JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDE: BLACK YOUTH IN PERIL
By Ashahed M. Muhammad
FinalCall.com, IL
Nov 12 2007
MOSQUE MARYAM (FinalCall.com) – The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan
delivered a stern message and a warning regarding God’s law of justice
and respect for human life to the standing room only crowd at the
national headquarters of the Nation of Islam, and those viewing in
120 cities across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and
South Africa on Oct. 28.
Speaking directly to the hearts of those who came to hear his serious
message of concern for Black youth, Minister Farrakhan set the tone
for his message, titled "Justifiable Homicide: Black Youth in Peril,"
by deconstructing the baseless claims of those attempting to describe
him as a hate teacher.
"Today, I don’t want you to think that I am trying to teach hatred.
To teach the truth, that might produce hatred, is not my fault," said
Minister Farrakhan. "If the truth of something makes you dislike it,
that is not teaching hate; that’s teaching truth."
Minister Farrakhan mentioned the increase in displays of anti-Black
hatred in the United States and the spate of nooses being hung in
many cities. He also pointed out increased incidents of racially
motivated physical attacks against Blacks.
"This is to let Black people know that there is still a great deal
of hatred for us in this society," he said.
Using the example of the Armenian people, who teach their youth about
the injustices they suffered at the hands of the Turks during the rule
of the Ottoman Empire, as well as the Jewish people, who teach their
children of their suffering during the holocaust, Minister Farrakhan
said Black people fail to teach our children of the indignities that
our forefathers suffered.
He then discussed the importance of the Reconstruction Period
(1865-1877) in which progress was made by Blacks who had been elected
to political positions and became business owners after President
Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. To maintain White
supremacy and the rule by fear, lynchings were committed by those
intent on sending the message that Blacks should "stay in their place,"
and not challenge White political and economic rule.
The principle of justice
Young Black men across the nation listen to Minister Farrakhan’s
serious message of concern for Black youth.
Minister Farrakhan quoted the words of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad,
who said "Justice is the principle of fair dealing. Justice is the
law that distinguishes between right and wrong. Justice is the weapon
that God will use in the Day of Judgment." Minister Farrakhan also
said the principle of justice is summed up in the teachings of Jesus,
who said "whatever a man soweth, so shall he reap."
"Did he [Jesus] say that those who live by the sword would die by
marches? Did he say that those who live by the sword would die by
massive protest? Did he say that those who live by the sword would
die by prayers in front of public buildings, kneeling and begging
and pleading? He said those who kill by the sword will die by the
very sword that they used to kill others," said Minister Farrakhan.
"The God of Justice will use the Law of Justice as a weapon against
White supremacy, and also as a weapon against wicked governments
that have misused their power and authority in destroying the lives
of innocent human beings."
Injustice brings its natural response
"Injustice brings its natural response. No matter how long it takes,
injustice must be answered by justice," said Minister Farrakhan. He
used the example of the Palestinian people who have, as a result of the
many injustices suffered by their people, chosen to use their bodies
as weapons because they are unable to compete with the sophisticated
weaponry of the Israeli Defense Force.
Many young Palestinians, men and women have chosen death instead of
continuing an oppressed way of life, to which Minister Farrakhan said
that before we judge their actions, we should look at the circumstances
that produced such a violent response.
"They [Israelis] stole land-there is no innocence there. If there is no
deliberative body there to give justice to the Palestinians, how will
you charge them? Injustice disturbs the balance of the mind," Minister
Farrakhan said. "Look how long the Palestinians have been without
justice. What has that injustice done to the balance of the mind?"
He said injustice without the proper redress of grievances creates
uncivilized behavior, and often, violence. However, this can be
avoided.
"A person will not resort to violence if they can feel in their heart
that somebody cares," he said.
Blacks marked for death worldwide
Minister Farrakhan recounted his travels to the African continent and
his interaction with officials in many African nations. He told of the
scourge of depleted uranium and atomic waste that has been buried in
many African countries such as the Sudan, and the fact that in many
African nations, the AIDS rate is so high that tens of thousands are
dying, with entire generations being wiped out.
Some African nations such as Botswana have been forced to trade
diamonds for AIDS medicine of questionable origins and effectiveness,
while the wealth of Africa is being transferred to the European
nations. This is all part of a plan placed into action by the
"scientists of evil."
"I’m talking about the ones that rule. When you know them you are
coming face to face with Satan himself. You’re being killed and you
don’t even know that you’re dying," said Minister Farrakhan, reminding
the audience of the words of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad who said,
"You can’t fathom the depths of Satan."
Black people, killing themselves
Minister Farrakhan cited statistics from a U.S. Department of Justice
report which showed that in the year 2005, Blacks were victims of
800,000 violent crimes, and approximately 8,000 homicides. Black
males between the ages of 18 and 25 accounted for 52 percent (6,800)
of the nearly 13,000 male homicide victims in that year-most of them
losing their lives at the hands of another Black man.
"Is this justifiable? If it’s not justifiable, then it is not
excusable. And if it is not excusable, what price are we going to
pay for the destruction of ourselves?" Minister Farrakhan asked.
"Black youth are in peril because you are killing your own people
whom God wants to save, and killing your brothers is not justified.
It is not excusable, therefore it is punishable by death. You have
now invited death into our communities. The very enemy who is made
a liar and a murderer by nature will be set loose by God and he will
slaughter us just like he is [slaughtering] the Palestinians."
Minister Farrakhan ended his message with this admonition to the
audience:
"There is such a thing as justifiable homicide. When God gets ready
to punish, He kills men, women and children indiscriminately, and
nobody accuses God of being unjust."
Those in attendance enjoyed Minister Farrakhan’s heartfelt and sincere
message of warning and guidance for the youth.
"That’s what brought me here today. I want to participate because
it’s about the youth. That is the future," said Jerry Fort of Chicago,
immediately following Minister Farrakhan’s lecture.
Reginald Washington agreed, saying, "I have a sense of hope that
somebody is standing up," said the 23-year old Chicago resident. "The
message by Minister Farrakhan was uplifting, inspiring, and
emotional. I learned a lot that I did not know."
In Houston, Benson Jackson, a Communications major at Lamar University,
commented, "I enjoyed the lecture. Minister Farrakhan was on point
in that we are committing unjustifiable homicides on one another."
Jamese Berry, a junior at Girls and Boys Preparatory Academy in
Houston, said the message was "very interesting." "He spoke the truth,"
she said, while 19-year-old Royce Green shared, "Minister Farrakhan
is always powerful."
Jesse Muhammad contributed to this article.
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