Takeaways from Muslim event at Georgia Tech

Atlanta, Ga... "Journey to Justice and True Islam" was held in the Bill Moore Student Success Center on Saturday, sponsored by the Pan-African Ahmadiyya Muslim Association USA. (Disclaimer: some of the opinions expressed were those of individual speakers, not the organization.)

Here is positive information that I gleaned from attending the event.

Dhiya Bhakr

If you really want something, do it yourself.

The history of African Americans is bittersweet... we had almost lost out identity, but then the Pan-African movement began, followed by the civil rights movement.

Malcolm X was a courageous advocate for the rights of blacks.

Peace and justice are inseparable.

Marlyn Tillman

School to prison pipeline is based on disciplinary actions and zero tolerance policies. 

Culture competency needs to be addressed. Our children are discriminated against, starting with saying their clothing colors are gang related. As a parent, I had to push back... I had to file a lawsuit.

Organize parents to push back against policies that hamper our kids in school.

Ron Shakir

In Atlanta, of 13,000 roadblocks set up, 8,000 were in black communities. Police departments are not mandated to report certain information. African Americans are targeted and are negatively affected by housing, land and gentrification policies. Concerns of community are not being met because of greed.

Dr. Basyr Rodney

Unite the African peoples of the world for the service of mankind.

Slavery was disruptive to our original home. One group should not be denigrated at the expense of another. We’ve got to change our mentality towards a new reality. Demonetization of black life has occurred. We must change that. We cannot forsake this community, those who have been neglected for so long. Start out in community centers. Work for long term change. Young people are agitated... but they cannot become frustrated. This fight is for the children. Education and knowledge of children must be paramount. Take control of your own lived experience. Look to your own care. Without God, we have no way.

H. Shaquille

Police the community yourselves. Muslims are getting the crime rate down in our own communities. I’m learning my rights. I'm a former gang member, but now I’m Muslim. It’s time for us to stop talking. Time to start doing something.

Sister Khadijah

We must protect children from wrongdoing, and learn about their needs. Prison impacts our families.  We have to be patient. Kids who come out of prison come out with no compassion for others.

Consciousness starts to develop at 4th grade.  Muslim gangs have their own protections from Allah. Read Black's Law Dictionary before you go to prison. Don’t end up perjuring yourself on your taxes and the law gets you for a minor infraction. Enjoin what is right, and refuse what is wrong.

Note: When I asked if Muslims were concerned about racism and its negative effect on humanity, how separate seating for men and women at the event could be construed as sexism, I got this reply:

Separation of sexes comes from the Koran. There is diversity of color, language, and gender differences in human creation which serves a certain purpose for His creation. Separation of sexes is not there for persecution purposes or pridefulness. All creation is equal. Natural attraction can lead to promiscuity.  To know one another, you must know yourself first. The pinnacle is to know God who has created us all. Then all those differences become irrelevant. Men are weak. We are easily distracted. Paradise lies at the feet of our mothers.