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Ashahed Muhammad

Motivation

Interview with ‘The Book of Eli’ director Allen Hughes by Ashahed Muhammad of The Final Call Newspaper

written by AQM Blog Staff
Originally published 2.17.10

‘We only do projects that speak to us’

Twin brothers Allen and Albert Hughes, the dynamic directing duo known as The Hughes Brothers, made a major leap into the entertainment industry with their emotionally gripping debut as the 20-year-old creators/directors of “Menace II Society.”

The film generated national and international critical acclaim. With a budget of roughly $3 million, they took a story that they came up with at age 14 and turned it into a motion picture that grossed nearly $30 million at the box-office.

They followed up with “Dead Presidents,” a fascinating story of a young man’s life which turns to shambles after he is sent to war in Vietnam. Expecting to return home as a hero, the young man instead finds himself reduced to pulling off an armored car robbery in order to support his family.

After a break from the business for several years, they returned with the riveting motion picture “The Book of Eli” starring award winning actor Denzel Washington.

With the assistance and coordination of Brother Don Enoch Muhammad, Allen Hughes, who is scheduled to be a part of this year’s Saviours’ Day 2010 convention, took time from his busy schedule to speak with The Final Call’s Assistant Editor Ashahed M. Muhammad.

Ashahed M. Muhammad (The Final Call:) How do you determine which scripts you will direct and which projects you turn down?

Allen Hughes (AH:) I think one area that makes me and my brother different from most filmmakers is we only do the projects that speak to us; that speak to our soul and that we feel like can make a difference or can speak to others. That is first. Second, we start looking at the key players involved. If we feel that somebody is morally or spiritually bankrupt, then we won’t get involved in the project either. It’s a combination of things. And, who is attached to the project, the studio, producer, the stars, and whether all those people are good people.

(FC:) Your recent film, “The Book of Eli”, generated a lot of buzz and good reviews. I’ve found it to be a daily conversation starter usually ending up in a spiritual discussion which then turns into an artistic discussion which then turns into a “meaning of life discussion.” In the movie, you showed the Bible, the Holy Qur’an, the Torah and many other books of scripture. Sometimes religion can be a real volatile issue. Were you all concerned that it might alienate some of the people? Or did you feel like some others, maybe Christians, would kind of embrace it and take it and kind of make it like it was a Christian movie to the exclusion of others who might not be Christians?

(AH:) I think we were very concerned about that. The most important thing was that (we wanted) it speak to everybody—Muslims, Christians, Native Americans, Buddhist, Hindu’s. I call it a oneness.

[CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW]

(Come ask more questions of director Allen Hughes at the Saviours’ Day 2010 celebrity workshop on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 at the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.)

July 21, 2015
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Top News

Ashahed Muhammad of The Final Call sits down with the former Mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick in an exclusive interview

written by AQM Blog Staff

Originally published 11.16.09

Ashahed Muhammad of The Final Call sits down with the former Mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick in an exclusive interview; this is the first time he has spoken publicly since being removed from office.

Read the FULL interview at: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/Perspectives_1/article_6576.shtmlHere is a video snippet of Brother Ashahed’s Interview with the former Mayor of Detroit, Kwame Malik Kilpatrick.

 


July 20, 2015
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Funeral held for slain mosque leader, questions remain

written by AQM Blog Staff

Originally published 11.4.09

By Ashahed M. Muhammad, Final Call Asst. Editor

(FinalCall.com) – Muslims from across the United States converged at the Muslim Center in Detroit, Michigan, October 31 for the Janazah prayer service and funeral for Imam Luqman Ameen Abdullah.

The 53-year old leader of Masjid Al-Haqq was gunned down by FBI agents on October 28 after a raid on a warehouse just outside of Detroit.

Several subsequent raids were conducted at different locations and ten others have been arrested including the late imam’s son Mujahid Abdullah (also known as Mujahid Carswell), who, according to the FBI was taken into to custody in Windsor, Ontario by Royal Canadian Mounted Police on October 29.

The FBI’s 43-page affidavit detailed a federal investigation of the group which began in 2007 charging Imam Abdullah and the other defendants with running an interstate crime ring involving receiving and selling stolen goods, mail and insurance fraud, illegal possession of firearms, body armor and tampering with motor vehicle identification numbers.

