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Concert Raises Consciousness And Funds For Imam Jamil Al-Amin
by Ali Asadullah
LOS ANGELES, May 14 (IslamOnline) - Over 1000 fans joined both mainstream and Muslim Hip Hop artists Saturday at The Center in Watts, Calif., for a day of music, poetry and consciousness in support of embattled Atlanta Imam and former Black Panther Jamil Al-Amin (formerly H. Rap Brown).
Al-Amin is currently being held without bail in Atlanta's Fulton County jail while he awaits trial on charges for the March 17, 2000, murder of Fulton County deputy Richard Kinchen. Al-Amin has maintained he is innocent of all charges.
The concert, sponsored by the San Francisco based Taqwa Development Group, was to raise money for Al-Amin's legal defense fund, which is expected to need some $1.4 million before jury selection commences in September.
Toward that end, a wide array of popular artists turned out to perform and voice support for the cause. Acts making appearances included rap groups Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, Planet Asia and Kumasi, renowned spoken word poet Saul Williams and the event's headliner, Rawkus Recorders recording artist Mos Def, who made a special appearance with Talib Kweli with whom he collaborates in the group Black Star.
Speakers at the event included Mauri Saalakhan, director of The Peace and Justice Foundation in Washington, DC, which works on behalf of political prisoners in the United States - Jamil Al-Amin being the latest to join a list that includes Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier and others.
Addressing the crowd, Saalakhan brought a message of encouragement from Imam Jamil, with whom he has been in regular contact since Al-Amin's arrest.
"One of the things he [Al-Amin] said to me ... [was that] we've got to get the rappers involved," said Saalakhan. "We've got to call the rappers and we've got to call the artists, the poets. We've got to get the message out through them because he [Al-Amin] understands how culture and particularly how music is a universal language."
At mid-afternoon, Saalakhan returned to the stage to inform the audience about inconsistencies that currently exist in Al-Amin's case - especially with regard to testimony from police officers - and to emphasize the need for understanding concerning the scope and potential impact of the case.
Also in attendance, but not a formally on the event schedule, was popular imam and director of the Sankore Institute of Islamic-African Studies, Muhammad Shareef. Speaking to this journalist, he emphasized the need for broad-based unity and support for Al-Amin amongst Muslims in America.
Referring to Al-Amin's statement of innocence, Shareef said, "I think we have to learn how to speak with one voice. When one of our leaders speaks, we have to back up what he says."
Such sentiments reverberated throughout the course of the day as artists took the stage to perform.
Akil, of the group Jurassic 5, reminded the audience of the event's larger purpose. "I know you're having a good time and all that; but a man is locked up," said Akil, who is Muslim.
"This is what we're here for, the Jamil Al-Amin benefit. We like to bob our heads, but we like to put something in our heads as well."
Yaotl, one of two lead vocalists for the Latino/Indigenous rap/rock group Aztlan Underground, exhorted the audience to support the causes of indigenous peoples including Muslims in Palestine and the Philippines and to support the cause of Imam Jamil Al-Amin.
And Saul Williams, star of the Sundance and Cannes award winning film Slam, thrilled concert-goers with an original poem and then left them with the simple message: "Art affects change. Words affect change."
At a post-event press conference several other artists weighed in on Imam Jamil's situation.
Responding to a question about personal motivations for participating in the event, Mos Def - who is Muslim - said, "When I heard what was going on with his situation I was kind of surprised that there wasn't a quicker ground swell of support. But alhamdulillah, it seems like people have become more aware and I wanted to be involved because some things seem right."
On the issue of how far artists should go in order to support such causes, Mos said, "My position has always been that everybody cannot do the same thing. Some people are better suited for certain levels of activity. The real key is for everybody to all of whatever it is that they can do."
Figures for the amount of money raised were not immediately available. A similar event is preliminarily being considered for this summer in Philadelphia.
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