EGODecember 2012

FASHION38 S.M.A.C.E.AN SU StUdENt FrOM NEw OrlEANS SHOwS HIS vISION wItH HIS FASION lINE.

EGO MAGAzINEtAblE OF CONtENtS

dECEMbEr 2012

1 FIrSt tHINGS FIrSt

... NO, HE HASN’t QUIt YEt. ANd NO, wE COUldN’t FINd A wAY tO GEt rId OF HIM.

2 PICtUrE PErFECt: bAYOU ClASSIC EdItION

tHE 39tH ANNUAl bAYOU ClASSIC. wE wErE tHErE. lEt US SHOw YOU wHAt wE SAw.

12 tHE MAIN EvENt

EGO GIvES YOU A GlIMPSE INtO tHE bAYOU ClASSIC’S lEGACY ANd ItS POSSIblE FUtUrE.

20 CUrtIS MOrtON ... CUStOM MAdE

FASHION MErCHANdISING MAjOr CUrtIS MOrtON, INSPIrEd bY HIS FAtHEr, SEtS OUt tO CArvE HIS OwN NICHE AS A FASHION dESIGNEr ANd StYlISt. EGO CAUGHt UP wItH MOrtON, wHO SHOwEd HIS ClOtHING lINE, 3rd & jAMES.

28 NAtION bUIldING

wHEN tHE HONOrAblE MINIStEr lOUIS FArrAkHAN CAME tO bAtON rOUGE IN OCtObEr, HE CAllEd A PrESS CONFErENCE wHErE vErY FEw MEMbErS OF tHE PrESS wErE PrESENt. EGO wAS AllOwEd tHE ONlY INtErvIEw bEFOrE HIS SPEAkING ENGAGEMENt At SOUtHErN UNIvErSItY’S F.G. ClArk ACtIvItY CENtEr tHAt NIGHt. FArrAkHAN AGrEEd tO ANSwEr OUr QUEStIONS AbOUt ECONOMICS, POlItICS, SOCIAl ISSUES ANd tHE NAtION OF ISlAM.

16 MOrE tHAN wOrdS

lUkE MCkNIGHt A/k/A “lUkE St. jOHN” dISCUSSES HIS PASSION FOr SPOkEN wOrd ANd MUSIC.

20 StrEEt MUSIC

A bAtON rOUGE NAtIvE dISHES ON tHE bUrGEONING rAP SCENE IN tHE CAPItAl CItY.

tECHNOlOGY22 IPAd MINI SEtS tONE FOr tAblEtS

25 7 tAblEtS FOr wINdOwS 8

FASHION

50 XClUSIONS bOUtIQUE

AN SU StUdENt FrOM tAllUlAH, lA., SHOwCASES SOME OF HEr wOrkS.

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ISSN 1936-1793Vol. 6, Issue 2

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITYSuite 1064 – T.H. Harris Hall

P.O. Box 10180Baton Rouge, LA 70813225.771.5819 PHONE

225.771.5840 FAX

The EGO magazine is written, edited and published

by members of the student body at Southern University and A&M

College.

The EGO magazine is published fives times a year with

a run count of 3,000 copies per issue during the Southern University

– Baton Rouge campus fall, spring and summer semesters.

The magazine is free to students, staff, faculty every publication

morning on the SUBR campus. The EGO magazine student

offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. The offices

are located on the first floor on T.H. Harris Hall, Suite 1064.

Copyright 2012 by the Southern University Office of Student

Media Services. The Office of Student Media is a Division of

All articles, photographs and graphics are property of EGO

magazine and its contents may not be reproduced or republished

without the written permission of the Editor in Chief and Director of

Media Services.

The EGO magazine is the official student magazine

of Southern University and A&M College located in Baton Rouge,

La. Articles, features, opinions, speak out and editorials do not

necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the administration and

its policies. Signed articles, feedback, commentaries and features

do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors, staff or student

body.

Southern University and A&M College at Baton Rouge is

accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern

Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane,

Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, telephone (404) 679-4500, Website:

www.saccscoc.org.

Contributing Writers Darryl J. Edwards, Managing EditorChristie Carral, Digest Culture EditorEvan Taylor, Digest Editor-in-ChiefCharles Hawkins II, Digest News EditorAristide Phillips, Digest Sports Editor

Contributing PhotograPhers Arielle Burks, Ego Art DirectorTrevor James, Jaguar Editor-in-ChiefAriana Triggs, Photo-Editor

Special Thanks to Wil Norwood, for his photographic exper-tise and knowledge

student Media staffHeather Freeman, DirectorFredrick Batiste, Publications AssistantCamelia Jackson, Advertising/Business Mgr.

EGO MAGAzINEWell its been said that music and

fashion go hand in hand and that one generally inspires the other, well I decided to take that idea and bring it to EGO for the annual music and fashion issue.

Of course I’m a news junkie at heart so there are a few news stories such as the future of the Bayou Classic now that State Farm Insurance will no longer be our title sponsor and an exclusive interview with the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan where he speaks about ways on building onto our nation.

But like I stated before this is the music and fashion issue. This issue features a commentary piece about the music that’s out on the streets that haven’t hit mainstream yet but are widely popular within city limits as well as a student profile on Luke St. John a rap artist and spoken word enthusiast. We also feature the clothing lines of two SU two students, SMACE by Courtney Williams and Xclusions Boutique by Artesha Murray. The two broadly different styles of urban wear and formal wear showcase the variety and creativity of the fashion minds that Southern University has to offer.

Now that I’ve explained the inside allow me to explain the outside. The all-white cover was inspired by the 1968 self-entitled album by The Beatles, more commonly referred to as the “White Album,” because like the band at that time this issue comes at a very tumultuous period for the Southern University family. Ringo Starr, the drummer, quit the band for a brief time and many of the songs were solo recordings or didn’t have the full group on the track … much like Southern University at present.

We are divided.However this division does not have

to destroy what we have created. Granted the White Album was a large success but the loss in connection can be felt in each song. What made The Beatles one of the greatest acts of musical genius was that they were all able connect on a far different level than everyone else and somehow share that connection with others. The White Album is historically one of the best-selling and sounding albums of any genre of music, it sold millions worldwide and forever changed

the face of music however all of this success could not keep the band together. We cannot be arrogant and believe that we will go on existing because we have a right too when aren’t even operating on the same wavelength. A connection is needed in order to continue on creating something wonderful.

We need that connection again. Each member brought something unique to the group and without one the music suffered. Sure, each member was talented enough to pick up the slack such as when Starr left for a short time McCartney played drums on two songs in his stead however it didn’t have that Starr personality. The same could be said for a majority of the songs that were on that album. While each were great songs to a dedicated fan the disconnect could be plainly felt. The disconnect I feel in “Blackbird” is the same I feel here at Southern University. Paul wrote and sung a beautiful song however I could feel a hint of disappointment in each chord, without the phenomenal Lennon-McCartney collaboration the song lacked fulfillment to me. That collaboration was the driving force behind the era of The Beatles, just like the collaboration in community and administration is the driving force behind Southern University.

