In the Name of

(Displayed is a painting of ALLAH, the founder of the Nation of Gods and Earths, commonly referred to as the "Five Percenters". It is tradition that male members add on the name "Allah" as a surname or family name to compliment their righteous name (a quality, characteristic or attribute of GOD). Female members take on the surname "Earth" with a name that reflect attributes of the planet)

con permisso......

As I attempt to not disrespect anyone, I was disrespected today in the most unlikely of ways. Yet, as I recollect back on the incident, it's doesn't surprise me. It further proves and illustrates the depth that colonialism and the devil's civilization reach in the human conscious.

I spoke with an elder today regarding 'official' Taino enrollment. He walked me through some of the history and identified the tribe's goals in this day and time. He explained the as "Taino" we embrace each other as family, as a Nation of people. Which means there is no seperation of identity based on one's personal religion and that they do not recognize the U.S. government's stipulation on the North American tribes. Anyone with Taino blood is 'Taino'.

After offering to send me more information, I was taken a back by his scrutiny of my 'name' of all things. Remarking that my name is a chosen name that I acquired upon becoming a member of the Five Percenters, the Nation of Gods and Earths, he proceeded to politely berate me. He made a statement that changing one's name was 'not commendable' because it's one's link to their past. And how would my children be able to trace their lineage back if something happened to me. I held back, something I seldom do, for not wanting to disrespect a 65 year old man Puerto Rican man, for disrespecting me. He commented that my name didn't sound 'Taino'. As if 'he' and everyone else was born with a Taino name. And furthermore, has the audacity to continue expressing his dissatification when I revealed that I legally changed my name.

After the conservation, I could not help but replay his contradictions in my head over and over again. I was inquiring about official enrollment for the sake of my children and them being able to connect with that aspect of who they are. Yet, this 'chief' was criticizing "me" for not keeping a "Spanish" surname? So the Spanish surname is how you trace your identity now? All the way to Spain huh? Did he not know that many religions/spiritual movements etc encourage the taking on of a new name? Of course, I was speaking with a 65 year old Puerto Rican man, with remnants of an 'old world' mentality. Obviously, he had no knowledge of the Nation of Gods and Earths (which he didn't) and who we are....

First and foremost, I come "in the name of Allah". And that is something that will not change for ANYONE. In addition, if one is accepting of all religions and faiths etc (even though we are not a religion), one should also be ready as well to accept the practices that come with them if one is truly striving to embrace everyone.

My children will be able to trace their history back to me because they come from me and through their mother. Lest we not forget....the Original man, the Asiatic blackman (all men of color) with the knowledge of self is GOD. I recognize no authority higher than my own consciousness. Don't get it twisted hermano! Attaching ones' self to a racial grouping is not the end all to be all in the resurrection of one's identity. It is not the summit on Mt. Everest for those seeking enlightenment. Allah, the Father and founder of the Nation of Gods and Earths, took us away from all that. He did away with religion and seperatism amongst the Original people. Allah is one and he showed forth that we were one. The full manifestation of my reality is in my being GOD. I am the Original man. Indeed, I have Taino y Africano with some 'conquistadore' en mi sangre.....however, there is NO SEPERATION between me and my Asian, East Indian, Kory/Aborigine, African, Middle Eastern and Polynesian brothers and sisters. Even for those of European descent, as long as the live Allah's Mathematics, and strive to live righteously, they are my brothers and sisters (in the context of the human families). To me, tribal registration is just an 'add on'. Damn near 80-85 percent of so-called Latin America is technically 'Indigenous" and aren't and will never be registered. Does this mean they aren't who their blood and history says they are? It's too often that people become so immersed in what it is that they "do", that they lose sight of others. I didn't just "wake up" and yearn to reclaim my history. I reclaimed that through becoming one of Allah's true and living suns. The Nation (Gods and Earths) was the gateway through which I ultimately became orientated to my "Indian" identity, not to mention, gave me the tools I needed to save my own life. I knew I would be dead by 21. You don't know my history. Guess what? I'm 25 now and it's not because I called to the ancestors or danced at an areyto. It was due to Allah's Mathematics of which I have been teaching for the last 10 years of my life.

Which reminds me of back when a brother from the Nation of Islam invited me down to the mosque to get my "X", assuming that as a "Five Percenter" I didn't have my shit together. To which I replied, "I'm not unknown brother. I know who I am. I am Sha-king Cehum Allah".

PAZ!

To learn more about the Nation of Gods and Earths:

http://www.allahsnation.net/ or read an article by NPR , http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5614846

There is also a great book that was just released entitled: "The Five Percenters: Islam, Hip Hop and the Gods of New York" by Michael Muhammad Knight, which includes very detailed history of our NATION.