Year: 2021

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Something I have been learning…

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As a people we want to make changes in our society for the betterment of all people. I have been learning that the spirit in which we seek these changes is very important. We have to move in a spirit of humility and instead of starting totally new systems we have to work together with our leaders to remove the bad, repair the broken and recommend changes. We see that our criminal justice and prison system is flawed, but from my own experience and the knowledge I have about history and the way other nations punished certain crimes, I would rather spend some time in prison than get my hand chopped off for stealing. So I suggest we work together and repair the system to operate with fairness for all people.

-Mark King Sanders, Chair of LEAD

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Prayer of Solidarity, by William Goldsby

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The thoughts below are a written reflection from my earlier travels in Central America, Southern Africa, and my incarcerations during the Jim Crow period in Alabama and Germany. They are  reflections on how profoundly we acquiesce to the perception that we are disconnected from the divinity from which we are created. Embracing this oneness allows us to use our collective soul power and forces towards a new way of being. 

Our growth has been profound and innocent.

Our creator continues to enter our lives and heal us

Together we are deeply blessed.

Together the meaning of our creator takes physical form.

Together life is at Its purest.

Together we are protected from the randomness and ignorance of life.

Together we are connected to all elements, dimensions and vibrations.

Together we experience the wrath of life with hope.

Together we are obligated to create a new justice paradigm.

-In Solidarity, William Goldsby, 1984

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Pillar III wraps up…

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On Saturday, March 13th, we concluded our most recent round of Reconstruction’s Community Capacity-Building Curriculum. As part of Pillar III, we explored subgroups, grassroots partnerships, and institutional disruptions. Thanks to all who participated! Below is the word-cloud we made with our informal ‘notes.’

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2020 (Take 1), by Hakim ‘Ali

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IT’S 2020

WELL, ANOTHER DECADE HAS PASSED

WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE 10 YEARS REMAIN IN THE PAST

BUT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON THE HERE & NOW

WE MAY NOT HAVE ANOTHER DECADE TO BLOW

SO, LET’S THINK ABOUT THE YEAR JUST ENDED

DID YOU ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU INTENDED?

DID YOU GAIN IN WISDOM AND STRENGTH?

OR WERE YOU SWAYED AND CONVINCED BY A FEEBLE EVENT?

WERE YOU FAITHFUL TO YOUR CORE AND BELIEF?

OR DID 2019 HAVE YOU RUNNING AND SEEKING RELIEF?

I CAN’T SAY THAT LAST YEAR WAS SUCCESSFUL

I HAD TOO MANY PERIODS OF BEING STRESSFUL

I LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE I LOVED

I STARTED TO LOSE MY FAITH IN THE ABOVE

I SEPARATED FROM FRIENDS OF THE PAST

I WAS SHOCKED AND ROCKED WHEN I LEARNED LOVE DIDN’T LAST

I THOUGHT I KNEW WHO WERE MY REAL FRIENDS

AND WASN’T SURE HOW TO BEGIN AGAIN

I FINALLY GOT BACK TO WHAT WAS ALWAYS THERE

MY REAL FRIENDS, MY MUSLIM FAMILY AND MY PRAYER

YES! 2019 ENDED MUCH BETTER THAT IT BEGUN

I STARTED TO HAVE SOME REAL FUN

I BEGAN TO SMILE AND LAUGH AGAIN

I REMEMBERED WHAT I HAD AGAIN

I REMEMBERED TO BE THANKFUL FOR LIFE, FOR FAMILY, FOR THE LOVE

OF

MY

LORD

SURELY, I WOULDN’T HAVE MADE IT WITHOUT HIM

YES! 2020 WILL BE BETTER, MY MAN

I KNOW THIS BECAUSE “MY LIFE” HAS RETURNED AGAIN…..

-Peace, Hakim ‘Ali