The Final Call

Rock Newman, Julianne Malveaux among those honored by Muhammad Mosque No. 4

What's your opinion on this article?

WASHINGTON (FinalCall.com) - A broad cross section of both young and old packed the newly rebuilt Frank W. Ballou Senior High School to hear the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s Saviours’ Day 2015 address, Feb. 22.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux, former president of Bennett College for Women accepted an award from Muhammad Mosque No. 4, the Mid-Atlantic Regional headquarters of the Nation of Islam, on behalf of herself and Mrs. Cora Masters Barry, former First Lady of the District of Columbia.

“I know I am looking at a reproduction of God’s work,” said Dr. Malveaux—a friend of Minister Farrakhan since the Million Man March. In her five years as president of Bennett College, she raised more than $100 million to aid the HBCU, and her good friend Mrs. Barry, has helped transform the Ward 8 community where Ballou H.S. is located, building a 40,000 square-foot tennis stadium and educational center with the help of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.

Television host Rock Newman, another award recipient, recalled his “long friendship and love affair” with the Nation of Islam, which began when he was just 12 years old, watching Muhammad Ali recite a poem on television, one week before he became World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, announced his membership in the Nation of Islam, and later refused to bow to the U.S. war machine attempting to draft him for military service.

Mr. Newman would himself later become a boxing promoter, managing Heavyweight Champion Riddick Bowe, among other professional fighters.

Mr. Newman recalled fondly when he first met Minister Farrakhan when he attended a lecture at Howard University, and when—known then simply as Eugene Newman—he was mistaken by F.O.I. security for a Caucasian protestor attempting to attend and possibly disrupt the Minister’s appearance. Mr. Newman participated in the Million Man March, and described the honor he felt years later—“with every fiber of my being”—when Minister Farrakhan was the featured speaker at his 25th wedding anniversary celebration.

Honoree Al-Malik Farrakhan—founder of the youth-street-activist organization Cease Fire Don’t Smoke the Brothers and the Sisters—recalled a special healing moment in his life, when, after emerging, wheelchair-bound from incarceration, Minister Farrakhan touched his legs and said a prayer for him—“to be blessed with the use of his legs again, because he (the Minister) might one day need his wheelchair. Three years later Brother Al-Malik reported, he got up out of the wheelchair and discarded his crutches.

Students from Muhammad University of Islam in Washington were also recognized. Brother Alonzo Campbell received the Most Improved Student Award, and Sister Lela Muhammad received the M.U.I. Leadership Award.

The event was held at what is hailed as “The New Ballou.” The newly renovated campus, which includes 87 classrooms, a state-of-the-art auditorium, and a cafeteria with a two-story atrium, welcomed students for the first time in January 2015.

The school is renowned for its legendary marching band which has appeared in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Presidential Inaugural Parades and in the celebrated Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, had also earned a reputation for poor academics, poor attendance, rowdiness, and crime—sometimes involving Ballou students—in the surrounding neighborhood.

But N.O.I. officials, Ward 8 residents, school administrators and even the top levels of the city administration have all pledged to work together to renew and enhance “The New Ballou.”

After working closely with N.O.I. officials in the short time since classes have resumed at the new campus, school administrator Todd Mitchell, accepted an award and the gratitude of Muhammad Mosque No. 4 on behalf of Ballou High School and its principal, Dr. Yetunde Reeves.