Economic state of Black America discussed in Philadelphia

By Nisa Islam Muhammad -Staff Writer- | Last updated: Oct 24, 2011 - 10:48:13 AM

Dr. Leonard Jeffries holds a copy of “The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews” Volume Two. Photo: Mikal Veale

PHILADELPHIA (FinalCall.com) - “Why is everyone making progress, while we seem to be lagging behind?” asked The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan in his classic 1960 recording, “A White Man's Heaven is a Black Man's Hell.”

The answer to that relevant and still important question was given, October 8, during the workshop, The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews: The Economic State of Black America at the Holy Day of Atonement activities commemorating the 16th anniversary of the Million Man March.

While many from the Jewish leadership have dismissed and vehemently opposed discussions surrounding this clandestine relationship, the Nation of Islam's Research Group brought a panel of internationally and nationally known scholars to further delve into this hotly debated topic.

The workshop was a three-hour history seminar of facts and information that most attendees had never heard before unless they had previously read The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews Volume Two (TSRV2).

It started with an historical film presentation by researchers Sultan Muhammad and Ahmed Muhammad that laid the foundation for the workshop.

Economist and author Cedric MuhammadPhoto: Mikal Veale

“I was really surprised by what I saw,” said Marcia Johnson, from Philadelphia. “I just stopped in and was shocked by the information. I didn't learn anything like this in school. No wonder we can't make any progress. We got people purposely holding us down.”

“They can make all the progress and then call us names like anti-Semite so we get defensive and focus on them instead of making our own progress. This is something more people need to hear,” she added.

Economic Sanctions

The term “sanctions” is defined as imposing domestic penalties by one country or group of countries on another for a variety of reasons. A classic example is the 50 year United States embargo against Cuba.

Demetric Muhammad from Memphis outlined several economic sanctions the Black community has endured from Jews because of the charge of being anti-Semitic. This charge did not stem from the 80s when Minister Farrakhan was wrongfully accused of such. Mr. Muhammad documented such charges existing decades prior.

He explains, “In 1959, a Time Magazine article accuses the Nation of Islam (NOI) of “anti-Semitism”. In 1959, The American Jewish Committee sent Black spies from the Urban League to Mr. Muhammad's Newark, New Jersey, appearance. In 1963: The Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh labeled the Nation of Islam, “the anti-Semitic Negro extremist group known as the ‘Black Muslims.”

“In response to the 1959 Time Magazine article, the head of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith (ADL), Arnold Forster, admitted in a secret memo that “Time magazine notwithstanding, we have no documentable evidence of anti-Semitism on the part of the Temples of Islam movement or Elijah Muhammad.”

Mr. Demetric Muhammad told the standing room only audience that the ADL knew the Nation of Islam was not anti-Semitic, “Yet Jewish organizations publicly continued to label the NOI as anti-Semitic. In 1960, the chairman of the American Jewish Congress, Nathan Edelstein, wrote that, “We doubt whether the bulk of its followers are presently committed to anti-Semitism.”

Copies of “Defending Farrakhan: The Campaign to Free the Real Children of Israel” from the Nation of Islam Research Group were available for the very first time in Philadelphia. Photo: Courtney X

What followed student minister Demetric Muhammad said, were strategic efforts to thwart NOI economic gains to aid Black America.

Demetric Muhammad continued, “During the Historic Whiting H&G fish program (initiated by the NOI) that gave jobs to Black men and offered affordable and healthy food choices for Black mothers and families; it was according to Minister Farrakhan, National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger who wrote a letter to the Peruvian government to apply pressure to sever their business relationship with the NOI and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.”

The pressure continued and intensified years later.

In 1986 Minister Farrakhan announced that Johnson Products would be manufacturing the NOI P.O.W.E.R. products line. Many people were looking forward to the financial freedom and jobs the program promised. Weeks later, George Johnson announced his company would not manufacture goods for P.O.W.E.R. In a press statement, said he was breaking off negotiations with P.O.W.E.R. because “the recent publicity about the program has falsely given many the impression that we are anti-Semitic,” (Houston Chronicle Oct 1985). Johnson Products Co., was concerned that a link with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan could trigger accusations of anti-Semitism, and dropped plans to manufacture household and beauty products for a Black economic enterprise he helped create.

