Got to give "propts" or "high five" (depending in what decade you were born in) to the NOI or the Nation Of Islam. I soooo admire the way their men and women present themselves. Nothing but Black Queens and Black Kings coming from their camp! Just look at them! Everything from the way they dress to the attitude in which they carry themselves says nobility. I am a Christian and I can't help but notice the difference in the way the average Black male or female in the church looks and carries themselves in comparison to members of the NOI. I know…there are Black Kings and Black Queens in our Black churches but their numbers are in the minority in my opinion.
Everytime I see a picture of members of the NOI meeting and I see all the Black women in their white sitting together…… I'm like why can't all Black women look that regal. That image is so powerful to me. And it is not just their clothing but their ATTITUDE on their faces. No oppression in their looks. No second class American citizen in their sub-conscious. And the Brothers in their all black suits and black bow ties. They look like strong warriors for their people. Sometimes I wonder what do NOI teach new members for them to develop to such a beautiful degree of self appreciation and Black awareness. I mean can NOI develop their program into some 12 step program that other groups can adopt? Personally I would like to see Black churches get onto that bandwagon.
I love my Black churches and I UPLIFT those Black churches that are developing in their members an idea of self pride and Black African awareness. I think that is so important for the future of the Black people; a Black African Awareness. My dream would be to see Black churches take a Black self development book like "Know Thy Self" by Na'im Akbar and copy two pages a week to slip into the bulletin for the congregation to read. Or print a small bio of a great African King or Queen into the bulletin. No extra pages needed. Just add to the existing bulletin. I would like to see our Black churches help to develop the Black self as well as the human soul. We have got to get away from being that church for the oppressed slave and be a church for Black men and women who are free not only from physical chains but freeing themselves from mental chains. Break the chains of mental slavery!
The Nation of Islam is way ahead on this and I think Black churches can learn from the NOI. If you want to visit the NOI website click here. If you want to visit the website for their publication The Final Call, click here.
The name of my website is Know they African Self. It is a tribute to Dr. Akbar's book Know Thy Self. It uplifted me, inspired me, and fired me up about my Black self and my Black people.
To learn more and order the book Know They Self, click here
Dr. Na'im Akbar's website is MindPro.com
Please note the picture of First Lady Mother Khadijah Farrakhan (Minister Louis Farrakhan's wife) is courtesy of Google's Image Search (search Google's directory of images) and was painted by Jesus Muhammad-Ali. The grandson of the late Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
Harambe!
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