TEMPLE MEMBERS, CHURCH MEMBERS, RANK & FILE
ALL NECESSARY FOR GOOD LASTING ORGANIZATIONS
By H. KHALIF KHALIFAH----Special to The Newport Newservice
JULY 4, 2011
DREWRYVILLE, VA - Varies Strategies are used to motivate Black people to speak and act in our own Best Interest. There have been instances of success that can only be described as remarkable. But after a measureable degree of success, this great, lovable, freedom bound people cease to be motivated to maintain regular attendance until the goal of the organization is attained.
Without getting into details for the failure of leadership to maintain unity until the goal is attained, let’s address the history of two my own organizations that successfully maintains strong viability, though the goals have not yet been attained; the leadership has also changed. But they “keep on keeping on,” as Robert Harris was fond of saying. He was the Administrator of The African Nationalist Pioneer Movement.
Before we discuss why they are good examples, we acknowledge the usual cause for the diminution of Black organizations. This usually happens when the founder and long time leader dies. And try as those left in charge does to maintain, including employing exact strategies that brought the success, most times it simply do not work!
N’COBRA & THE NATION OF ISLAM
AS GOOD ROLE MODELS
I am using as examples the continuality of two successful organizations that survived over a proscribed period of time, after the death of its leaders. I first accept my own kind, to become a Black Muslim in 1972. I joined N’COBRA (National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America) in Detroit MI. in 1994. I rose through the ranks of N’COBRA over the ensuing 9 years: Up to 2001, I and my family of five attended every national Conference of N’COBRA; and there was few Board of Directors Meetings that I was not present for.
I founded the Newport News/Hampton Chapter for N’COBRA in 1994 and held weekly meetings; I was appointed the Liaison for N’COBRA to the Million Man March on October 16.1995: I was elected to the National Board of Directors in Atlanta, GA in 1996; we Hosted the largest attended annual conference in Virginia in 1998. After a 2nd failed attempt for National Co-Chair in 2004, I saw the “hand writing on the wall,” and rather than hold leadership ideals, trying to carry the organization in the dynamic style I was part of in the 1990’s; I receded from the Leadership ranks - maintaining my membership in N’COBRA as Regular Member.
NEVER A ‘TEMPLE BLACK MUSLIM’
AS I WAS A RANK AND FILE MEMBER OF N’COBRA
There is necessarily, such a membership of an organization referred to as “Temple Muslim,” “Church Member.” In regular Organizations they are called the “Rank and File Members.”
In the Nation of Islam, I was never a “Temple Muslim,” unless we count the time I was “Processing…” until the departure of The Messenger in 1975. It was a different kind of membership in N’COBRA. I was “Rank and file,” if ever there was such a membership. I was extremely motivated to win Reparations for Black people in America. To me, it was chance to work a necessary issue in the Black nation.
I said all the above to state the following:
The Nation of Islam and N’COBRA have survived this long because necessary change was made. During the recent annual conference of N’COBRA, in Chicago, one of the great Leaders in N’COBRA’s was on his death bed: Former National Co-Chair, Elder Hannibal Afrik died days following the conference.
Many N’COBRA’s former leaders are still alive but were not at this conference; nor have we attended meetings over the prior few years. Yet, reports and pictures out of the Chicago bear witness to the viability of N’COBRA 2011. Though we were not in attendance, we maintain our membership.
The Nation of Islam, under the Leadership of Minister Louis Farrakhan speaks loudly for itself. After coming back to himself in 1977, it has been one, long, steady ascent for Minister Farrakhan. Many may feel his effectiveness peaked when he called, and led some 2 million Black men to the National Mall in 1995. But his is still the strongest voice on the planet for Black people.
Temple Muslims, Members of Churches and Rank and File organizational Members are absolutely necessary. Without their steady, 2, 3 or more weekly attendance, there would be no Temple or Church structure. But those of us who do not ‘go out’ on a regular basis are also important for the organization; in some cases we may be the most important.
In cases where we may be most important is when we establish businesses that employ the Believers – freeing them from, in may cases, work environments that is hostile to their faith. We do not forego our Temple Membership or Church Membership, but when we find 2 or 3 times per week do not fit our growth cycles, rather than live in the possible contradiction of going out, we connect another way: We maintain our “good standing,” are readily available for vital, important roles when called on to go “beyond the call of duty.”
If you are a “Temple Muslim,” or a 3 times a week Church member, Rank and File civilian member of an organization, we want you to know how very much we appreciate you. But we want you to tone it down when you think, feel or say, just because you don’t see us there we are not firm Believers, and are also absolutely necessary for strong, independent Black organizations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. KHALIF KHALIFAH Serve Six years on the Nation BOD of N’COBRA; he was N’COBRA’S Liaison to the Million Man March; Founder of The Nat Turner Library; he is the author of “A Brief History About N’COBRA & The Reparations Movement;” He recently released his 15th published book called: The Acquisition and Proper Use of Power: the Destruction of White Supremacy.” 416 pages, Illustrated; $20.00. Order via Paypal, account number khalifah@khabooks.com or call 434-3782140.
https://theblacklist.net/
Replies