Without it we lack fulfillment in everything we do.

If alums walk away it’s the same as when Starr left, leaving McCartney to fill in as the heartbeat of the group. If administration calls in someone else to handle an internal issue its like Harrison inviting Clapton in to do lead guitar, while Clapton’s present succeeded in calming the storm when he left things went right back to how they were before.

The White Album was the last album that The Beatles produced “together” but it wasn’t the best. The men were never able to overcome their differences, which led to the destruction of the group, unless we overcome our differences we will soon meet the same fate as them.

So what will we do: Come Together or Let it Be?

First things firsttAblE OF CONtENtS

dECEMbEr 2012

Norman J. Dotson Jr.

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IN rHYtHMtHE SOUtHErN UNIvErSItY MArCHING bANd’S drUM lINE, AlSO kNOwN AS tHE FUNk FACtOrY,

PErFOrMS dUrING tHE ANNUAl bAYOU ClASSIC bAttlE OF tHE bANdS.—PHOtO bY ArIEllE bUrkS

PICtUrE PErFECt

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dON’t kIll HIS vIbECHArt-tOPPING rAPPEr kENdrICk lAMAr

PErFOrMS At tHE bAYOU ClASSIC FAN FEStIvAl At CHAMPIONS SQUArE OUtSIdE OF tHE MErCEdEz-bENz SUPErdOME.

—PHOtO bY ArIEllE bUrkS

... MAkE HEr dANCEOSCAr-wINNING rAPPEr jUICY j

PErFOrMS dUrING tHE bAYOU ClASSIC FAN FESt At CHAMPIONS SQUArE OUtSIdE OF tHE MErCEdEz-bENz SUPErdOME.

—PHOtO bY ArIEllE bUrkS

tHE wINNING tEAMSOUtHErN UNIvErSItY’S AlPHA tAU CHAPtEr OF dEltA SIGMA tHEtA

CElEbrAtES AFtEr wINNINt tHE 2012 bAYOU ClASSIC GrEEk SHOw At tHE MErCEdEz-bENz SUPErdOME.

—PHOtO bY ArIEllE bUrkS

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HIGHEr tHAN MOStwIz kHAlIFA (lEFt) ANd NEw

OrlEANS’ OwN CUrrEN$Y rOCk tHE CrOwd dUrING tHE bAYOU ClASSIC FAN FESt At CHAMPIONS SQUArE OUtSIdE OF tHE MErCEdEz-bENz SUPErdOME.

—PHOtO bY ArIEllE bUrkS

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SwEEt vICtOrYtHE SOUtHErN FOOtbAll tEAM CElEbrAtES ItS 38-33 wIN OvEr ArCHrIvAl GrAMblING StAtE IN tHE

39tH ANNUAl bAYOU ClASSIC, tYING tHE OvErAll SErIES rECOrd bEtwEEN tHE lOUISIANA SCHOOlS At 30-30.

—PHOtO COUrtESY OF wIl NOrwOOd

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The Main Event

For nearly four decades, thousands of Southern and Grambling State alumni and fans converge on the Crescent City in the annual pilgrimage known as The Bayou Classic.

gives you a glimpse of the game's legacy and possible future.

Story By Aristide PhillipsPhotos by Ariana Triggs &Wil Norwood

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The SouThern univerSiTy Maching Band druM Major Kelan norMan perforMS a BacKBend aT halfTiMe of The 39Th annual Bayou claSSic.

—phoTo By ariana TriggS

At one point in time, it was considered the most significant black orientated sports entertainment arranged

in the United States, the biggest happening in all of Historically Black College and University athletics … the Bayou Classic.

The rivalry between Southern University and Grambling State University dates back all the way to 1936, but it wasn’t until 1974 at Tulane Stadium when the first Bayou Classic was held.

In that inaugural year the Tigers came away with the victory 21-0 over Southern.

It wasn’t until 1979 on a non-traditional date (December 1) where the Jaguars got their first victory over GSU, a 14-7 decision in their sixth meeting in the sports cathedral now known as the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

During it’s early years the game was televised to the world along with over 72,000 people packed inside a dome that was brand new and was considered an architectural modern marvel.

People from all over who had no ties to Southern or Grambling State would come to the event because it was considered “the sports happening for back people in the country and a major sporting event for anybody in the country,” Executive

Assistant to the Mayor of New Orleans Robert Tucker said in a 1976 promotional video.

The focal point is the football game obviously but the festivities begin the night before the football game with night parades that would go down along Canal Street.

The bands from both respective schools would march from Canal Street to the Superdome where the Battle of The Bands would take place.

Along with the battle of the bands would be concerts and pageants and the viewing crowd would be around 200,000 people.

On the day of the game there would be pregame festivities such as floats riding around the stadium and both bands performing.

All of this happened the night before the game back when the Bayou Classic was new and fresh.

With festivities like that companies wanted a piece of the pie, and State Farm got that piece.

State Farm Insurance Company became the title sponsor of the Bayou Classic nearly two decades ago and after this year’s Bayou Classic that partnership will come to an end.

But people who will attend the Bayou Classic Thanksgiving Day Parade will still see State Farm ads because it will be the

Presenting Sponsor for that event.

“State Farm has been a great partner for

many years and it’s not usual that things change,” president and CEO of New Orleans Covention Company Dottie Belletto said. “We are now entitled to now to take back our brand, the Bayou Classic now owns it’s own brand so it’s now the Bayou Classic

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presented by Grambling and Southern.”

With last year’s Bayou Classic

garnering the lowest

attendance in its history,

(40,715) this may be a blessing in

disguise now that both institutions own the rights to

the Bayou Classic. It doesn’t help that the United States’

worst natural disaster happened in New

Orleans; Hurricane Katrina took away over 28,000 fans that would annually attend the game.

“People that didn’t have any affiliation with Grambling nor Southern but were from New Orleans would come to the game,” Grambling State Bayou Classic Committee member Erin James said. “And the Bayou Classic was an event and they participated in and we have lost those people so now it’s our Job to get them to come back.”

The year prior to Hurricane Katrina the attendance for the Bayou Classic saw 68,911 people fill the stadium, and to get people those people back is going to take a lot of work on the part of the promoters and both universities.

Belletto said that it is the company’s number one priority to try to bring people back to the Bayou Classic.

Under prior sponsorship the universities had no ownership of their social media or website, and now they own those avenues they own the brand and the Bayou Classic committee is working with NBC to promote the game more aggressively both locally and nationally.

“It’s up to all of us to take the responsibility of moving it forward this is a legacy that if I have anything to do with it, it’s not going anywhere,” Belletto said.

This year’s Bayou Classic consisted of the annual Thanksgiving Day parade that kicked off festivities, and Cox Communications hosted a golf tournament.

Also on Friday there was an HBCU Institute Empowerment Exchange, the exchange’s purpose is to help people in the community by providing guests with the most up-to-date information on employment along with Grambling State and Southern the opportunity to recruit students.

