Give Honor, move forward

On February 16, 2010, at Newberry Correctional Facility, I was given the privilege of being the keynote speaker for our Black History Month Celebration. Around two hundred men sat in the gymnasium bleachers waiting to hear what I would say. The assignment was challenging and I knew that every word I spoke would be scrutinized. Looking back, they were the right words, and those words are still manifesting. I hope you enjoy it.

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My assignment tonight is to give honor to our leaders.

Honor is defined as a show of respect, but at its root, the word Honor means "something heavy." It's not something a man can take upon himself, and no man can give it to him.

Tonight, we can only take a moment to reflect upon the lives of those who have chosen to accept the pure weight of leadership. Their presence has transformed the world. Their commitment continues to shape our culture. Their words still echo in our lives today. Their visions of the future have become our present reality. And their sacrifices are truly worthy of honor.

In the year 1800: Nat Turner was born into slavery, but to keep his mind from being enslaved, his mother taught him everything she could about his African heritage. Even though Nat Turner grew up in slavery, slavery never grew up in Nat Turner. When he was 21 he decided to escape the physical limitations of slavery. But 30 days later he walked back into his owner's yard and gave himself up. Why!? The other slaves wanted to know why he came back. He tasted freedom! But he never gave them an answer.

1925 Nat Turner began to preach. FREEDOM He would say, "Ours Is a fight for freedom."

One thing we must realize is this, Freedom has never been free! 1831, Jerusalem, Virginia, Nat Turner is hanged on a tree after leading a rebellion that led to the death of over 260 people.

He may have died in the flesh, but his words still echo today. FREEDOM!

The prophet Noble Drew Ali, endowed with vision, purpose and love for humanity, used the principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice to lay the foundation for the Moorish Science Temple of America. Noble Drew All inspired his followers to start businesses of their own, and he taught the necessity of Economics, Education, and good Health. He took the people of his day upon his shoulders, destroyed the chains of mental slavery, and freedmen to work toward "uplifting a fallen humanity."

As the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, Marcus Garvey promoted racial unity through Business-Development, Education, and Trade with Africa. His motto: "One God, One Aim, One Destiny". Within 5 years the UNIA had grown to more than one million secrets. Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King, "Marcus Garvey was the first man of color to lead and develop a mass movement. He was the first man on a mass scale and level to give millions of negroes a sense of dignity and destiny".

The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Founder of the Nation of Islam, said "You must love yourself, before you try to love others. We are a people who will never get respect from any other nation unless we can show love and respect, for ourselves first." Under the leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad a Nation of people put off a defeated mentality, and they rose to a position of self-excellence. "He didn't just preach Freedom, Justice, or Equality, he achieved Freedom, Justice, and Equality for his people. He was more than a teacher, he was a doer". Quoting Sister 2x Manning. 

Moved by the teachings of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X advanced the Nation's message of Economic Power, Racial Strength, and Unity, he became a powerful force in the civil rights movement. In the same day, Dr. Martin Luther King observed that, "injustice anywhere, is a threat to Justice everywhere.” 

The methods of Dr. King and Malcolm X may have been different, but their mission to end racial discrimination and inequality was the same. Malcolm X returned from Mecca with a revelation, "The Brotherhood! The people of all races, colors, from all over the world coming together as one! It has proved to me the power of one God!

Dr. King also had a revelation of the future, "One day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character..

"With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."

In 2008 the dream became reality, and the barriers were broken. President Barack Obama, a man made up of many colors, ascended to the highest political office in the entire world. The four corners of the earth celebrated that which so many lived for, stood for, suffered and

died.

The victory of possibility and the power of vision! Because of those who have gone before us, today, you can be anything you desire to be. This is the age of the Dreamer. The words of the 44th President of the United States speak to us tonight, quoting, "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. We remain a young nation. But in the words of the Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation; the God-given promise that all were created equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”

The voice of today's leader of the Nation of Islam, Minister Louis Farrakhan, calls our attention to the state of the people of our World: "America needs a healing. Africa needs a healing. Europe needs a healing. Asia, Central America. South America, the Islands in the Caribbean, and the Isles of the Pacific need a healing. The whole earth needs a healing.... We must try to end the cycle of violence and the cycle of hatred."

At some point in their journey many of our honorable guests have been subject to the inside of a jail or prison cell. Can you Imagine what it would be like today if they were all here?

Nat Turner, Noble Drew Ali, Marcua Garvey, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad; Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, The Minister Louis Farrakhan, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and President Barack Obama. The Fellowship of the Brotherhood.

What would they say? What would they do? I see them meeting in the prison yard daily. The Leaders of leaders. I see them talking and walking together. I see them eating, laughing, and learning together. I believe they would choose to stand together on common ground and not be divided by religious doctrine or personal agendas. I believe they would be united by the Love, the Life and the Lessons of Jesus, the one whom they teach, and the one who they all give glory and honor.

I believe they would study the scriptures together. They would fast, pray, and give praise to the most gracious, and merciful Almighty God, together. I believe they would see the condition of the people of the Prison Nation and they would be moved with compassion. I believe they would stand against corruption, violence, and extortion in their community. They would love their neighbor as they love their own self. I believe they would heal the broken hearted, comfort those who mourn, open the blind eyes, and free prisoners from a darkened prison mentality. They wouldn't complain about conditions, they would work together to create solutions. They wouldn't wait for the system to change, they would change the system. How would they do this? From prison yard to prison yard they would carry the full weight of leadership. They would live as free men who have been sent, to set men free. 

Today, More than 2 million men and women make up what is being called the Prison Nation. We are a red, yellow, black, white and brown nation of people. Freedom! Ours in a fight for freedom.

Based on statistics, out of every 15 children born in the year 2001 will spend some time in prison during their life. What am I saying? Change is necessary. While we spend our time on penitentiary politics and  living under a new age slave mentality, bed-space is being made for our sons and daughters, our grandchildren and our loved ones. Ask yourself, are you willing to pay the price for their freedom?

I represent Jesus Christ of Nazareth. That means, I make Him present. Jesus is here! The same is true for all of us. Whoever we represent, we make them manifest through our lives.

What does that mean? This room is full of honorable and mighty men, and if we can work together, nothing would be impossible. What would they do?

I am commanded to seek out the men of peace wherever I am sent. Why? Because change is coming, we are in the last days, and God is going to use men like us to change the world. God is a God of second chances. We're all talking about the good time bill, but the good time bill isn't doing any good for me and many of our brothers are in the same boat as I am. I need God to open up the gates for me. I need a miracle. And I know He's going to do it, because He told me. 

But that doesn't matter to me right now, because, as I think of Nat Turner, how can I enjoy the fruits of freedom, while the rest of my brothers are still in bondage, locked up in a prison mentality. Consider this, in the last 10 years, the MDOC has released over 100,000 prisoners. Who has gone out to fight for us? Freedom! How quickly do we forget where we come from? I believe that the next civil rights leader is right here in this room. But will he pick up his honor?

History has been made, and a rich history we have. But we must know that His-Story is not finished. Before me, I see a nation of leaders, teachers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, artists and authors who will tell the stories of our greatness. 

God is not through with you. You are in the Potter's House. In an uncommon place, God is shaping a New Nation of people who will be known as men worthy of honor. Because we have taken up our cross, something heavy and far greater than ourselves, and we ran with it!

...I'll see you all there.