Prophet Moses (PBUH) had Aaron. Prophet Jesus (PBUH) had John the Apostle. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had Abu Bakr; and Louis Farrakhan had Brother Akbar Muhammad. Throughout the history of religious and liberation movements the recognized leaders of the group always had a trusted companion to handle the groundwork and infrastructure of the operation. These individuals monitored and controlled the daily operation from the development of molding student-leaders, organizational planning, and media communications. While Mahatma Gandhi had Hermann Kallenbach; and Martin Luther King had Ralph Abernathy; the best professional companion or side-man of my generation was Minister/Imam Akbar Muhammad.
In the late 1970s Minister Louis Farrakhan embarked on reestablishing the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s Nation of Islam. One of the first people who heeded his call was Brother Akbar. When he was introduced to Farrakhan’s vision Akbar was working with Imam Warith Deen Muhammad in his renamed World Community of Al-Islam/American Muslim Mission organization. However, like others who were rooted in the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad he left to join Minister Farrakhan. During those days Minister Farrakhan had just a few followers and little money. He was constantly under physical threat by Imam Warith Muhammad’s loyalists who saw Minister Farrakhan and his upstart group as a hostile opponent to the AMM. However, Minister Farrakhan had his trusted companion. First, Akbar combed the nation searching for former ministers, and individuals who wanted to help Minister Farrakhan. He did not just talk–he illustrated his actions in building a powerful Masjid in East St. Louis, Missouri.
When Brother Akbar crisscrossed the nation–he didn’t always use an airline; because there was no money. Rather, he got into his old Buick driving to towns and cities such as Springfield, Illinois; Columbus, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee and Orlando, Florida to meet believers in storefronts, libraries, living rooms, and coffee shops. Within months after the initial charge to rebuild the NOI, Akbar created a cadre of old and new believers who had dedicated themselves to this effort. Afterwards, he forged a foundation of leaders who could begin the process of organizing Study Groups and Masjids; he devised speaking tours for Minister Farrakhan. Akbar, was like a Pit Bull in this effort. He cultivated relationships with individuals like Jack the Rapper (Joe Gibson), Haki Madhubuti, Dorothy Height, and Willie Barrow who invited Minister Farrakhan to speak at an assortment of events.
In addition, Akbar laid the foundation for Minister Farrakhan to speak at such colleges and universities as Bethune-Cookman University, Morgan State University, Malcolm X College, and Kennedy-King College to name a few. Akbar Muhammad, realized early on that the fuel for the Nation of Islam must come from young people. Thus, wherever they were–he set up a path for Minister Farrakhan to touch them with his oratory. In addition, he helped Minister Farrakhan reach the youth via music and entertainment. From the Jack the Rapper relationship came the number 1 underground hit in the 1980 album, “Heed The Call Y’al.” The specialty album featured a lecture on one side and the hit song on the flip side. In 1984 Akbar did it again highlighting the production and marketing of Minister Farrakhan’s calypso pedigree in another underground hit in 1984, “Let Us Unite.” Akbar had a talent of understanding the political and social climate of young people.
In the 1980s Brother Akbar played a dominant role in organizing the Saviour’s Day Conventions. He transformed the event from being an only Black domestic convention into one of international reverence. Under his direction journalists, diplomats and even presidents like Ali Baghdadi (Palestine), Jerry Rawlings (Ghana) and Muammar Gaddafi attended. Because of his astute knowledge of the Global South, Minister Farrakhan appointed him as the International Representative of the Nation of Islam. In that role he established an outpost for the Nation in Ghana, West Africa. Akbar, now the diplomat and ambassador of the Nation of Islam traveled to every country on the continent developing friendship and ties for Minister Farrakhan.
Not only was Brother Akbar active on the African continent he left his mark throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. As a citizen of the world he coordinated Minister Farrakhan’s visits to Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Bermuda, Belize, Russia, Palestine, Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Dadestan, Turkey, Syria Jordan, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Australia. As the NOI International Representative/Ambassador he also helped to bridge the gap between the various Islamic “schools” of thought with the Nation of Islam. Bodly, he proclaimed the Divinity of Master Fard Muhammad and The Honorable Elijah Muhammad. In this light he helped to arrange Umrah trips and Hajj activities for Nation of Islam pilgrims.
In his retirement as an Emeritus Minister, Brother Akbar spent his time reading, discussing and teaching young ministers the fine points of being a pastor to their congregation. In my last conversation with Minister Akbar he spoke about my newest book, Blacklisted: The Price For Speaking Truth and my candidacy for the United States House of Representatives (Congress).
His leadership as a mentor and friend to the Nation of Islam, the Islamic Ummar, and the Black world will be missed. His legacy as a pillar for Justice, Equality and Freedom will never be forgotten. By far, he was Minister Farrakhan’s greatest companion. May Allah secure his journey and comfort him in Barzakh.
–Dr. Vibert “Issa” White is a Professor of History and Author of Blacklisted: The Price for Speaking Truth and is a United States Congressional Candidate, Florida District 10 (Orlando)