A Black History Month Community Forum
That Examines
The Legacy of Malcolm X in 21^st Century America

3 Brothers Who Knew Malcolm Discuss

“44 Years Later, Would Malcolm X
Be Happy in America 2009?”
Join
Professor James Blake
Radio Personality, Bob Law
Professor James Small

6:30 PM, Thursday, February 19, 2009

Bethesda Baptist Church
Jamaica Avenue & 179^th Street
Jamaica, New York 11432

Admission is Free

For Information, 347-531-8936

Project Links Jewish, Christian and Muslim Teens

Boston, MA – Feb , 2009 – Leading local community organizations Art Builds Community (ABC,  Islamic Society of Boston (ISB), Center for Jewish-Muslim Relations (CJMR), Congregation Dorshei Tzekek (CDT), the Al Huda Society (AHS), and Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (CMM) have created the 2009 Boston Interfaith Youth Mural.  In a time when interfaith relations have been been strained, the project has brought together teens from Muslim, Christian and Jewish backgrounds to engage in a joint mural art project which will be displayed and celebrated publicly as a tool for building bridges of understanding.  The first of several unveilings will take place on Friday, February 6, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek in Newton (http://dorsheitzedek.org/directions.htm).

 “The mural is a key milestone on the journey of the ‘interfaith youth movement’ in greater Boston,” according to Alexander Levering Kern, executive director of Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, the region’s oldest interfaith social action coalition. “Never has there been a more important time for young people of faith to join in deepened dialogue and effective action. As we witness interfaith strain spanning the globe- from the Vatican to Gaza to the Roxbury Mosque conflict- we celebrate this sign of hope: young people standing together and building a shared future of peace, justice, and understanding. The mural is a poignant vision of the peace that the Creator intends for us all.”

The project has taken shape over the last two years, with a steering committee including Anyahlee Cañas and LeeAnn Love-Price from ABC; Aziz Elmadi, originally representing the ISB and now Co-Executive Director of CJMR; Stuart Snyder, a member of CDT; Omar Hakkaoui of AHS and the Interfaith Youth Initiative (IFYI) of Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (CMM); and Alexander Levering Kern and Matt Carriker, of the Interfaith Youth Initiative of CMM.

Since October 2008, fifteen teen representatives (5 from each faith group) have been meeting weekly at the West End House Boys and Girls Club in Allston to create a series of collaborative art pieces focusing on the commonalities and differences in their religions, with particular attention to faith-based imagery.  Based on discussions within the group and with visiting religious leaders, the teens designed and created a large scale mural on panels to be displayed in the participants’ religious centers and in other mosques, temples or churches until a permanent location is identified. 

Motivation for these efforts is easily found within the texts sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims.  But, it is also found in a quote attributed to Margaret Mead – “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Funding for the 2009 Boston Interfaith Youth Mural was provided by the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), the ISB, and the Charles S. and Zena A. Scimeca Foundation.

Vows to Push for a United States of Africa

By Akbar Muhammad

Tripoli, Libya

The African Union (AU) summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa has elected the Leader of the Libyan Revolution Muammar Al-Qaddafi new President of the AU. The position will give Al-Qaddafi the power to influence policies across Africa for the next year

Al-Qaddafi immediately vowed to push on with his plans to strengthen the institutions of the AU and make the African states stronger, stable and peaceful in a rather unstable world.

 In his acceptance speech, he said, I think the coming time will be a time of serious work and a time for action, not just empty words.”

He told Africa’s heads of state that there is much to do and that some of the procedures need to be reviewed in order to speed up the establishment of Union’s institutions.

He also promised to do all he can to solve the problem of Darfur and other African conflicts.  In his acceptance speech, Al-Qaddafi acknowledged that he at times provoked some of African heads of state in order to push the agenda of the African Union.

However, he said for the African leaders to have different views regarding the future of the content is  healthy.. He said the credit goes to all heads of state and their sovereign countries for making the right decisions. It was reported that in a closed meeting that much of the opposition to the election Al-Qaddafi was lead by South Africa and Uganda, two countries that the Libyan Leader and his country’s men and women had helped the most in achieving their goals of freedom and justice for their people.
Al-Qaddafi told the summit he did not wish to take up the post of the chairman of the AU earlier, even though he was invited to, because he believed that his position was to help push the car regardless who was the driver. Africa must realize its dreams of unity, regardless of any one’s official position.