According to FBI special agent Gary Leone, the evidence gained during the investigation came through visual surveillance, electronic surveillance (wire and oral) and the use of informants within the group.

To read the full article or comment log on to: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_6551.shtml

July 16, 2015
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Perspective

Blog Interview: The Final Call’s Ashahed Muhammad on the grounds in Geneva, Switzerland for the UN’s Durban Review Conference

written by AQM Blog Staff

Originally published 4.18.09
(Blogger’s Note: Long-time activist, veteran organizer and journalist Ashahed Muhammad is the Assistant Editor of The Final Call Newspaper. Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Chicago, IL, he has been a registered member of the Nation of Islam for 17 years. He has been with The Final Call for seven years.

Bro. Ashahed is presently in route to Geneva, Switzerland to attend the UN’s 2009 Durban Review Conference April 20-24. Just before he boarded the plane, I got an exclusive one-on-one about the importance of this trip!)

Brother Jesse: First, what are your thoughts as you prepare to attend the Durban Review World Conference on Racism in Geneva, Switzerland on behalf of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and The Final Call Newspaper?

Ashahed Muhammad (AM): I feel tremendously blessed and fortunate to be sent by The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan on behalf of The Final Call to cover the UN’s 2009 Durban Review Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. This is a major historic event. I am living it and reporting on it. It doesn’t get any better than that does it?

Also, I feel a tremendous responsibility to do my very best to provide comprehensive coverage for those who are unable, because of resources and circumstances, to participate directly. My job is to go there and bring the info back. It is my duty and a responsibility that I do not take lightly.

Brother Jesse: Why is it important for The Final Call to be in attendance at this conference along with other media outlets from throughout the world?

AM: Clearly, in a world where media is controlled and most newspapers and programs are formulaic and only give coverage to viewpoints that reinforce a decidedly slanted worldview, it is important for The Final Call, as the widest circulating independent Black weekly in the United States to be present–with boots on the ground– to tell the story firsthand in order to counteract the spin and propaganda that is sure to come.

We know that the negative spin and propaganda is forthcoming because it was prevalent in shaping the view of the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa in 2001. It is always interesting to interact with members of the press from across the globe, share stories, information, and make contacts. There is a world out there beyond North America and there are many who want to help achieve justice for the oppressed. Many, once they know better will do better, and that is our job, to get the word out and bring truth to the people.

Brother Jesse: Once you hit the ground, what are some key things you will be looking to obtain to report on to our readership in the United States and throughout the world as it relates to the aim of this conference?

AM: One of the first things I am going to find out is the view of the community of nations regarding America’s non-involvement in such an historic event during such a critical time. Under Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush we have seen some disastrous foreign policy decisions that have destroyed America’s image and prestige in the world.

With the historic election of President Barack Obama, this could be, or could have been a key moment for America to truly address the horror of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade as a crime against humanity by listening to truth that would act as a mirror that could be used to see what actions need to be changed as attempts are made to move forward and “Remake America.” How can that be done without dealing head-on with the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade?

There has been global damage, and there needs to be acknowledgement and restitution on a wide scale, because the damage done in the past affects us in the present. That is going to be where the question of reparations is raised and surely a point I expect many of the conference observers and attendees from the U.S. to deal with squarely. Whether the member nations and representatives deal with it adequately, if at all remains to be seen. Many nations have been touched by Western global hegemony.

I expect the Israeli assault on Gaza to come up during discussion of crimes against humanity, especially with the recent Human Rights Watch 71-page report dealing with Israel’s use of White-Phosphorous bombs. Reports are that Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be present. I don’t have to tell you, a one on one interview like that would be major. I will also have a translator present to deal with many of the Arabic speakers and representatives. That should be quite helpful.

Brother Jesse: President Obama and his administration have refused to attend the conference based upon what is called “harsh language” towards Israel in the conference. What reactions have you heard or read from activists and world leaders on the President’s stance? Do you think this move could hamper in any way his efforts to better America’s foreign relations with the Muslim world?

AM: A majority of the activists that I have talked to are very unhappy, even angry and very critical of that decision. I had heard rumblings that there was some back door diplomacy taking place, but nothing really substantial.