“We’re putting out positive energy because it is about the student that area attending these schools and showing them support and giving them a future that they can move on and have families and comeback and have a tradition that they can be proud of and can build on,” Belletto said.

The Bayou Classic is the grandfather of all classics, both respective schools produced over 250 athletes that went on to play in the NFL, and with the 40th year coming next year the committee wants to restore the prestige of the Bayou Classic.

With 45,980 in attendance to watch Southern hold on for a 38-33 victory over the Tigers in this year’s game, the committee picked up some hope in their goal of restoring its prestige.

More than words

Story By Christie CarralPhotos by Arielle Burks

Luke McKnight, better known as “Luke St. John” around campus, is a senior liberal arts major from Baton Rouge that has began his journey through his love and passion for writing through his lyrics, spoken word and shows.

He discusses with how his work began, when it started, where it’s going, where it is currently and what he plans to do with it upon obtaining a degree.

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McKnight, whose life has been in the creative rim since childhood, says he was inspired at a

very early age to begin writing stories and creating his own literature.

“I always had an interest to write and tell stories through creative writing. I was around that creative space all the time.” McKnight told EGO that when he was young, around the ages of six and seven, creating work and trying to interpret what had already been created, it inspired him to create his own work. After realizing that, he said that one thing just led to another with his writings.

According to McKnight, his father and grandfather, who both played dynamic roles in his life, heavily influenced him. “My father always encouraged me to think freely and critically and observe my surrounding internally and externally. So, that played a dynamic effect on the work that I’ve created.” He also told EGO that his grandfather was an excellent storyteller as well as reverend. “He was a wonderful storyteller. I try to incorporate his way of speaking because he used to be a reverend in Mississippi. I come from a long line of pastors.”

For two years now, Luke St. John has shared his work through different mediums to inspire and touch others through his shows that he likes to think of as sermons. “I think I get my speaking from them. I consider my shows as sermons in some way.” He said that his writings were initially just pretty much just stories telling a story or a narrative. McKnight said that after a while, he began to add more rhythm and poetry. When he began to share his work, it was then turned into a spoken word then those became verses, he then transformed them into songs. “I started sharing my songs two years ago. That was the first time I ever put anything out to people.”

Whenever McKnight says he begins to write, he says that he has several fashions to his work. Most of the time he is inspired to write on his personal life experiences as well as universal truths that everybody could feel no matter who they are. McKnight explained that the human experience is not as exclusive as some may conceive it to be. “People have the exact same feelings and thoughts and they may be able to share how they want to share it.”

McKnight said that through many

researches he has read on, he says that a lot of his context comes from it because when he reads it, he observes it and meditate on it. “I listen first, and then I write it down. Whenever I write like this, I’m quiet first and then the ideas turn into words. Sometimes I feel it’s not me writing during those times.” McKnight says when he gets into the groove of writing, it happens at least three to four times a day, even though he says that he writes every day. “I have this journal that I always keep with me. I always have my pocket journal and I write down notes to myself and it’s not like a ‘to-do-list’.” McKnight explained that when he writes, he likes to have a control. He told EGO he does not like to force his ideas; instead he wants them to come organically. “I learned trying to force something; the outcome is not what I expect it to be. But sometimes pressure is good. I don’t try to force much and I try to associate that with living too. Everything I do, I want it to be emblematic of my life I live. That’s pretty much why I use my name.”

When says he writes, he said that he can do it anywhere because it takes him somewhere else mentally. “Whenever I get inspired to write something down that has some kind of gravity, or that holds some weight, I’m somewhere else. The trick is, though, trying to stay there.”

McKnight’s musical inspirations are surprisingly not all ‘Rap’ artists. He says that some of his personal favorites are some the world’s greatest jazz players, R&B artists and some Hip Hop artists. Such as Cee-Lo Green, who McKnight thinks is a great writer and producer, Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def, Andre 3000, MF Doom. “As far as music, I really resign with Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Esperanza Spalding, Alice and John Coltrane. I’m really big on Jazz and Blues. I want to have those familiar phrases and melodies in my vocals and my vocal placement too.” Luke says that Blues is really familiar because people just really feel it when they listen to it.

McKnight said with his writing, he plans to take it beyond just music and lyricism. He would like to create novels and professional screenplays. “I would like to have my hand in that one way or another.” McKnight said that the proceeds could go to philanthropy afterwards when he gets to where he needs to be. He says that giving back is always good and it’s also a fulfillment of others. “I will always see myself involved in my work.”

Although McKnight says he enjoys his writing, he said that he could not see himself doing this for his entire career. “I enjoy rapping and recording; I’m not going to be a recording artist for the rest of my career, though.” He said that he has been offered a record deal many times before. “Only if it serves or if it is a positive machine behind you that could do something that can’t do yourself and it’s for your idea and it’s not trying to change your idea and it’s not in hopes of selling more records, then yes, that’s very conducive to the artist. It’s all about finding the right match to what you enjoy.”

McKnight says that he would not be able to be a part of recording label because, eventually, his work will not be to get a message out. He said it will end with the record label selling records instead of his ideas. “Whatever I do, whatever I put out, I would like to enjoy it and like for everybody else to enjoy it. I’m not going to compromise my work for money. I’m not going to compromise what I like just to be seen. That’s not my goal just to be seen. I’m not in it for fame because I enjoy it. I do it because I see the people that actually listen to my work or go to a show.” McKnight says if he were in the business of going for just the money, he would phase out like any other one hit wonder. “You have to be true to yourself and stick to your resolve as an artist and not be exploited by record labels.”

McKnight said that he did not let the things that his peers nor the negative things in his environment influence his way of thinking. “I could tell from an early age that I chose to behave and react to certain scenarios differently from my peers.” McKnight explained to EGO that his decision did not make anyone better or worse, but it was just a distinction that he noticed. He said that living in Baton Rouge, he had somewhat of a ‘nomadic’ tendency since he moved in different parts of the city. As a young child, McKnight said that he knew and was familiar with every negative aspect of Baton Rouge. “I incorporate that into my work, actually. I’m proud of my city as well as I understand how problematic it could be.” Although McKnight says he loves his city, he’s aware of the troubles that it faces. He said it was considered as a ‘dichotomy’ in his city. “I understand the troubles that Baton Rouge faces politically as well as systematic racism or like caste systems and social conditioning.”

local rapper Kevin gaTeS perforMS during The Bayou claSSic fanfeST aT chaMiponS Square ouTiSde of The Mercedez-Benz SuperdoMe.

—phoTo By ariana TriggS

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The last couple of years have seen a change in the music scene in Baton Rouge with major artist Torrence “Lil Boosie” Hatch being

incarcerated and the murders of high profile rappers Chris “Nussie” Jackson and Melvin “Lil Phat” Vernell III. However, new artists have risen to fill in their roles.

