One, because he was a member of the Revolutionary Action Movement (RAM). RAM, founded in 1962 was one of the first revolutionary nationalist formations of the 1960’s created in response to oppression of people of African descent living in America. Blacks were being oppressed politically, economically, socially and physically and this became the impetus for the creation of a number of groups to respond and counter these actions.  During the 1960’s, many groups fighting race based oppression were either started or comprised mainly of students on college campuses throughout the United States and RAM was no exception.

The other reason Hoover pegged him as so dangerous was his organizing skills. Dr. Ahmad took RAM out of the colleges and brought it to the streets. As the first field chairman he articulated a number of objectives for the organization including giving Black people a sense of racial pride, solidarity, dignity, unity and commitment to the struggle for independence.

On Thursday, November 17, 2011, Dr. Ahmad gave a presentation sponsored by the Department of African American Studies at Georgia State and the Auburn Avenue Research Library. There he gave a history of his journey in the Black Power Movement. He was very humble in saying he was only one of many important people involved in the movement but Hoover made him seem so by labeling him the most dangerous person of that time. 

We were not only privy to his experiences but we learned about his interactions with Rosa Parks, her involvement with Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the civil rights movement and her consistent removal from buses as she asserted there should be equality in transportation. It was not a one-time situation but a concerted effort to fight for equality on her part.

He also talked about first hand interactions with Malcolm X stating how easy he was to work with and how eager he was to work. What do you need me to do was a statement he used in regards to being approached to work within the movement.

Being able to interact with an elders whose shoulders we stand upon is a wonderful experience. Hearing firsthand what our elders have been through gives us inspiration to continue their work for our liberation. As parting wisdom, Dr. Ahmad was asked is there still a need for a Black vanguard like Ram in today’s society. His response-as long as there is capitalism, there will be racism. As long as there is racism, it will be necessary for a Black revolutionary cadre to address it and the inequitable treatment of our people. His advice-use the issues and contradictions of the U.S. government to organize the people. Create a process where you can build cadre in sufficient number to build organizations that address our realities because we have the solutions and the power.

Please visit the farm in the coming weeks as the farm hosts a story time series for preschoolers and their caregivers.  Families are invited to bring a blanket and sit among the plants and listen to stories featuring food, farms, gardens and people of color such as George Washington Carver (inventor of Peanut Butter!)  It should be a magical morning brought to you by Kujichagulia, a project of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement.

*********************Save the Date**********************​*******

Black August Art Show 

August 20th, 2011 will be the date for our second annual Black August Art Auction August hosted by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, Groundfloor Collective, and the Brecht Forum. Last years Black August Art Auction was very successful. We had incredible turnout and were able to raise over $ 2,000 for political prisoners.  The theme for this year’s Black August Art Auction will of course be  centered around freeing political prisoners, but we will pay particular attention to this year marking 40 years after George Jackson’s murder and the uprising at Attica. We would also like to lift up the memory of Gil Scott Heron, and former Black Panther Geronimo Ji Jaga  Pratt who both recently passed away. In addition, we would like to lift up the lives and contributions of Assata Shakur, Safiya Bukhari, Fannie Lou Hamer, James Baldwin, Ella Baker, Nehanda Abiodun, Kuwasi Balagoon, Mutulu Shakur, Sundiata Acoli, and many other freedom fighters in the Civil Rights and Black Power Movement. All of these folks are strongly connected to battling injustices, but some had a particular focus on combating the unjust prison system in fighting for liberation.  Some have gone to the ancestors, others remain in exile, and some remain behind walls of U.S. prison even to this day. All that being said, we would like to emphasize unity in struggle along with the importance of knowing our history of resistance which we hope will will be able to manifest through the showing of art, a street theater piece by J. “G” J., a dance piece by JoiLynn, and musical performances by Ras Moshe, THEESatisfaction, and the Jack Fuller Band.  We hope that will be able to join us at this years Black August Art Auction and take part in this transformative experience with us.

For more info: http://mxgm.org/blackaugust/

Black August Film Showcase

Now in its 2^nd year, the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement’s (MXGM) Black August Film Festival uses film to speak to the lives, culture, resistance, organizing, social movements, and social and political matters of people of the African Diaspora. We believe that all forms of creative expression, particularly film, can be used as a tool of liberation and community empowerment. We welcome documentaries, feature films, short films, and music videos that address the past and/or contemporary realities of Black people around the world; our struggles, triumphs, and attempts to comment on and change our conditions. Subject matter of previous films has included community reactions to the murders of Sean Bell and Oscar Grant, service initiatives in Haiti post-Earthquake, and the role of hip-hop in East Africa and Palestine. The Black August Film Festival will take place August 13th, 2011 from 4pm-10pm at the National Black Theatre in Harlem (2031 5th Avenue).

Suggested donation: $10

All proceeds from the Black August Film Festival will benefit political prisoners.

Featuring:

• “Native Sun” directed by Terence Nance & Blitz the Ambassador
•  “A Crocodile Story” directed by Hisham Haj Omer
• “Agrarian Reform for Food Sovereignty” directed by Kurt Orderson
• “Know Your Rights: How to Deal With Police Confrontations” directed by the students of Satellite Academy
• “Cointelpro 101″ directed by the Freedom Archives
• “Panther Cubs” (Trailer) directed by Ksisay Sadiki 
• “A Creation Story”  directed by Natasha Ngaiza
• “Mirror Mirror”  directed by Tamika R. Guishard
• “Black Womyn Griots” directed by Helen Yohannes
• “Hip Hop is Bigger than the Occupation” directed by Existence is Resistance

For more info:  http://mxgm.org/blackaugust/black-august-film-festival-2011/

 Sankofa Film Series

Every Monday Night @ 7PM

Dockshop Book Store

6637 Meadowbrook

Forth Worth, TX 76112

817.457.5700

The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM) and Community Aid and Development (CAD) celebrates the 20th Annual Malcolm X Commemorative Banquet in Atlanta honoring Rev. Derrik Rice, MDiv, Pastor of Sankofa United Church of Christ and Warrior Queen Njere Alghanee.

Atlanta, Georgia—This year marks the 20th Annual Malcolm X Commemorative Banquet, which will be held on February 19th, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Association of Black Cardiologists Conference Center, located at 5355 Hunter Road in Atlanta, Georgia. World-renowned theological scholar and pastor, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. will be the keynote speaker for the event.

photo from Village Voice by Chad Griffith

Over the past few months, the 81st precinct has been put on blast for their practices of surveillance and community harassment. While the city and nation are now turning their attention towards misconduct, MXGM has been and will continue to organize our community for self-defense and community control. In light of that, on Saturday July 18th, we invite you to come, learn, and share ideas for securing the safety of our community and ensuring the accountability of police.

“They don’t own the block. We own the block. They might live there, but we own the block. We own the streets here.”

—81^st Precinct Lieutenant, NYPD

OUR HOOD OR THEIR HOOD?

A community forum on how to:

stay safe without relying on the police, stop police terror, and take back our hood.

Hosted by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement

When: Sunday, July 18^th

12pm – 5pm

Where: PS/IS 308 Quincy St. btw Lewis & Stuyvesant

Join us from 12:00pm-2:30pm to meet with people who have  concrete solutions to ending police misconduct in our communites (including you!!!!!)

Join us from 3:30pm- 5pm to meet with people who have concrete solutions to keep our community safe  (including you!!!!!)

For more info, email info@mxgm.org, or call 917.561.8642 to RSVP!!!!