National News

Memphis, Mississippi work to Save Our Girls

By Donna Muhammad | Last updated: Apr 28, 2015 - 8:08:24 AM

What's your opinion on this article?

saveourgirls525_4.jpg

saveourgirls_memphis_05-05-2015.jpg
(L) Promoting Save Our Girls at the Memphis Black Expo. (R)

MEMPHIS—Three weeks prior to the historic “Save Our Girls: A Nation can Rise no Higher than its Woman” event hosted by M.G.T. and G.C.C. of the Nation of Islam both nationally and internationally and featuring a keynote address by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, sisters spread the word throughout the metropolitan area of Memphis and into the far reaches of the Mississippi Delta. Enthusiasm throughout the city, through Facebook and Twitter grew as the day approached.
saveourgirls_memphis_05-05-2015b.jpg
(Top) Sister Gena Muhammad welcomes guests to the “How to Take Care of Your Husband” Display. (Bottom) Audience in Memphis listens closely to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.

In a joint effort with the Southaven (Mississippi) Study Group of the Nation of Islam and the Westwood Community Center, sisters of Muhammad Mosque No. 55 in Memphis filled all three venues to capacity resulting in close to 200 women and girls in attendance. A special showing was also given to a small group of women in the Mississippi Delta community of Marks.

As women and girls of the surrounding communities, sat alongside the women of the Nation of Islam, they were absorbed by the presentations on screen before them that reflected the reformation taught by the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad in their midst. According to one guest, Contondra, the presentations showed the importance of the role of the Black woman in the home and as well as the society. “It has been a beautiful day. I truly enjoyed being a woman today. It is very important that we recognize our roles and these classes today show the importance of that,” she said. “My takeaway from today is that we must uplift our sisters.”

saveourgirls_ms_05-05-2015.jpg
Pastor Betty Tyler of Arise V Renaissance Center and the National Union for American Families shared how the day she graduated in 2010 from the University of Memphis, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan was sitting in the balcony when she was receiving her degree. With a background in global ops, a specially designed degree, Pastor Betty indicated that she has been aligning her work with the fall of America, also the title of the timely book by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. “I am here today and it is so awesome. Actually without talking to any sister in the room, I am seeing social wellness around the room.  We are talking about bringing the trade back of sewing and the other skill sets that I am able to train in. I’m aiming to do that on a global level and I need to work with the Minister to do that.  I am so glad to be here. Sis. Jamie X invited me and it was awesome,” said Pastor Betty.

Women and girls came to the program for different reasons.  Keaunna Williams stated she came because, she was interested in joining the religion of Islam and her co-worker invited her to come to this particular and special class. “It was about how to treat your husband and your kids and everything and I thought it would be interesting, so I came,” she said. Ms. Williams face lit up at the drill exhibition. “I especially liked the drill because I was in the military and I could relate to that.”

saveourgirls_ms_05-05-2015b.jpg
Fellowshipping after the Save Our Girls event in Memphis.

As the special day wrapped up and guests visited the beautiful tables set up by the M.G.T. to represent the Seven Units taught in the M.G.T. and registered to take training classes, they also fellowshipped with one another over refreshments. Sister Jill Muhammad, wife of Student Minister Anthony Muhammad, Mid-South Representative of Min. Farrakhan, shared her final thoughts on the day.  “I was so full and so proud to be a member of the Nation of Islam. To see the M.G.T. and G.C.C. and Vanguard rise to heights that I could only dream about 25 years ago when I came into the Nation and all the Believers could ride around in one little car and to see these girls achieve these goals and perform and be as well-spoken and as organized as they are, I was so proud to be a part of the Nation of Islam,” said Sister Jill. “That’s the message I would share with anyone—I am just so proud.”