was interesting. Her views represented the views of many others present.

“It was good, I learned things about Black people I didn’t know, that we are strong and have a powerful history.”

Jazzanai Stevens, 12, said she found the most interesting part to be the part about women being called out of their names. Tyjera Smith, 13, said she enjoyed the discussion about how music, drugs and crime are destroying Black communities.

Anthony Pena, an administrator at Booker T. Washington Middle School brought over 40 students between the ages of 11 and 15, and they were really responsive to the presenters.

“I thought it was great, and really tailored to our youth. At the end of the day, it is not about the adults, it is about how we connect to our youth and help develop them to become our future,” said Mr. Pena. “The Hip Hop Detoxx was very good because our students learn by music, we are an arts school too, so for them it is the language of the people. He talked about environment and overcoming the environment,” he added.

Joel Roberson 20, Morgan State University Accounting major, enjoyed the BUSI conference, and said what was discussed motivated him to be more active in mentoring Black youth, and encouraging others to join him.

“I want to help get the youth started early, every time you get that chance just talk to the youth, get them on the right track, on the right path,” Mr. Roberson added.

“To see the young people here is inspiring and it means a lot,” said Karimah Miller, a 22-year-old Social Work major at Nashville State University, who also delivered insightful commentary as part of a panel of female student leaders.

Meeting of the Minds

Later in the afternoon at the Marriott Baltimore Inner Harbor at Camden Yards, a select group of about 40 student leaders and organizers met with the Minister for a special message and a Question and Answer session.

“You don’t know how happy I am to see you,” said Minister Farrakhan as he smiled at their young faces. “You are the generation that will bring about real change for our people that will make our ancestors exceedingly happy,” he added.

The youth of the civil rights movement suffered a lot to bring this day about, said the Minister. They decided they could not take it anymore, and did what they needed to do to obtain freedom. In the present day, what is happening in Ferguson is an example of young people that are fed up and will not continue to live under injustice and tyranny.

“As you can see the job is done,” said Min. Farrakhan. “You have to understand your specific role in this time period,” he added.

Minister Farrakhan was happy to see Dr. Ray Winbush present. He described Dr. Winbush as a “noble teacher.”

“The more you listen to an elder like him, the wiser you’ll become,” Minister Farrakhan told the students.

While delivering words of guidance, the Minister warned them never to be satisfied with what they are being taught if it is not equipping them to build a world and to effectively solve the problems of their people. He also warned them never to let people stop them from pursuing knowledge and the truth that will free them.

“Never let the enemy—Black or White—tell you who you can listen to,” he said.

Shaquayah Mckenzie, 23, a graduate of Morgan State University and former Student Government President at Morgan State University also had advice for those who would condemn the Minister without even hearing him.

“You should probably do some personal research and definitely take the time to understand his story and the opposition’s story and why he’s positioned in society and looked at in a certain way,” said Ms. Mckenzie also a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

After his words and the Q&A session, many of the young people pulled out their tablets and smart phones to take pictures with the Minister.

Aisha Turner, 20, a Howard University Physician Assisting Major, says she is very much influenced by the Minister’s words, and traveled with a friend of hers for a chance to witness history.

“The Minister is actually one of the leaders you want to meet in life,” said Ms. Turner.

Jatima Cross, 22, and a Senior Biology major originally from Chicago wants to own her own dental school. The Minister’s words connected with her.

“Sometimes his words bring tears to my eyes because they resonate with what is really in me and what I want to do,” said Ms. Cross. “When he talks about nation building, it makes me feel good to know that I’m on the right path,” she said.

Khari Malik 21, Senior at Morgan State University “It was some pretty good and useful information that could kind of open our eyes up to some things,” said Mr. Malik.

Steven Jones, 22, is a double major in Photography and Graphic Design. He’s also a member of the organization Strong Men Overcoming Obstacles Through Hard Work (SMOOTH). He said people should not take Minister Farrakhan’s words or presence for granted.

“Oh my God! It was unbelievable and amazing the things he was saying and one thing that stuck out to me is that they were trying to turn the HBCUs into plantations and we have to make the HBCUs relevant,” said Mr. Jones. “I was honored just to be here to sit to hear what he said. He’s a great and honorable man and is somebody you should take heed to and listen to,” he said.

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