I think President Obama is doing the best he can with the terrible mess that he has inherited. Many of the activists are still hoping to be surprised. I am going to make a serious attempt to tell the story through the prism of the many members of the Non-Governmental Organizations traveling there from the U.S. They always make it interesting.

Brother Jesse: This conference is a follow up to the 2001 UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR). The goal has been a global drive for the total elimination of racism. Have you seen any progress or impact over the last 8 years on a global level as a result of that meeting?

AM: Regarding the 2001 event and its progress or impact, if you ask me on April 25th I will be more prepared to give a more thorough answer. Since I wasn’t there, I don’t feel qualified to really answer that question dealing with an analysis or determination of how race relations are globally.

I will say, as one whose profession it is to monitor and report world events, in viewing the geopolitical realities of war, bloodshed, poverty and theft of resources, it certainly appears to me that global racism still exists and discrimination and the spectre of death and genocide is lurking over the darker peoples of the earth. That much is clear.

Brother Jesse: Why should Black people pay attention to this conference in the midst of being jobless, void of health care and watching violence take place daily in our neighborhoods?

AM: There are many nations on the earth striving to throw off the yoke of colonialism and imperialism. It is not an “either, or” proposition, it is a “both and.” I say that because we have to be paying attention to the economic issues and other things going on within our communities, but at the same time, look beyond just what is affecting us immediately.

We should be thinking about the fact that for those who may lack the money to go to medical school, Commandante Fidel Castro offered free medical scholarships to Black students from America as long as they promised to become doctors and return to their communities to provide healthcare for their people. That solves a problem for many of our people by providing students with medical training to qualify them to serve those who might not make enough to have decent health care. In the problem is the solution. That is an example of how unity and cooperation can be used to solve problems.

There are resources in Africa, why are outsiders allowed to profit and not we, the sons and daughters of Africa in the Diaspora? With the proper application of social, economic and political pressure, Black people in America can be to Africa what American Jews are for Israel. A strong lobbying force which looks out for the interests of their people wherever they may be found. Our national challenges are daunting, but we are an international people. We should never forget that, or allow it to be forgotten or ignored by others.

(Follow Bro. Ashahed during his travels at ashahed.blogs.finalcall.com and twitter.com/AshahedM)

July 8, 2015
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Top News

Day 1 Reporting in New Orleans~State of the Black World Conference Kicks Off!

written by AQM Blog Staff

Originally published 11.21.08
Written By Jesse Muhammad

After facing some hectic spurts of traffic and horrible construction on the I-10 freeway, my entourage finally arrived here in New Orleans Thursday night! I then check into my hotel, took a quick break and headed over to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to attend the International Town Hall Meeting with Final Call Assistant Editor Ashahed Muhammad.

The town hall meeting featured Black luminaries such as lead conference organizer Dr. Ron Daniels, former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Dr. Iva Carruthers, Dr. Ron Walters and many more. The discussion was mostly centered around how the Black community should respond in regards to certain issues under the soon to be Obama Administration such as reparations, unemployment, education, etc.

But overall the audience were engaged. In the audience listening closely was Rev. Jeremiah Wright from Chicago, who caught a lot of heat during the Obama run.

At the end of the event, two students representing Xavier and Dillard respectively, were given the opportunity to pose questions.

Mitchell Williams, a 19 year-old International Relations major at Xavier said to me, “I pose the question about the state of Africa and it’s resources because I am from West Africa and I wanted to know how they think Obama will handle our native land.”

The state of HBCUs was on the mind of Dillard Sociology major Anastacia Scott who said to me “HBCUs are a major concern to me because I think they are very valuable. It was a productive town hall meeting. I think tonight’s town hall meeting set the tone for what we will expect the rest of the conference.”

More to come from New Orleans.

Visit:www.stateoftheblackworld.org

June 23, 2015
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Motivation

Exclusive Final Call Interview With Rapper Nas

written by AQM Blog Staff

Hip Hop Lives: FCN Interview with Nas

By Ashahed Muhammad, FCN Assistant Editor

Reposted from: http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_5051.shtml

 

(FinalCall.com) – Though a young man (age 34) Nas has a long list of accomplishments. He is considered by most to be a legendary Hip Hop lyricist. Many of his lyrical appearances are considered some of the most memorable moments in Hip Hop and many of his albums are considered Hip Hop classics. Nas recently released his 9th album which debuted at No.1 on the charts. The Final Call’s Assistant Editor Ashahed M. Muhammad went One-on-One with the multi-platinum selling artist after his performance at the Rock the Bells Festival tour stop in Chicago.