After gaining initial notoriety as a member of the Short Bus Boyz, Lee Banks, has began releasing solo music. Banks currently has the local rap music scene awaiting the release of mixtape “Target Practice 2.”

In Banks’ single “Get U A Body” he addresses authenticity in the streets of Baton Rouge with lyrics such as “Should’ve stayed in school bruh/You Ain’t a gangsta/That don’t make you cool bruh.”

Banks boastfully challenges tough talkers to follow through on their talk.

Unfortunately today’s artists speaks on issues that they aren’t really living is a large part of today’s music.

There has been a recent remix where multiple Baton Rouge artists including Mista Cain and Young Ready jump on to add on to Banks’ threats.

Banks’ aggressive hardcore rap style displays a lyrical ability, and gives listeners a chance to experience his struggles.

Banks’ style picks up where Kevin Gates’ old raps left off in the violent story telling.

While listeners are waiting for the release of Banks’ next mixtape, he has released “No Promo Mixtape” on Halloween to hold his fans over until Target Practice 2.

Banks describes his style as being different from other Baton Rouge artists.

“ Originality, I come with a whole different style and approach,” said Banks

He said listeners should just let the music play and see what they like.

His first solo mixtape entitled, Target Practice, which allows the public a chance to get to know him apart from the Short Bus Boyz.

His lyrics give motivation on working hard to gain success to get from one place to another.

If listeners want to check on new material or other news, they can check Banks Twitter at “@itzleebanks” which he

regularly updates.“ Stay tuned for what’s coming,” said Banks.With the popularity of gospel rap artist

Lecrae, and others rising, gospel rap in Baton Rouge has seen a rise.

Corey Baham, also known as Selah, upcoming gospel rapper has been making waves in the area to bringing as he would say “The Truth” instead of lies which most artist rap about.

“Selah comes from scripture in bible from numerous times in psalms,” said Selah. He said most scholars assume it to mean pause or interlude.

His most notable songs are “ She Flexin ft. K. Fay,” “ King’s Kid,” and “Coming on the Clouds” featuring Deluge band.

“She flexin” is a song about women being more strong and independent as well as not relying on men for happiness. Many women need to hear that song, seriously.

With rhymes like “Seen some dude trying to get her on his team/but she’s not interested in hell’s first string/He trying to spit game, but she ain’t going for the scheme/cuz she’s coached by her daddy Yahweh” he attempts to tell why the father is important in a child’s life as well as what women should not look for.

“King’s Kid” discusses how each of us is special because we are God’s children, so if he is special as God, then we are special.

The beat has a repetitive energetic drumbeat that Selah raps to.

Selah says his main goal is to lead people to God’s Word. If you approach his music with an open mind you will definitely hear gospel truth.

“Locally, when people say ‘Baton Rouge rap’ they think of one sound which is made popular by certain artists,” said Selah

He said he is trying to bring a fresh sound to the music while also challenging listeners with lyrical depth.

“I like to have people actually play instruments, and not just synthesizer because I was a band head,” said Selah.

While listening to his music, you can definitely hear live instruments, which I always appreciate.

This lets me know he is a real musician behind the microphone and not just a person only chasing money.

Selah is prepping his new mixtape for

the first quarter of 2013.Interested listeners can follow him on

Twitter at @SelahOnthemic, visit website www.selahonthmic.com, or visit Selah’s YouTube channel Selah220.

Most people automatically pick Kevin Gates “Kvn Gates,” Mista Cain, Young Ready, Foxx or Level when speaking of the Baton Rouge rap scene.

Kevin Gates has still been making some noise with his music, but over singing on most of his post-incarceration singles’ hooks irritated many of his listeners.

It also has taken away from the raw raps people were used to from his first few mixtapes “Pick of Da Litter”, “All Or Nuthing”, and “All In.”

At times he can rekindle the intricately detailed raps in his more recent mixtapes “I Don’t Know What to Call It Volume 1”, “Make’Em Believe”, and “In the Meantime.”

Trill Entertainment artist Jonathan Reed Sr “Foxx” has released three mixtapes this year in “ Hemi Hemi Gone” “ Don’t Work Don’t Eat”, and “Foxx Mayweather.” His energetic lyrical braggadocio rap style always gets crowds hyped. I know fans as I have been awaiting his second album for a while now, even though the mixtapes have been able to hold us over. With lyrics “ Futuristic Futurama/I’m the future don’t you forget it/I’m hollering free Boosie till they let him out of prison” he brings alliterative lines while staying street.

Mista Cain recently released his mixtape entitled, Lou Cain, with singles “Bam” and “I Try”. Mista Cain’s joking raw rap style keeps listeners amused while also allowing him to let listeners picture his street tales.

Level’s hype club music usually keeps listeners entertained and ready to party. Listeners are still awaiting to see what is next for him since his last mixtape entitled “Street Credit 2: Disorderly Conduct”.

Young Ready’s “Goon Related” has been getting play with records “Its Up there” and “Reality Check #5”. Good hooks, detailed street talk and collaborations with Mista Cain have seen his popularity rise.

All artists mentioned have been known to perform at Club Dreams, Club Empire, The Varsity Theatre, End of Summer jams, the Battle of the Bands events and other venues around Baton Rouge.

Street MusicStory By Charles Hawkins II

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It’s been two and a half years since Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s idea of what a tablet should be — the now iconic iPad. Since then, more than 100 million iPads have been sold. They’re seemingly everywhere: Doctors use them to organize patient records; football teams

use them as playbook replacements; musicians use them to create music, and artists, art; companies are adopting them by the thousands for a variety of purposes and school students use them for study.

To compete with the iPad juggernaut, competitors offered up tablets in various sizes, with the more successful ones built around a 7-in. screen and often carrying a price tag half that of the Retina iPad’s $499 entry-level price. Samsung has the Galaxy Tab 7, Amazon has the Kindle Fire HD, and Google has the Nexus 7, to name a few.

Unwilling to cede the 7-in. tablet market to anyone, Apple on Oct. 23 introduced the iPad Mini Prices start at $329 for the 16GB Wi-Fi-only model and climb past $600 if you want more storage and cellular wireless capabilities, Including LTE where available.

The iPad Mini is pretty much a shrunken iPad 2. At 7.87-in. high, 5.3-in. wide, it’s about two-thirds the size of the full-size, 9.7-in. iPad and weighs just 0.68 of a pound. And it’s just over a quarter-inch thick.

Therein lies its main appeal: You get pretty much the full iPad experience in a smaller, thinner and lighter package.

Technical DeTails

The Mini’s LED-lit 7.9-in. screen offers the same resolution as non-Retina iPads: 1024 X 768 pixels (though those pixels are packed closer together in the smaller iPad, making the screen a little sharper than on the iPad 2). The screen is encased in a sleek, minimalist black/slate or white/silver aluminum-and-glass housing.

The Mini uses a dual-core Apple-designed A5 processor, a battery designed for up to 10 hours of use on the Wi-Fi model or nine hours with cellular use, and front and back cameras for photos and video. The front-facing 1.2 megapixel camera can shoot 720p HD video for high quality video chats, while the rear-facing 5MP camera can take 1080p HD video.

