Nation of Islam leader kicks off speaker series

“Why is it so important (for some to see) that this young generation be destroyed?” asked Minister Donna Farrakhan to an audience of students, faculty and community members in Lee Hall Wednesday evening.

Farrakhan, daughter of the head of the Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, sought to provide inspiration and answer this question during the first presentation of a speaker series sponsored by the Office of Student Union and Activities.

Farrakhan, a humanitarian and leader of the NOI, has traveled around the world to help those in need and Wednesday she discussed issues plaguing the black community, unity and spiritual wellness.

She is a representative of NOI, but she emphasized that her words were not of “religion,” but of “truth.”

Although divisions exist between certain religions, she said “There is only one God and message of truth. It was man who made different religious sects-that’s where confusion sets in.”

And although NOI may appear to be controversial, Farrakhan attributed this to their desire to resurrect the black community.

During the speech Farrakhan urged students to expand their horizons and her main goal was to put the continuing struggle of black people back on the minds of those in attendance.

If the path of the young generation becomes derailed it means the future is dark for blacks, she said. “We are living in a dark society where you need wisdom to make it through these troubled times.”

Overcoming the mental chains left over from slavery will take time she asserted, but this is the only solution to an improvement of black society.

The position of black women at the forefront of the family in order to weaken black men has existed since slavery, she said. This role reversal lies at the root of various problems today between black men and women.

But unity and the understanding of conditioning causing certain rifts and problems are steps she believes can uplift blacks.

“We are all connected to one another…so when you hurt yourself someone else feels the pain.”

And she said pain is a step in the healing process because “wherever there is pain, it is the beginning process of learning and growth.”

She spoke about racism and the effects of slavery on the state of the black community, however, she said things are not always black and white.

Ultimately, Farrakhan asserted that the bottom line is not the race issue-but about doing the right thing spiritually. And “discipline and morals are the key to success.”

Neoshi Green, 23, a junior biology student from Fort Lauderdale, attended the speaker series Wednesday. Green said she chose to attend the event because she admired the speaker and “what she stands for.”

“I took the information that I heard and I will analyze it to apply it to my life,” she said after the speech.

She believes speakers like Farrakhan will enlighten students during the series.

And enlightenment is why OSUA Interim Director Mickey Clayton said the office began the series last semester.

“A lot of learning for our students goes on outside of the classroom…we want speakers they won’t normally hear in everyday life to broaden their horizons and stimulate thinking.”

The series is for students and people in the community to “see positive things at FAMU,” he said.

Upcoming speakers are comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory in February and motivational speaker and director of the Black Think Tank Julia Hare in March.

Contact Ebonie Ledbetter at managingeditor@hotmail.com