Demetric Muhammad explained that, after Minister Farrakhan received a $5 million loan from Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, the Minister put the money in a Black bank, with less interest, however, the directors of the bank actually begged him to take the money out of the bank as a result of outside pressure from those representing Jewish interest.

Members of the Nation of Islam later started security firms in the 1990s to stop the escalation of drugs and violence in the Black community. They received rave reviews, crime dropped dramatically but once again economic sanctions were placed on the Nation of Islam. In cities like Washington D.C., New York, Baltimore and Chicago, security agencies run by Nation of Islam members were targeted.

The term anti-Semite has been used as a weapon against any Black leader who fought for economic independence for Black people. According to TSRV2, in addition to Minister Farrakhan, the list of Blacks accused of being anti-Semitic at any given moment in time has included Julius Lester, Alice Walker, Michael Jackson, Spike Lee, Arsenio Hall, Muhammad Ali, Public Enemy, Oprah Winfrey, Kwame Ture, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Richard Wright, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Dr. Martin L. King Jr.

Dr. Ridgely Mu'min Muhammad, National Student Director of Muhammad Farms explained that it was clear that Blacks had skills, which is why they were sought after by those hoping to use their blood and sweat to build their world, and when Blacks have been allowed to work, in some cases became prosperous and invented many things.

“After slavery if we were just ignorant, stupid people they should have just let us go and we would have perished. We would have come running back to them but we didn't. We prospered. From 1865-1910 we bought 16 million acres of land, and had patents from 1865 to 1899 for the bicycle, doorknob, guitar, lawn mower, refrigerator and more. But we were betrayed over and over again by one masquerading as our friend,” he said.

Economist and author Cedric Muhammad explained that the betrayal began with the Compromise of 1877. “Something happened that put us back in virtual slavery,” he said.

The Compromise of 1877 is also known as the Great Betrayal, which was a deal that decided the election between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden.

“We are always at the center of the problem and the solution,” said Cedric Muhammad. “The deal was represented to congress by Jewish congressman William Levy, March 1, 1877.”

“The Jewish community enjoyed the highest levels of acceptance and integration in the Jim Crow South. They did not advocate on our behalf. They were not conductors on the Underground Railroad, ” said Cedric Muhammad.

Workshop Highlights

Attorney Ava Muhammad explained that the Western world's educational system only serves to make Black people “burden bearers who only seek the approval and to work for White people.”

“Ninety-three percent of teachers are White women. She is helping her man maintain our inferiority. We must take our children out of their schools,” said Atty. Muhammad.

Dr. Leonard Jefferies, author and historian gave rave reviews regarding the scholarship and research contained in TSRV2 and expressed his happiness, that a new generation of researchers has taken up the struggle to liberate our people from the shackles of ignorance and miseducation.

“Our liberation is key,” he said. “We will win but we are programmed to fail. How can our youth defend themselves with their pants at their thighs? How can they defend their mothers, their children?”

“We don't know how much more time we have. We have to do something now,” he added.

Professor Griff, author and member of rap group Public Enemy, “After slavery the ex-slave met the Jewish merchant and sharecropping took place. The same thing is going on today at the record label,” he said. “We're picking electronic cotton for the slave master and his children.”

He described what is referred to in the industry as the “360 degree deal” that artists are presented in which managers get a part of any income that an artist generates.

The program ended with the introduction of the Freedom Roll toilet paper, an economic project spearheaded by Brother Kamose Muhammad and others as a part of the Nation of Islam's ministry of Trade and Commerce as well as a call to action.

Additionally, two newly released books were introduced, “Defending Farrakhan: The Campaign to Free the Real Children of Israel” and a small information-packed booklet titled: “How White Folks Got So Rich: The Untold Story of American White Supremacy.”

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