Historic! NYS Governor Signs Harriet Tubman Byway Into Law

Pictured (l-r): Third row -Josh Poole, Sage Hazarika | Second row: Nikita Jankowski, Jasiah Jackson, Char Rivera, Ally Spongr DeGon, Senator April Baskins, Sara Capen, Saladin Allah | First row: Xochi Jankowski, Noble Jankowski, Anusha Quanaah, Nevaeh Everett, Governor Kathy Hochul, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Stokes' granddaughter

New York becomes home to its first state-designated Underground Railroad byway, a 176.76-mile route from Auburn to Niagara Falls honoring Harriet Tubman and Freedom Seekers — the first phase of a planned 550-mile border-to-border heritage corridor connecting Maryland to Canada.

   On Saturday June 13th, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation officially designating Phase 1 of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway (HTURB) as part of New York's Scenic Byway System, enacting Senate Bill S9057A and Assembly Bill A10194A. The signing took place in Buffalo to kick off the 2026 Buffalo Juneteenth Parade and marks the first official designation of the 176.76-mile heritage corridor connecting 22 sites significant to Harriet Tubman, the Underground Railroad, and Freedom Seekers across eight counties from the City of Auburn to Niagara Falls. The Governor was joined for the signing by Senator April Baskin, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, and was surrounded by members of the HTURB team — including Ally Spongr DeGon, Sage Hamilton-Hazarika, and Saladin Allah — whose work helped bring the designation to fruition. Following the signing, the HTURB team walked alongside the Governor, Attorney General, and Comptroller in the Buffalo Juneteenth Parade to its conclusion. 

“On the 50th anniversary of Buffalo’s Juneteenth celebration, there could not be a more fitting time to sign the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway into law. I thank Governor Hochul for her support of this legislation, Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes for sponsoring this bill in the Assembly, and Saladin Allah and Lillie Wiley-Upshaw, two Western New York leaders in African American history preservation whose years of advocacy helped make this designation possible. I would also like to uplift the hard work of the New York State Department of Transportation, which spent years working diligently to shape this worthy piece of legislation. This byway honors Harriet Tubman, the Freedom Seekers who traveled through New York, and the communities that risked everything to help them. It formally recognizes that the road to freedom ran through our state and will create new opportunities for heritage tourism, local businesses, and economic development. When people travel these roads, they will see visible reminders that freedom, courage and resistance traveled them first.” -Senator April Baskin

“Harriet Tubman’s life is a study in leadership, determination and the universal concepts of liberty and freedom. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, it is important to remember and to celebrate people who exemplify the ideals this nation was founded on. Harriet Tubman, without a doubt, is one of those people. Now Ms. Tubman’s legacy is further ingrained here in New York State with the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. I thank my colleagues in the Assembly, Senate and Governor Hochul for getting this legislation passed and signed.” -Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes

“There is no state in the nation with a larger Underground Railroad footprint than the Empire State, and this legislation will highlight a network of important sites along a newly created byway honoring the legacy of the Underground Railroad and one of the fiercest freedom fighters in American history – Harriet Tubman – who ultimately called New York her home. Generations ago, the Underground Railroad carved a path through a divided continent and enabled thousands of enslaved people to gain their freedom. Through the creation of this new scenic byway, we honor the legacy of the men and women who made this dangerous journey, paving the way for a new birth of freedom for millions of African Americans.” -Governor Kathy Hochul

   With the bill now law, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) — in partnership with the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Organization — will soon begin installing signage marking the route and connecting Underground Railroad landmarks across Central and Western New York. The route begins in Auburn, Cayuga County, passes through Seneca, Ontario, Wayne, Monroe, and Orleans Counties, then continues through Erie and Niagara Counties, and ends at Niagara Falls. The byway honors Harriet Tubman — who made her home in Auburn for 54 years (and where she’s buried), after escaping slavery and leading 70+ Freedom Seekers to liberty — and the broader Underground Railroad network that ran through New York State. Once fully implemented, the byway will bring visitors to well-known New York State landmarks such as the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, two National Historic Landmarks, and 14 National Park Service Network to Freedom sites. The scenic byway will also connect visitors to existing Black neighborhoods, businesses, and other sites, encouraging travelers to tour and support communities along the route. As needed and appropriate, additional interpretation — in the form of kiosks, exhibits, events, or experience centers — will enhance the visitor experience by connecting the traveler with the byway’s historical significance. Recreational activities along the byway, such as the Empire State Trail and Erie Canal, will further expand the diversity of experiences available to visitors.

 

ECONOMIC IMPACT

The eight Phase 1 counties already generate $5.67 billion in annual visitor spending, supporting more than 64,000 jobs. With the new byway, there is potential to increase that number. Maryland’s comparable Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway contributes $23 million in annual sales and supports 363 jobs. The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Scenic Byway generates $1.06 billion in total business sales and more than 6,500 jobs across four states. Cultural heritage travelers — the byway’s core audience — spend an average of $1,182 per trip.

 

THE ROAD AHEAD

With Phase 1 signed into law, HTURB — housed within the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area will begin implementing the Corridor Management Plan (CMP) in partnership with NYSDOT and the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State (URCNYS). More than 100 volunteers and numerous organizations participated in creating the CMP and supporting the byway’s designation. Phase 2 will extend the byway from Auburn east through 14 additional counties to Manhattan and the New Jersey border, creating a contiguous 550-mile border-to-border corridor. Seventy-nine municipalities across Phase 2 counties have already passed resolutions of support. Phase 2 designation legislation is proposed for the 2027 legislative session. The long-term vision connects the New York Byway into a continuous multi-state route from Dorchester County, Maryland — Harriet Tubman’s birthplace — to St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, where Tubman guided Freedom Seekers to safety. Linking with the existing Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania Harriet Tubman byways, and the proposed New Jersey byway, the full corridor would become one of the most significant heritage travel routes in North America.

