A Family Reunion

At the close of the first Black History month of this new century our community witnessed a Family Reunion which will be written in the pages of history� an Islamic Family Reunion. The vision of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and many others, was fulfilled in Chicago as two great men prayed together, and shared the same platform to announce their commitment to work together for the cause of Islam.

As the international representative of the Nation of Islam and assistant to Min. Farrakhan, I know first hand of the desire from both sides to work together for the betterment of our people. In August 1983, Imam Warith Deen Mohammed and Min. Farrakhan met to talk about a working unity. I believe that the hearts of both of these men were hungry, for the good of Islam, and the salvation of many Black Americans who are troubled and cannot seem to find their way to a better quality of life in America. For 17 years, words got in the way of what both hearts wanted.

The year Min. Farrakhan spent out of the public life wrestling with the side effects from his battle with prostate cancer, he reflected on his vision of unity. He has said to me on many occasions, "should Allah take our lives this day�what legacy will we leave for our children and grandchildren?" What will history say of us during this time when we were at the helm of our ships? We must make the steps in words and action that we can forge this unity.

My heart was overjoyed to see these two men smiling at each other, praying together, and pledging to work together. This is what we all wanted to see and hear. The press is suggesting that Min. Farrakhan is moving away from his nationalist position. This is their attempt to send signals to struggling Black communities around the world, that in some way Min. Farrakhan will not be the strong voice for the issues and concerns that affect us as a whole. As Min. Farrakhan said in his keynote address: "I have not and will not abandon my Black brothers and sisters." I have known him since 1961 and have worked with him since 1965. I can tell you with certainty that Min. Farrakhan loves Allah (God), his faith and Black people. He is a defender of our cause and is committed to his people who are struggling under the yoke of injustice.

EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE, that is the nature of life. Has Min. Farrakhan changed? I can say Min. Farrakhan has changed. I feel that Allah (God) has showed him the way to fulfill a vision he has had since 1977 when we started on the road to rebuild the Nation of Islam. He and thousands of other Muslims who grew into maturity in the Nation of Islam, longed to be one! Longed to be together! Longed to use what had been handed down to us as Muslims under the guidance of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad to better the condition of our people.

Yes, Min. Farrakhan has changed. He has moved our struggle to a new level. Let us who know the importance of unity, give this new marriage (of two Islamic communities) time to work out the "kinks." It may be difficult at times. But it is a marriage of necessity. Long live the unity of these two communities, long live the vision of Imam Mohammed and Min. Farrakhan.