Like other iPads, the on/off switch is located on top toward the right, while on the upper right side is a user-configurable mute/rotate-lock switch, as well as volume up and down keys. The

iPad mini sets tone for tablets

Story By Darryl EdwardsImages Courtesy of The Associated Press

round home button remains the single physical part on the iPad’s front face.

All models feature 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (with 802.11n in 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies), as well as Bluetooth 4.0; the new, thinner, reversible Lightning connector; a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack, built-in stereo speakers, a microphone, a digital compass, three-axis gyro, an accelerometer, an ambient light sensor, and support for Apple’s digital assistant, Siri.

look anD feel

Compared to a variety of 7-in. tablets on the market, it can safely be stated that the iPad Mini is unmatched in build quality by any of its competitors. But the best part is Apple managed to solve its biggest problem with the iPad line-up: weight. Like the iPhone 5, the iPad Mini feels like a sci-fi movie prop; it’s hard to imagine it will actually function until you turn it on.

The screen

The screen is clearly not a Retina display; it’s especially noticeable to me with on-screen fonts. The iPad Mini is

essentially a scaled down iPad 2. The pixel density is still greater than on the iPad 2 (163 pixels per inch, about half the pixel density of a Retina display), and color reproduction, brightness and viewing angles are all high-quality on the iPad Mini, thanks to the use of IPS technology. Although the screen on this device is, obviously, physically smaller than on the larger iPads, the 1024 X 768 pixel count means iOS 6 works without any modifications. There are smaller touch points in the software, though, which you’ll notice if you’re accustomed to the larger iPads. But the difference is not a hindrance in usability. And two-handed typing feels pretty natural on this size device, especially when the keyboard is split virtually. As with other iPads, the screen is a fingerprint magnet. But it cleans up with a simple wipe with a soft cloth.

final ThoughTs

So, where does the iPad Mini fit in? Is it a kiddie iPad -- the one adults hand off to kids? Is it the mass education iPad, displacing its larger sibling as the go-

to tablet for school? Or is this a better reading device, a shot fired at the Kindle? Most importantly, will the lower cost and smaller size offset the loss of a Retina display and a more powerful processor in the larger iPad?

The iPad Mini can be all of these things, and more, with enough software -- and, eventually, the accessories -- to allow it to be whatever you need. The iPad Mini is still a full-fledged iPad, albeit in a smaller package. The main compromise here is about screen quality versus size and weight, not about the quality of the user experience. The most important aspect of the Mini isn’t the resolution or even the screen size -- it’s still not entirely pocket-friendly. It’s the weight. You can comfortably hold it in one hand for extended periods of time without strain, a huge benefit over the larger Retina-display iPad. The new fourth-generation iPad may be faster, and it does have the gorgeous higher-resolution Retina display, but it’s still heavy. If size and weight stopped you from an iPad purchase before, the Mini is tailor-made for you.

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The introduction of Microsoft Windows 8 has spawned a variety of new and exciting devices. Here are 7 tablets that were

built especially to accommodate the new operating system. Some include keyboards and other add-ons, but will those extras — and the promise of Windows on a tablet — be enough to lure buyers away from the iPad and Android tablets?

acer iconia W7The Acer Iconia W7 (model W700) is

the most powerful standard-size tablet among those featured here, with an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor running Windows 8 behind a 1920 x 1080 11.6-in. full HD screen. Models offer from 64GB to 128GB of SSD storage, front-facing and rear-facing HD cameras, and Dolby Home Theater v4 audio enhancement. The Iconica W7 comes with a cradle that not only acts as a stand in both landscape and portrait mode, but also adds HDMI and USB 3.0 ports.

asus ViVoTab

Asus pairs its 11.6-in. VivoTab with a Wacom digital stylus and an optional Mobile Dock detachable dock that provides a keyboard, trackpad, USB port and an extra battery that, the company claims, nearly doubles the unit’s unplugged life. The dock folds over the 1366-x-768-resolution display to turn the whole package into, essentially, an

Seven tables for Win8

Story By Darryl EdwardsImages Courtesy of The

Associated Press

ultraportable notebook. The Vivo Tab comes with a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor. In addition to 64GB of SSD storage, the base version ($699.00) comes with 32GB of online Asus WebStorage for three years. Asus also offers a 10.1-in. Windows RT version (the VivoTab RT), that comes with the dock and 32GB of storage for $599.00.

Dell XPs 10As a business productivity tool, Dell is positioning its

10.1-in. XPS 10 Windows RT tablet. The base unit has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core processor, 32GB or 64GB of storage, and a 1366 x 768 10.1-in. screen. Dell emphasizes the XPS 10’s suitability for enterprise use, touting its Secure Boot, Trusted Platform Module and Windows Defender features.

hP eliTePaD 900Hewlett-Packard has announced the HP ElitePad

900, which will be available early next year. It will have a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor, 64GB of SSD storage and a 10.1-in. 1280 x 800 display; it will run Windows 8 Pro. Intended for enterprise use, the ElitePad will be able to use HP Global Services and HP Custom Integration Services to make deployment easy. HP also claims the unit will have “military-grade durability” to survive dropping, dust and temperature extremes.

lenoVo iDeaTab lynX k3011The Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx is among the more full-

featured tablets in this group, with a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Atom processor (enabling it to run the full version of Windows 8) behind an 11.6-in. HD display. The tablet has a micro USB, microSD and micro HDMI ports; an optional keyboard dock ($149.00) adds two more full-size USB ports plus a keyboard and extra battery. There is a single 2-megapixel front-facing webcam.

sony Vaio TaP 20 Mobile DeskToP

With the Vaio Tap 20 Mobile Desktop, Sony pushes the boundaries of the term “tablet.” Its 20-in. display lets it have features beyond the reach of other tablets: an onboard subwoofer, Dolby Home Theater sound, an Ethernet port, and a 1.3-megapixel HD webcam. It comes with Family Paint, an app that lets two people draw together, and Fingertapps Organizer, a calendar you can write on.

MicrosofT surface WiTh WinDoWs rTThe introduction of Windows 8 also marks Microsoft’s

latest venture into hardware: the Surface tablet. The first version available comes with Windows RT, priced at $499.00 for 32GB of RAM; if you want the magnetic Touch Cover keyboard, it’s $599.00 for 32GB and $699 for 64GB. You can also buy a more “clicky” Type Cover for $129.99. The Surface has a 10.6-in. 1366 x 768 HD display, two 720p webcams, a USB 2.0 port, a microSD card slot and an HD video-out port.

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NationBuilding

When the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan came to Baton Rouge in October, he called a press conference where very few members of the press were present. EGO was allowed the only

interview before his speaking engagement at Southern University’s F.G. Clark Activity Center that night. Farrakhan agreed to answer

our questions about economics, politics, social issues and the Nation of Islam.

