Youth embrace manhood message taught by Min. Farrakhan

By Toure Muhammad -Contributing Writer- | Last updated: May 4, 2016 - 2:25:34 PM

Min. Farrakhan shares moment with young man inside the Muhammad University gymnasium.

CHICAGO—“Let’s take our own community over and make it a safe and decent place to live,” urged the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan during his keynote address to the roughly 500 teens attending the 2nd Annual Boys to Men “Let Us Make Man” conference.

Organized by Student Minister Shahid Muhammad and hosted at Mosque Maryam, the April 30 conference featured motivational sessions, physical fitness and nutrition, and an instructional martial arts demonstration aimed at helping the young men get an idea of what real manhood looks like.

“I came out to bring my little 12-year-old brother because he is on the wrong path,” said 18-year-old Komla Amoaku. “I wanted to show him a group of men being successful, besides myself, because our dad is not around.”

The highlight of the event was the powerful keynote message from Min. Farrakhan who opened his remarks by giving the young men some knowledge about themselves and their potential.

Muslims brought family members and other young men to the April 30 sessions. Photos: Haroon Rajaee

“Who are you? You are god. Listen. How did you become god? He made you, in his image and after his likeness. So how could you be from God and not have the potential to become a god?” asked the Minister.

Minister Farrakhan, during his roughly hour-long talk, defined and explained principles of manhood and provided steps on how to become a man.

“Every man has to become a producer. You will never be considered a man until you can produce for yourself what mommy and daddy produced for you when you were a boy,” he said.

The Chicago-based conference comes as news headlines, seemingly every night, highlight violence in Chicago fueled often by young Black men.

To help end youth violence, the Mosque Maryam Peace Makers told attendees that a Squash the Beef Hotline (312-252-3077) to help mediate disagreements and disputes in the community exists.

Activist LaMon Reccord with young members of the Fruit of Islam.

Advocates assert that the combination of no jobs, poor conflict resolution skills, easy access to guns and drugs and ineffective schools has resulted in nearly half of young Black men in Chicago ages 20 to 24 being neither in school nor working, according to a report by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Great Cities Institute.

“Who set that madness up? It’s our enemy, brother. It’s our enemy, mother,” explained the Minister.

“What you see (and) what you hear creates your mind. So if (your enemy) can create your mind, based on filth and degenerate thought and behavior, (your enemy) can control your destiny, just by controlling your sights, your sounds and your knowledge,” he continued.

The Minister shared anecdotes about the importance of men taking care of any life they bring into the world and encouraged the youth to finish school, get knowledge of self from the mosque and get into business to become producers and to care for the community.

“When boys become men, they become the protectors of the community,” he added.

“I loved introducing powerful and strong people who are going to help us become strong men,” said Justice Born, the 12-year-old event emcee and current Muhammad University of Islam student. “I felt very empowered by the Minister’s speech. He taught me what to do, what not to do and to respect our women and build things for our nation.”

The event included a light lunch and a resource fair that included information on expungement, college resources and more.

During the refreshment portion, young men talked about what they got out of the event.

“I learned today that young Black men in our community need to stop calling ourselves ‘niggas,’ using violence and that we need to be mature to our sisters and stop using the b-word to refer to them. It should not be allowed. We are sons and daughters of the Lord,” said 14-year-old Kewanne Landfair, a 4.0 student.

“I have been following Farrakhan for about a year and half now,” said 17-year-old Deave McNeal, who travelled from the West Side of Chicago to attend the conference. “What stood out to me was his talking about us uniting in business. That’s brilliant. That’s what we need to do. Come together and create our own institutions.”

Not all attendees were from Chicago, however. David Muhammad and son Muhsi flew up from Atlanta to attend the conference. “I wanted to give my son the experience to hear it for himself live. I wanted him to sit in the mosque and experience the Minister. He just turned 15 a couple of days ago.”

“Besides the Minister of course, what stood out to me was the Hip Hop Detoxx,” said Muhsi. “That was pretty amazing how they flowed that; the African spirit and everything.” He added that based on what he heard, he’s going to show more honor to his mother on his birthday and Mothers’ Day.

A resource fair was set up in Muhammad University to help young men with a variety of issues from education, to expungement to jobs. Photos: Haroon Rajaee

Conference presenters included Student Ministers Abel and Abdul Muhammad, Brandon Muhammad, Aaron Muhammad, Victor Love of Breaking Bread, Shodan Celeritus Muhammad, and Sensei Daniel Muhammad.

To help keep the teens engaged, the conference included, spirited and uplifting hip hop and spoken word messages from Enoch Muhammad representing Hip Hop Detoxx, DA Smart and Gat Turner, AK-47, Qadir “Goalden Chyld” Muhammad and others.

“Everyone was inspired and having the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s appearance took it up to huge heights,” said Shahid Muhammad.

“I think it’s important that my son is surrounded by strong men because he does not have a father figure in his life right now,” said Aleta Clark, a young mom who brought her son. Both were hearing the Minister for the first time.

Seventeen-year-old Khary enjoyed the conference, noting, “We sometimes don’t get along and we need to show more love.” The aspiring architect was struck by the history of how Blacks have been conquered and the Minister’s strong message to Black people.

“The message I got today from Farrakhan was that how he really brought the inner me out,” said Kijel Grant, a 17-year-old dreadlocked Chicagoan. “He really taught on how to be a man and everything and how to change. It is change. You can do whatever you are capable of. To be a man is to be strong and to be great, I got a lot out of the session today,” he said.

Khalil Muhammad, who is a Muslim, 21, and a member of AK 47, performed at the Boys To Men conference. He enjoyed hearing the Minister and sharing his music as a hip hop artist. But there was an additional impact that Khalil Muhammad shared. “I saw the light and the concern in our young brothers’ eyes man. And it changed me in a way; it’s starting to make me become more focused after today. And I want to get out and just touch my brothers more and just reach my brothers any way I can. I thank the Minister. I love you Brother Minister and what we do from this day out is all for you,” he vowed.

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