What is justice? Macmillan Dictionary defines justice as, the fact that something is reasonable and fair. Interesting… because as a Black woman in America, we often come up short in those things—facts, reason-ability and fairness.
Years ago, you could turn on the news or read the daily paper, and read about the injustices that face Black and Brown people. And now with the world of social media, the world has had a front row seat to the lack of justice and disregard that Black and Brown people have experienced at the hands of our former slave masters and their children.
Muslim Girl In Training
As an MGT (Muslim Girl in Training) in the Nation of Islam, I have a very clear view on, not only the injustices of our people, but the solutions that would change our overall condition overnight. The truth is, that many of our people, are not ready to have the talk on facts and where we as a people lost our way.
I remember having conversations with elders in my family… Asking questions about what they wanted… What were people fighting for, and what was the goal? The most interesting thing I remember was that, to them, their civil rights fight was never about a desire to integrate. Their fight was about equality. They understood that having justice and equality was not dependent on the hypocritical offer of integration. And without total and complete freedom, justice was then, just as it is now in 2020, an illusion.
The flag of the Nation of Islam, given to us by Allah, God, himself, stands for freedom, justice and equality. God loved us so much that he gave us a flag that represents the universe—the sun, the moon and the star. And he gifted us with a guide in the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. And as if that love for our people couldn’t have been expanded even more, I was made fearless in my fight for freedom, justice and equality by the guide gifted to humanity, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
Freedom and Justice
American economist Milton Friedman said, “A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both.” Where are we right now? We’re in a time where unarmed Black and Brown men, women and children can be murdered by trigger-happy law enforcement, and when it is blasted all over the world by way of social media, we are angry enough… to march… to sing… to pray and wait for a people whose nature shows a track record of bloodshed and injustice to change. It’s like we feel as if we have to prove that we are worthy.
Re-Education is Necessary
The time has pass come, that our people consider separation. There has to be a total re-education of the Black and Brown man and woman—and education that is based and rooted in accepting our own and being ourselves, before we are able to live among others whose nature is not the same.
Anyone who has experience with abuse—either personally or through a loved one—knows that a person has to be completely dis-satisfied before change happens. And when we know that someone is going through it, what do we say to them? Do we encourage them to stay? Do we urge them to beg to prove that they are worthy?
As it is with the Black and Brown woman in America. We have been in a mentally, emotionally, economically and physically abusive relationship for over 400 years. And for some reason, we have developed the worst Stockholm Syndrome that I’ve ever known of.
Many of our people have been rocked to sleep. We put false hope in laws and people who pretend to be allies for personal gain. We have done and tried everything, except fully unite. The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad said that our unity is more powerful than an atomic bomb. If we could learn to see the divinity in ourselves, we would 100% see the divinity in each other. And the moment we see and understand that divinity, the moment the pursuit of freedom, justice and equality become a reality.
About the Faith & Justice Series
We are publishing a series of posts under the topics of faith and justice as we engage members of various faith communities in the Pensacola area about how justice is viewed through the lens of their faith. If you are interested in writing for Bantucola.com on this topic please see our submission guidelines and write for us. We look forward to hearing from you about how faith justice impact your life and others from your faith community.