Story By Evan TaylorPhotos by Arielle Burks &

Ariana Triggs

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EGO: EducatiOn and thinkinG OutsidE thE bOx, hOw dO yOu rEcOmmEnd studEnts think OutsidE Of thE bOx? and arE thErE any rEsOurcEs that yOu can rEcOmmEnd thEm tO ExplOrE?

farrakhan: The box is this we coined the phrase seven years ago, he who gives you the diameter or your knowledge prescribes the circumference of your activity. If you look at the activity of black people, educated black people, and look at our productivity of institutions and business of the economic development of our people no matter how much we have learned in college and I make a box, yet we have not been able to break out of that box to provide our people with what our people need to satisfy our human needs. So every community that you know of, immigrants, that have come to this country they have not been here as long as we but yet they have thriving communities.

If you go to Chinatown, if you go to Korea town, if you go to Greek town or even if you go to Bobby Jindal and the Indian population, everywhere you find them they are actively involved in economic pursuits; creating jobs for themselves and their people and they have a community that reflects their willingness to provide what their people need to consume. The Koreans do this, the Japanese do this, the Germans do it, the Italians do it, even the Mexicans who have come they come and the four or five of them or six or seven maybe in an apartment and after a while they pool their little monies and then they own the building. Then they move right on down the block and then you see businesses that reflect Mexico. But look at the black community. Look at us, with all that we know, all the blessing of education that we have received yet we do not have in our community black men and women supplying our needs so, we have become a consumer nation.

This year, they say we will earn out of the American community $1.1 trillion, not even 5 percent of that money rotates in the black community it comes in, it goes out. It builds other communities while our communities are stagnant. And that’s the educational box. So, what do we need to get out of that box? The honorable Elijah Muhammad said it so beautifully, what we were deprived of is self-knowledge. As a tree without roots is dead, a people without the knowledge of their history is likewise dead.

So, the whole slave experience took from black people the knowledge of our names our

language our culture our history our religion our God. We’re stripped so, everybody that comes to America they bring with them their culture, they bring with them their language, they bring with them their history, and above all they bring a self respect, a self love and a self determination. So after a little while you see they’ve built a community and have taken advantage of this great land of opportunity. But not us, and that is the box. So, the kind of teaching God willing that we will give to tonight from the Honorable Elijah Muhammad will allow those who listen whether they are students or faculty, whether they are young or old to think outside of the box of western ideology, western educational philosophy western education methodology and then we can think critically. And then we look at the courses we study we then know

what to take and what to leave. When you know who you are you know

what you can expect from yourself. When you know your history and you know what we accomplished in the past, then you know that in our DNA is the same genetic make-up of the great builders of civilization yesterday we need to rise up and build a brand new civilization today.

EGO: knOwinG yOur histOry tO mOvE fOrward, hOw impOrtant is it tO lOOk back tO yOur histOry tO knOw whErE yOu camE frOm in OrdEr tO mOvE fOrward?

farrakhan: There are many books that would augment whatever we are being taught from a curriculum that is sanctioned

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by the children of our former slave masters. The slave master will never educate you to be free from his hand. His education is designed to keep us in a position of servitude. Even the study in your political science class of the thought of brother Malcolm and the thought the great Martin Luther King Jr., how far does it go? How many real speeches of Martin Luther King did you really study? How many real teachings of brother Malcolm and Martin did you get a chance to study?

And both of these men’s lives were cut short when they were 39 years of age and if you study their writings you can see that both men were evolving, constantly evolving.

We don’t yet know where Malcolm would have gone, we got an idea and we don’t really know where Dr. King would have gone because Dr. King in one of the last meetings

he had with members of his staff, in that meeting was Harry Belafonte and brother Harry said to me that in that meeting he noticed Dr. King was very melancholy, kind of sad, and he went over to Dr. King because the staff was spirited, the staff was happy but Dr. King wasn’t. And he asked Dr. King “why do you seem so melancholy?” and the answer that Dr. King gave him was an answer that would make us think that he was ready to move in a direction that was different from the direction he was moving in.

And he said to Mr. Belafonte “I am afraid that I am integrating my people into a burning house.” He saw America as a house on fire, not literal fire but, the institutions that were built on the idea of white supremacy and black inferiority were now being threatened with the advancement

of the pursuit of self-knowledge and critical thinking so, education was in revolt, religion was in revolt, politics was in revolt because now something is happening coming from the bottom up and it’s tearing up institutions we are trying to integrate into.

Where was Dr. King going? Where was brother Malcolm going? And I thank God that even though these two great brothers died young reaching for something now 40 years after their deaths we look back, what progress have we really made in race relations, even though we have a black president, and we are happy that brother has won such high office but what is the condition of the masses of our people? I’m here at Southern University, what is the condition of the university? What are the struggles of the professors and the students? With a racist system that sits over you where you are looking for money to advance this and advance that and the people that you look to for money you have to play a certain kind of role in order for them to advance you the money. And they advance money now but money to advance you how? How will you use what you are gaining as a benefit so when you leave here you won’t be subjected to the same thing your parents were subjected to but you can cut out new ground because you have a new vision because of a new idea has entered your heart and your mind, even that should be studied critically; Malcolm and Martin because neither of them finished their course.

So, you can’t even get a grade if you didn’t finish the course. So for you to make that a study it’s only a study to where did they go and what is left for us to do with what Malcolm and Martin left for us. And isn’t interesting that they never tell us about the civilizations that we built, long before the white man was even a thought to come into existence. They don’t talk like that. Black folk don’t know their origin in the world and the Caucasians origin in the world. And when you don’t know your origin and the things that you have done historically, then you don’t know what you are capable of doing presently.

Malcolm and Martin were rising stars among a people that only up 100 and something years from slavery so, but what did we do prior to coming into the Transatlantic slave trade, prior to being betrayed by our own African brothers that sold us to our captures. So if we don’t know that, then we don’t know what we once did then we really have no idea of what we are capable of doing. And that I would hope to

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give a snippet of tonight for the students, God willing.

EGO: hOw dO suGGEst within cOmmunitiEs wE addrEss Our Own sOcial issuEs?

farrakhan: The greatest need of our people is knowledge. The bible says my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge. What is the quality of the knowledge that is being offered to us in the American educational system? We have set up Muhammad University of Islam, there are charter schools, there are afro-centric schools; not enough to impact the children that live in the inner cities or even in the suburbs. So our politics has to be, how do we influence the public educational system, where most of our children are languishing and the males in particular are not attracted to the education they are being offered.

And if you look at the statistics you find 50 percent of those enrolled, dropout before they even graduate from high school. So what should be our thrust? We can’t make it without knowledge and if we are not setting up independent schools and we don’t have the money to set up enough independent schools to service our children, then there must be, like in the Muhammad university of Islam we are trying to set an example of curriculum development that makes our children superior. Not superior because of blackness, superior because when you have a superior knowledge a superior education, you are expected to perform on a superior level in comparison to those who are not having that same quality of education.