 

The Final Call (FC) Let’s start with the song from your latest CD targeting Fox News called “Sly Fox.” What prompted you to make that song?

 

NAS: I kept hearing terrible things about FOX News. I never trust media outlets, so FOX News—when I heard bad things about them—I expected it to be real. But they didn’t really get on my radar until last year when I was supposed to do a concert for Virginia Tech University. Bill O’Reilly had three shows on me—he’s trying to do what he did to Ludacris and take away Ludacris’ Pepsi deal. So he had three shows on it. And, I said, “All right. I’m going to get him back,” you know? “I’ve got something to say too. I’ve got listeners the same way you got listeners”—except my listeners are more of a threat in today’s world. His listeners represent the Old Word, the old Republican, the old way of thinking about America. That is played out. And he doesn’t even know that most Whites don’t even think the way he thinks. But he has his ratings, right?

 

FC: Right.

 

NAS: So, I just said this is my way at getting back at him, [by] doing a song. It just so happens that the same time my album dropped, FOX News tries to be playful with “Obama’s Baby Mama” and all this. If I didn’t know who FOX was before, I really know who they are now and hopefully, some of my listeners can feel me.

 

FC: You have a voice, you have fans, you have people who listen to you and they’re influenced by what you say and you are using that to bring light to issues that you feel are important. That’s good, but some of rappers say, “Well, my music doesn’t have a message. I don’t necessarily have a social commentary. I’m not trying to tell anybody to do anything, you do what you want to do,” Why do you think it is important to use your voice in that way?

 

NAS: Hmm. Well, the ones that say they don’t have a message and all that, they’re gangsters, man. Let them be gangsters. Let them do them. I support them. Not everybody wants to have that responsibility. Not everyone is thinking like that. A lot of people’s lives are simple, you know what I’m saying? I tend to see things and I’ve always questioned things since I was young. I question things. And when I see things that are unjust, I react. I may be a little bit more extreme than a few of the other artists, that’s just me, it’s who I am. So all my music has something about me. I’m not a “specialist on race matters.” I just have an opinion, I just have an experience to talk about. So, if one album is about one thing, then that’s what I’m thinking about that year, and that’s what I’m thinking about musically. It may not be the best chart-topping album, but, as long as I can sleep at night knowing that’s what I really wanted to represent, cool. Then I’m good.

 

I’ve been sprinkling little pieces of my opinions on all my albums, but this one was just more dedicated to it. God has been good to me just allowing me to be here. I know a lot of people that couldn’t make it here. So today what I want to talk about is how I see things. I’m not coming down on a lot of people this year. That was “Hip Hop Is Dead.”

 

FC: Now, of course, the song that’s being talked about, the song “Louis Farrakhan.” Take us into your thinking when you laid down the lyrics to that.

 

NAS: Louis Farrakhan has made me cry. You know, what do you say about that, you know what I’m saying? When you see a man who put his life on the line for something—be he right or wrong—you admire him. But to me, Farrakhan is all the way right! I’m not sitting here going line for line, detail for detail, everything he says and all of that. It’s a whole body of work that he’s laid—he’s laid his life down for his people. No matter if you like it or not. Anybody like that I admire. And, you know, anybody in this position, they would kill off. He was smart enough to say “I have an army who believe in what I’m saying, that this is the Truth.” That “I would die for everyone, every soldier in that army.” They believe that and they know that’s true. So, you know, how could I not acknowledge that’s that; that’s what I acknowledge in my life, then, it’s going to bleed into the music. It’s not even on purpose. It just happened. It’s just my thoughts. “Some revolutionaries get old, although I’m told…” you know?

