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Subscribe] FinalCall.com News - Refer This Page Perspectives “O mankind, surely We have created you from a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other...” —Holy Qur’an 49:13 Latino men and women of the Nation of Islam (N.O.I.) from the Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Columbian, Ecuadorian, Belizean and Chilean community traveled from all over the country and Canada to participate in the three day N.O.I. Saviours’ Day Convention held in Chicago, IL on February 22-24. Saviours’ Day is the annual commemoration of the Birth of Master Fard Muhammad, on February 26, the Founder of the Nation of Islam. The convention culminated with the keynote address, “The Gods At War; The Future Is All About Y.O.U.th” by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Saviours’ Day is a very exciting time for all in the N.O.I., a family reunion at its best. Though many would like to believe that the N.O.I. is a religion for “Blacks,” the Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught that “Mexicans should be given the same teachings” that were given to the Black man and woman. Through the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad we (Latinos) have learned to “accept our own and be ourselves” and we have embraced a unity that extends beyond our individual nationality. During Saviours’ Day weekend N.O.I. Latinos had a vending booth for distribution of a DVD to raise funds towards the Saviours’ Day gift. Also available were Saviours’ Day gift calendars and greeting cards, Pastel De Habichuela (Frijol) con Dulce (Bean Pie) and Agua de Jamaica (popular Caribbean drink). The DVD titled: “Embracing the Original Family” was created as a tool to demonstrate that the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad as taught by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan are universal and intended for the entire Original family. The DVD that was used as a fundraiser towards the Saviours’ Day Gift, included video footage of Bro. Abel Muhammad the N.O.I. Latino Representative, a beautiful picture collection of Latinos in the N.O.I., student lessons, scriptures from the Holy Qur’an, quotes by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and audio of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan explaining who we Latinos and Native Americans truly are in relation to the Black man and woman. In the October 2006 edition of Hispanic magazine an article titled “Hispanics are turning to Islam in increasing numbers” by Kirk Nielsen, it is noted that “Muslim organizations estimate that of the 35 million Hispanics in the United States about 400,000 practice Islam (Source: Islam Society of North America). That is a small percentage, but one that is on the rise along with the Latino population.” Contrary to what many may know, Latinos embracing the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad is not something new. Latino presence in the N.O.I. has existed since prior to 1975. Historically, Latinos have roots in Islam that go back to the Moors in Spain. As followers of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, we are returning to Islam—a religion that is not foreign to us. And through the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad we have found true self worth and great self empowerment that has led us to make changes and take charge of our lives by developing ourselves spiritually, mentally, physically and intellectually. Today, we strive to live productive lives and see ourselves as “Gods,” children of the Most High God. We now know that we can do anything that we set our minds to and believe that we too are worthy of prosperous lives despite the miserable and difficult lives that we may have endured in the past. Today, with the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad we can begin to uncover, if it is pleasing to Allah (God) the truth of who we Latinos, Blacks and Native Americans are as family. We now have the key that can bring us to the realization that we are truly blood of each others blood, flesh of each others flesh and can put an end to Latino on Latino crimes and crimes committed against one another in the Latino and Black community. We (Latino) members of the Nation of Islam desire to bring the life giving teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad as taught to us by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to members of the Original Nation in the Western Hemisphere, which includes the indigenous inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere and all their descendants in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean (also referred to as so-called Latinos) and to help unite the Original people by promoting the Divine Revelation which was given to us. “And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colours. Surely there are signs in this for the learned.” —Holy Qur’an 30:22
(Written by Theresa X Torres, a Latina in the Nation of Islam from Mosque Number 26B in Oakland, Calif.)
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