Education is a human right. Every human being deserves to be properly educated so, our aim would be to influence the curriculum in the schools, particularly that teach the black and the brown. Even the whites are being cheated with the educational system. And if you notice the ones that are highest in achievement are those from Asia and the Indian sub-continents. Whites come in maybe third. And blacks we are somewhere on the list, we may be a step ahead of our Hispanic brothers but, in some cases they are moving past us even there. So, the system is bad and it needs to be fixed. And either we come out of it and set up something for ourselves that will satisfy our quest for knowledge or we become so politically active, so concerned about our future that we take over the public school system and give our children exactly what we know they need to be able to compete in this technological age.

EGO: mOst amEricans say financEs and rEliGiOn arE thEir tOp twO issuEs; dO yOu havE any advicE fOr pEOplE facinG rEliGiOus and financial struGGlEs?

farrakhan: There is no doubt that we all need money in a society like this to survive. And going after a means of support is not wrong. Every idea that we have cannot come to fruition except when it is supported by finance. Black people have great ideas and we have to find somebody to finance it so, that’s why philanthropists set up Southern University. Black folks petitioned white folk, we need a school to educate colored people. That’s how it started, we didn’t have no money to do it so white folk talked about it, you know we need to educated them colored people. So, they set us up a school and we started in the primary grades.

This institution (Southern University) started like that in New Orleans, from what I read. And later on came to Baton Rouge and the college began to expand and the university began to expand, but always ideas from a black head were financed and directed by money from a white head. Money is necessary. But, Jesus said it best, seek ye first, the kingdom of God and all its righteousness and all things will be added unto you. Seeking money first and not good character means you’ll get some money and you’ll rob your sister or your brother, you’ll end up in fratricide conflict and you’ll end up just where we are young people selling drugs, killing each other in the inner cities. Money is the object but not righteous conduct and good character. And those who call ourselves religious or spiritual, we are pimps and hustlers. We think money before we think salvation of people. Have you found that in religion? And if the tithes don’t come in right, the pastor gets very upset. And sometimes you can do anything you want to if you tithe.

You can live totally contrary to what the pastor is preaching just as long as you put some money in the plate. That was what broke up the Catholic Church in the days of Martin Luther; the sale of indulgences, you can indulge but you have to put the money in. You want to be homosexual, go ahead but put the money in. Do whatever you want to do, put the money in and we will look the other way. That’s corrupted religion based on the lust and greed for money and things. But if you took Jesus’ words seriously, the first thing he said, seek the kingdom and all not some of its righteousness, all of it and then what? All the things that you think you need and want

will be given unto you. And we are struggling within the Nation of Islam with that same type of greed for things, greed for money not hungering and thirsting for righteousness and good character. The more you seek righteousness and good character, you’ll look around and the money will be there.

EGO: wE spEak a lOt abOut thE black and makinG surE wE cOnsidEr him, but a what pOint dO wE fOcus On thE black wOman and hEr rOlE?

farrakhan: I’m going to offer a different thought on that and then correct the thinking. At Southern University the females are 57 percent, the male students are 43 percent. Male students are high here. In some institutions males are 35 percent and 30 percent or 40 percent and the women are 65 and 70 percent of the students in college. Why do we talk about the black man? Because the enemy has focused attention on the destruction of the black male.

Now those of you who are students of scripture, when the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt and there numbers were multiplying, Pharaoh decided to attack the birth rate of the children of Israel. And a scheme was developed to kill the black male and spare the black female. Or we could say, the children of Israel, the Jewish male and spare the Jewish female. Well what does that mean? If you destroy the man then you make the woman the prize of the destroyer of the black man. That is why the black female is referred to as ‘booty’. ‘Booty’ is not your back-side, ‘booty’ is the prize of a winning army over a conquered people. So the black man is a ‘conquered man’. So, the prize for whites and others is the black woman.

So when you destroy that man, now look at yourself, you hardly can find a male counterpart that you can honor, respect and love and want to settle down with and have children for. We’re absent. We’re on the corner while you’re in class. We’re in prison while you’re in class. Because the society as aimed it’s guns, so to speak, on the destruction of the black male. Having said that, there can be no discussion really of the black man without a serious discussion about the black woman. We are nothing without you, we can’t come into existence without you, and we are not going into a future without you. You are the integral part of our journey toward freedom.

Now, Elijah Muhammad, my teacher, likened the female to the earth. He said it

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like this. ‘She is the field through which we produce our nation.’ How we take earth for granted, there’s a big sinkhole around here somewhere; those people are not taking that hole for granted when they see that hole getting wider and deeper and things are just falling in it. You don’t even think about the earth until it quakes. Then when the shaking goes on you say oh God something is going on here. And you run to try and find cover. That’s the way you are, people don’t pay attention to the woman, as we should, you are the most disrespected and unprotected woman on our planet. Disrespected by us and unprotected by us.

And when you listen to the raps, the songs the record industry is promoting the degradation of the black woman by the black man. It’s a destructive social engineering that’s going on. With the Nation of Islam, we never talk about the black man and not talk about the black woman. And so it is in the bible, when God created ‘Adam’ it said God created male and female, created he them and called their name ‘Adam’. Adam is not one man, Adam is the root of an entire people. Male and female, you will always be together with us. And every discussion, that discusses the value of the black man, we what is a man without earth? What is a people without land? You’re nothing. You are the object of the land owner. We have a little farm in Michigan and we love that land, we take good care of that land, we do everything we can to put the earth in optimal position to give us a good crop.

Well that’s the value of a woman. Well what good is land, if you have a Monsanto genetically modified organism in a seed? You’ve got good earth but a bad seed, you don’t get a good product. So, when you love your earth, the earth will love you back. That’s real. And when you respect the earth, the earth will extend your life. That’s the way it is with the woman. When you love that black woman she can’t help herself she going to love you back. And when you take care of the black woman like a wise farmer takes care of the earth, she will bring you a product that is out of this world. You are everything to us, not an afterthought. You are every thought.

EGO: fOr thOsE whO dOn’t knOw much abOut thE natiOn Of islam, can yOu dEscribE it’s fOundatiOn and bEliEfs?

farrakhan: The Nation of Islam started with a man that came to us from the holy city of Mecca, Arabia. His name was

Fard Muhammad he made himself known to us in 1930, July 4 and he came to offer to the black man and woman of America in particular that wisdom and knowledge that would raise us from a state of mental death and ignorance.

He found among us a man from Georgia whose name was Elijah Pool, Pool is a slave name it is the name of a former slave master but, he took away that name Pool and gave him a name Kareem which is one of names of God meaning a very noble and honorable person and 3 years after and 4 months he gave Elijah Kareem the name Elijah Muhammad. Elijah Muhammad only went to the fourth grade of school and Fard

Muhammad taught him for 3 years and 4 months and left us with a masterful teacher.