 

It’s like everybody’s scared to speak out about what’s in their heart, just because they’re scared of who is going to come down on them. They’re scared they’re going to get “blacklisted.” They’re going to get all their endorsements taken away from them. They’re scared that they can’t feed their families. I understand that, but I admire those people who know that, and still go and do what they have to do, you know what I mean? If I had enough money, I’d buy him a Rolls Royce tomorrow! You know what I’m saying? Like, that’s just how I feel about him!

 

He is a serious piece of history, you know, coming from Elijah Muhammad; coming from Malcolm X, coming from—that part of history is so special because it’s what America is scared to talk about. They’re scared to talk about that. And, if they would talk about it, it would help a lot of people. I know a lot of White cats that listen to Farrakhan! I went to a Coldplay concert, and his introduction was Farrakhan’s speech! So, I was blown away! I’m sitting next to Gwyneth Paltrow—we’re rocking to a Farrakhan speech! So, it made me go: “Damn! If he—why didn’t I use that in my music? I’ve been wanting to!” So I’m just trying to show the love back now.

 

FC: You sound like you have a little bit more control over the content of what goes into your songs. I’ve talked to a lot of different hip hop artists who say, “Well, the label made me make this song or, I wanted to make a song like this and they wouldn’t let me.” Did you feel any pressure? Do you have a little more control because of your longevity and your success in the business?

 

NAS: Yeah, yeah I did. But, because I was that guy from the beginning, people can respect that I’m that same guy now. When I played this song, a few people were scared. When I played my album, a few people around me were scared. None of my family—they’re riders, they know who I am, you know? But, a few friends were scared for me, and just scared in general. I had to let them know there’s nothing to be scared of. What can you do to me that you haven’t to me already? So, whatever’s going to happen to me, I don’t (care.) I mean, if you’re talking about “Can you put out records that you want to put out?”—that’s been my whole career. I always have issues with the record company. I’m also a business man, and I want to appeal to everyone sometimes. Sometimes I don’t care, but there are times when I want to appeal to everyone.

 

So, there’s conversations with record labels, rumors, they shake my hand and smile at me, then there’s rumors that they’re going to drop me because I’m doing what I’m doing. But, at the end of the day, everybody realizes I’m really just trying to not just come out as a crazy extremist or anything like that. I’m just having fun doing who I am. People tend to call it “controversial.” As far as a marketing plan, the marketing plan is the people!

 

FC: On your CD, there is a song called “Black President.”

 

NAS: Mmm-hmm.

 

FC: What are your thoughts?

 

NAS: I’m excited like everybody else. I think it’s cool. A cool brother. Who could front on him? I think a lot of the leaders from the Civil Rights Era feel like they didn’t want to leave this Earth acknowledging another Black man going to the next level. They wanted to be the “end all, be all” of it all and they can’t stand to see another—that’s why I said, you know it’s colored folks and Negroes hate to see one of our own succeeding, because they feel like their moment was their moment, you know what I mean? And, that we should only acknowledge their moment because they’ve been through the (thrown) bricks, and the name calling and segregation and all that.

 

So now that things have been smoother, things are different now, and they feel like this guy may have it easy. That has nothing to do with anything! The kids don’t relate to that. All the kids relate to is seeing him the same way they see Kobe Bryant and want to play basketball. The same way they see Tiger Woods and now want to play golf. It’s the same way—or even better that they can see Barack and they could see themselves becoming him.

 

So we don’t have time to hate each other. We don’t have time.

 

FC: Have you thought about what you want to do when or if you decide that you don’t want to keep on making records?

 

NAS: Yeah! Tons of times! That is not a reality. The reality is like B.B. King. The reality is that I was buying tickets to a James Brown concert a month before he died. You do this to the grave—whether you like it or not!

 

People say, “I don’t want to rap when I’m this age.” There is no exit! That does even make sense! We can sit here and lie and say “You know, I’m too old to be rapping.” It does not make sense. B.B. King works like 365 days a year. A Tribe Called Quest has been around 20 years, or something like that. So, maybe you don’t want to do it and somebody’s trying to offer you that check. Beyond the check, your love for what you do (makes) you want to get out there again and entertain or please people. It’s just, God gave you a gift, and you just use it.

 

FC: You can tell tonight at the show that you really enjoy performing. Thank you and I appreciate your time.

 

NAS: I appreciate you too.

June 18, 2015
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