Al-Qaddafi is, in fact, the engineer and the founder of the AU. He called for emergency African summit of the Organization of African Unity on 9 September 1999, in Libya and methodically laid out why the OAU should move forward African Union. He said that if Dr. Kwame Nkrumah could raise from his grave, the masses, the young, the old, the students, the workers, the military, the civil servants and the politicians, would have carried him on their shoulders.  The African masses’ real objective is to see the birth of a United |States of Africa that is rich, peaceful and secure.

In 1999 and up to the establishment of the Union in Durban, South Africa in 2002, many dismissed the whole idea of an African Union as unrealistic. But due to Qaddafi’s insistence, persistence and audacity, and his strong belief in the future of a united, prosperous African continent, as well as his commitment to devote his country’s resources to serve such a noble cause, made the dream a reality.

During the African summit, Qaddafi praised the outgoing president of the AU Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete for his good management during his tenure and insisted that the chairman of the AU Commission Jean Ping of Gabon should keep his post as he has proven to be capable in running the day to day affairs of the Union.

The President of the African Union is a rotating position held by heads of state for one year and gives the holder influence over the continent’s politics. .

Qaddafi believes with so many other Leaders of Africa, as well as millions of Africans in the Diaspora, that only a UNITED STATES OF AFRICA can tackle the long-term issues of poverty, disease, illiteracy, and conflicts,  and make the continent a global powerhouse. He recognized, however, that there was much work to be done and that many of the African leaders are not in agreement where and how to start.

The new AU President is seen by the masses as an accomplished statesman in Africa who is seriously committed to serve the interests of the continent.

In his closing speech, Qaddafi made it clear that Libya, alone among oil- producing nations, has not lost money during the world financial crisis.   “Libya has not lost a single dollar in this crisis.  Libya has invested billions in Africa. We have not invested in America,” he emphasized.

Qaddafi praised the new American president and described Barack Hussein Obama’s accession to the White House as a victory against racism, and urged the first black U.S. president to lead his country boldly and with integrity.  “The Black people’s struggle has made tremendous advances against racism in America. It was God who created color. Today President Obama, a son of Kenyan father, a true son of Africa, has made it in the United States of America,” he said.
“We hope he will be well protected, strong and unshakable. America doesn’t belong to the whites alone. I hope he will be able to accomplish the change that he carries in his spirit,” he added. In his Green Book that he wrote over thirty years ago, Qaddafi was able to foresee that Blacks will prevail in the world. The election of a young energetic Black president of the most powerful nation on earth is a clear proof that Muammar Qaddafi, a revolutionary thinker, has been institutively right

February  8th Outline

Family Tree on Sunday, February 8^th from 11am-1pm E.S.T.

11-11:05 AM

News and Commentary

11:05 AM-11:30 AM

20 Min Taalim:

Amir Muhammad, America’s Islamic Heritage Museum about the “Forgotten Roots: of Muslims in Early America,” among other things, highlights the history of African American Muslims.

This month, the Islamic Society of  Boston Cultural Center in collaboration with the Mosque for the Praising of Allah is showcasing this exhibit for free to the public. 

11:30 AM-12:00 PM

Dr. Sylviane A Diouf.  historian, latest Book: Africa in Alabama. The Slave Ship Clotilda and the Story of the Last Africans Brought to America

12:00-12:30 PM
 Musa Syeed, Bronx Princess .  This modern day film dares to get us thinking about immigration rights and US Customs. 

President Barack Hussain Obama

Tuesday, February 3rd

Public Affairs Price: $14.95

MUHAMMAD YUNUS discusses Creating a World Without Poverty:  Social Business and the Future of Capitalism   $5 tickets on sale now.   Harvard Book Store is honored to welcome 2006 Nobel Peace Prize recipient MUHAMMAD YUNUS for a discussion of his newest book, Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism. In the last two decades, free markets have swept the globe. But traditional capitalism has been unable to solve problems like inequality and poverty. In Yunus’ groundbreaking sequel to Banker to the Poor, he outlines the concept of social business—business where the creative vision of the entrepreneur is applied to today’s most serious problems: feeding the poor, housing the homeless, healing the sick, and protecting the planet. Creating a World Without Poverty reveals the next phase in a hopeful economic and social revolution that is already underway.

CONTACT: General Info: 617.661.1515 Media: 617.661.1424 ex.1 Email: mcook@harvard.com

Event Information DATE: Tuesday, February 3rd TIME: 7:00 PM LOCATION: First Parish Church Meetinghouse On the corner of Mass. Ave. and Church St. Cambridge