The Nation of Islam we believe is the answer to biblical prophesy that after the black man and woman would be in bondage for 400 years, God would come and raise up among us a messenger to warn us and our slave masters and their children of the consequences of 400 years of evil and injustice done to us The Nation of Islam and this wonderful teacher Fard Muhammad after leaving Elijah Muhammad I want you to see the majesty of a teacher who could prepare a master in 3 years and 4 months who had only gone to the fourth grade of school.

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That man Elijah Muhammad, taught Malcolm X. Malcolm only went to the eighth grade of school and quit and after he heard the teachings of the honorable Elijah Muhammad, you know brother Malcolm was known all over the world as one of the great freedom fighters for our people. Well, after that he met Cassius Clay who finished the 12th grade never went any further but Cassius Clay became known under the name Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest fighters that ever lived. He was a great humanitarian and even though he only went to the 12th grade of school he was never bested in argument with some of the wise people of America that interviewed him. So it was with

Malcolm X. He was my first introduction to the Nation of Islam and I was with brother Malcolm when he debated the bright minds of Harvard University Law School they couldn’t touch Malcolm. I was with him at Yale and he did the same. Because education, the western brand puts the student in the box and the student has not been able to think outside the box to become a critical thinker and judge of the education that we receive. Since Malcolm only went to the 8th grade, he was brilliant in his critique and analysis of the American educational system, social system, political system and religious system.

Well you’ve heard of Imam W. Deen Mohammed maybe you have or maybe you

haven’t, he is the son of Elijah Muhammad, he also started from the Nation of Islam. Just a few miles down the road is Dr. Abdul Alim Shabazz, who is the head of your mathematical department. He graduated from Cornell University and got his doctorate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology became a follower of the honorable Elijah Muhammad, and minister of Elijah Muhammad. And the list is endless of brilliant people who found more brilliance in Elijah Muhammad. The Nation of Islam believes it is our time now to form into a real nation with land as a base of economic and political independence to build our own institutions that will serve to

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produce a future for our people and that is a glimpse of the nation.

It believes in civilizing the black man making the black man accept the responsibility as a husband, as a father, as a brother, as a friend and helping black women to see the enormously powerful role of women in producing a future for our people that’s a glimpse of the Nation of Islam and hopefully tonight I will go much deeper into it and I hope that that answers some of your question.

EGO: hOw has thE natiOn Of islam EvOlvEd?

farrakhan: Here is the thing about the Nation’s evolution, whenever an idea is planted into a society that does not want that idea to succeed, you don’t have a smooth path for your evolutionary development. As you study do you remember, what is called COINTELPRO? The counter intelligence program of the U.S. government under J. Edgar Hoover and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, did you know that every black leader was under scrutiny? The enemy put agents in it to turn it off its course, to bring it down.

You’ve heard of Marcus Garvey. Marcus Garvey was one of the great nationalistic teachers that came to us from Jamaica at the same time he came here he really came to meet with Booker T. Washington, the founder of Tuskegee. Booker T. Washington was a tremendous mind now you have Mr. Garvey and Garvey is saying to black people in America I notice you don’t have mayors, you don’t have business, you don’t have all these wonderful things. So, since you don’t have them we are going to attempt to give it to you.

The Nation of Islam staring in 1930, and right at 1941, America went to war with Japan so the Nation of Islam and it’s leader was put in prison, the leader and most of the men who refused to fight in the war, we were put in prison, the Nation had a setback, but constantly growing and constantly moving forward. Then when Brother Malcolm reached a certain level and the government of America was working to bring division between Brother Malcolm and his teacher and Brother Malcolm and the Nation unfortunately, it led to Malcolm’s assassination. Now the Nation has to rebuild its image because of the media. Members of the Nation were arrested and spent 27 years in prison be released and then it comes out they had nothing to do with the murder at all.

So, what I am trying to say is to you is we

are coming up through severe opposition but, yet we are evolving in a way that you will see we have after Elijah Muhammad departed the scene his son became the leader and the Nation was disbanded. And for about 3 years or more there was no Nation of Islam, there was the world community of Al-Islam. And then I arose from what you would call a deep sleep and decided to rebuild the work of Elijah Muhammad and I started from scratch, I had nothing. No money and no followers, just me and a couple of brothers. And we started, and now we’re in 163 cities in America; we’re in the Caribbean; in the Virgin Islands; in Jamaica; in St. Lucia; in Trinidad, in Bermuda; we’re in England, in France, We’re in Europe, we’re in Africa,

South Africa and Ghana. So the Nation is constantly evolving.

Now one the things that you will find, I’m sure I’m taking the scenic route, but I want you to see this, at first the Nation just dealt with black; black, black, black, black, anytime you talked about the black man, the Nation of Islam we were the black voice. The blackest of the black voices, we were so black and they referred to us as the black Muslims, although Muslim doesn’t have a color to it. Muslims are of all shades, all colors; but because we talked so much black they referred to us as the black Muslims.

During the time of Elijah Muhammad you’ll find black people coming to the Nation from all of the Caribbean islands, black

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people coming to the Nation of course from the South and the North but then, blacks in Africa started listening to Elijah Muhammad and knew what he was teaching was valuable to them. So, Elijah Muhammad planted a pod of his family in Mexico, and he was going to build a Muhammad University of Islam in Mexico. So, we had a number of Mexican followers in the Nation of Islam. We have followers now, I mean they are from the Philippines, they are Chinese, they are Japanese, Mexicans, there are some whites too, that write me to say they want to join.

And I encourage them to find some white people and set up a mosque where you live. All of the darker people of the world are becoming a part of the Nation, and I have

to tell you that I get emails all the time from white people who are fascinated by the Nation and want to know what they can do to become a part of it. Ultimately, the Nation will include every human being on our planet, regardless of their racial identity, their ethnicity, their class, or their color; can be apart of the Nation.

And I will close that question with this point, Jesus gave many parables about the kingdom of Heaven, all of his parables of the kingdom; the kingdom starts very small and very local, Jesus told his disciples go ye not in the way of the Gentiles or even in the way of the Samaritans but go ye specifically to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, that was their first primary focus. But as Jesus was

exiting the world he said to his disciples he said go ye into all the world and preach this gospel to every nation, kindred and tongue. We believe that instruction is directed to us. You start first with the lost brother, the black man, the black woman of America, the black man and the black woman of the Caribbean, Central and South America, the black man and woman of Africa and the Islands in the Pacific, but you have got to take the message; which is universal to every nation, every kindred, and every tongue. And when you hear the message tonight you will hear in it the universality of a teaching that started totally black but now is growing Islamically into embracing the whole human family. That’s some evolution. — EGO

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artEshia murray, a tallulah, la., nativE, dEsiGns clOthEs fOr hEr xclusiOns bOtiquE.

—phOtO by ariEllE burks

cOurtnEy JOhnsOn, a nEw OrlEans nativE, is thE drivinG fOrcE bEhind his s.m.a.c.E. linE.

—phOtO by ariEllE burks

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Please CheCk The PubliCaTion(s) in WhiCh You are aPPlYing for

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The Southern Digest

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ego MAGAZINE

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ego MAGAZINE

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