Author Archives: lesterknibbs

In the Spirit of the Gracious and CompassionateCreator of the Heavens and the Earth I joined the Nation of Islam (NOI) in 1974, when it was under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad. For over a year, I worked at the Shabazz Restaurant (in Washington, DC), 60 or 70 or more hours a week. I alsoContinue reading “Do for Self, the Nation of Islam, and the Democratic Party”

In the Spirit of the Gracious and CompassionateCreator of the Heavens and the Earth It is reported that Prophet Muhammad (the Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Fornication will not appear among any people without them being punished by famine.” (Sayings of Muhammad, compiled by Ghazi Ahmad, #109) Historians and political scientistsContinue reading “Fornication and Famine”

In the Spirit of the Gracious and CompassionateCreator of the Heavens and the Earth The Qur’an is a message to all human beings. There were no Muslims in Arabia fourteen centuries ago. The people who accepted the message from the man with a lifelong reputation for decency and honesty, and who embraced the message —Continue reading “The Message”

In the Spirit of the Gracious and CompassionateCreator of the Heavens and the Earth “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of youContinue reading “Comments on the Qur’an and Symphonic Music”

In the Spirit of the Gracious and CompassionateCreator of the Heavens and the Earth It is easy to overlook the weaknesses in arguments when we agree with the conclusions. The article entitled, “What is the Koran?” in the January 1999 issue of The Atlantic Monthly is full of weaknesses, but if we agree with itsContinue reading “Scrutinizing the Qur’an”

In the Spirit of the Gracious and CompassionateCreator of the Heavens and the Earth Periods of African American History I divide African American history into three periods: The Great Terrorism, 1619 to 1865 The Lesser Terrorism, 1865 to 1965 The Lingering Terrorism, 1965 and continuing This is not a joke. The more I learn aboutContinue reading “The Abused Child Syndrome: The Effects of Terrorism on African Americans”

In the Spirit of the Gracious and CompassionateCreator of the Heavens and the Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2j6qZ1kaESQ tenor-solo (approximately) 21:00-24:15 (open link in new tab or windowso you can read this while listening) ourancestors are screaming we don’thear them we wanttheir suffering tenderlyand sweetly intoned tenderlyand sweetly entombed a reflection on Archie Shepp’s soloin John Coltrane’s AscensionContinue reading “Archie Shepp (Wails) in the Middle Passage”

In the Spirit of the Gracious and CompassionateCreator of the Heavens and the Earth “Bikini” is the name of an atoll, a group of 23 islands in the Pacific Ocean, part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. It was the location of a series of nuclear bomb tests called “Operation Crossroads”, conducted in 1946.Continue reading “Bikini”

In the Spirit of the Gracious and CompassionateCreator of the Heavens and the Earth The Assault on Fort Wagner At some point in this essay, I am going to suddenly start writing about symphonic music. It will make sense, if you pay attention. When I first saw the movie Glory I burst into tears whenContinue reading “Glory Is No Substitute for Victory”