ABOUT The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Organization is the independent governing body of the designated byway, housed within the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (NFNHA). It oversees governance, stewardship, tourism development, and the corridor’s expansion to a full border-to-border route.

The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway (HTURB) is now a New York State Scenic Byway spanning 550+ miles from Manhattan to Niagara Falls across 22 counties and more than 160 municipal jurisdictions. Phase 1, signed into law by Governor Hochul on June 13, 2026, designates 176.76 miles from Auburn to Niagara Falls across 8 counties and 22 heritage sites. The byway was initiated by the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State (URCNYS) — a non-profit volunteer coalition of historians, tourism officials, heritage attractions, and descendants of Freedom Seekers, founded in 2015 — and has grown into its own independent organization, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway Organization, supported by URCNYS and administered by the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area. For more information, visit our Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway (HTURB) HERE or follow @tubmanbywayny.

What Happened to the Senate and Assembly Bills to "Save Allah School"?!

   In January of this year [2026], I shared two important articles about NYC Executive Orders 04 and 5, and Senate Bill S8655, as they all relate to our Allah School in Mecca; a city-owned parcel located at 2122 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd. That parcel is officially classified as a miscellaneous religious facility owned by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services [NYC DCAS]. If you have not read those articles, you can read them below:

Article: New Executive Order will require Allah School in Mecca to be inventoried and reviewed by July 1, 2026

Article: Senate Bill S8655 and Allah School in Mecca

Senator Cordell Cleare at the NYSABPRHAL's 55th Legislative
Conference in Albany, New York, February 13-15, 2026

    

   After my first article was published, some Five Percent community members began to share misinformation about a proposed Senate Bill S8655 and its relationship to Executive Orders 04 and 5. Senate Bill S8655 was introduced on January 7th by Senator Cordell Cleare of the 30th Senate District, one week after Mayor Mamdani's Executive Orders 04 and 5 became the law. Senate Bill S8655 sought to authorize the transfer ownership of 2122 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services [NYC DCAS] to The Allah Youth Center in Mecca Inc. Most of the people who shared or commented on Senate Bill S8655 via social media did not understand how a bill becomes a law in New York State. They also didn't understand that any introduced Bill is simply a legislative "proposal" that does not supersede or override active Executive Orders that are signed into law by a Mayor or City Executive. Seeing this gap between knowledge and understanding, I published the second article to inform people about how the legislative process works here in New York State. In this second article I shared how an identical Senate AND Assembly Bill must be introduced into the State Legislature. When my second article was published there was no Assembly Bill. Two weeks later, on Thursday, February 12th, 2026, Assembly Bill A10232 was finally introduced by Assemblymember Jordan Wright of the 70th Assembly District. I was actually in Albany with State Lawmakers at that time for the NYSABPRHAL's 55th Legislative Conference. I was invited to speak on a Historic Preservation Panel sponsored by Senator Cleare, who sponsored Senate Bill S8655. That panel was moderated by Claudette Brady who is the Executive Director of Save Harlem Now!, an organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and celebrating Harlem’s [Mecca's] irreplaceable heritage. I also attended workshops and events with Assemblymember Wright, who sponsored Assembly Bill A10232, and other State Lawmakers. On Wednesday, March 4th I was back in Albany for the annual NAACP Advocacy and Lobby Day. 

NYS Legislators Contact Spreadsheet 

     When both Bills were introduced in the NYS Senate and Assembly in February, I spoke with an Allah Youth Center in Mecca, Inc. board member and offered my assistance in helping move this legislation forward. In addition to my political network and advocacy experience, that assistance included email attachments with compiled advocacy information which included a contact spreadsheet (see above) and template letter (see below) for Senate Bill S8655/Assembly Bill A10232. With the contact spreadsheet, Assemblymembers and Senators could be contacted in multiple ways to garner their support for the Bills. I also shared that in our New York State Legislature there are 150 Assemblymembers (103 are Democrat) 63 Senators (41 are Democrat). In order to pass Assembly Bill A10232 76 Aye votes are needed, and to pass Senate Bill S8655 32 Aye votes are needed. I was thanked for this information, told that it would be distributed, and I would be contacted if the board wanted me to add-on. Out of respect for the board who was leading this initiative, I did not do any independent advocacy work to garner support for Senate Bill S8655/Assembly Bill A10232 when I was in Albany among Lawmakers or speaking to them via phone or email.  

Advocacy Template Letter

     What is the current status of Senate Bill S8655/Assembly Bill A10232?

    As of today, the below screenshots show that there was no progress regarding advocacy for Senate Bill S8655/Assembly Bill A10232. Both Bills had no co-sponsors and remained inactive in their respective committees since Senate Bill S8655 was introduced by Senator Cleare on January 7, 2026 and Assembly Bill A10232 was introduced by Assemblmember Wright on February 12, 2026. 

 

In order to get to the Senate and Assembly Floors and placed on the Legislative Calendar for a vote, these Bills must first be voted out of their committees. As you can see above, both Bills were not voted out of their Cities committees or referred to the Ways and Means Committee and then to the Rules Committee. Below is the Legislative Calendar which shows that the last day that Senators and Assemblymembers met to pass Bills for the 2026 Legislative Session was June 4th.  These Bills also required a NYC Home Rule Request; a Resolution that requests that the New York State Legislature pass these Bills that only apply to NYC. That Resolution was never sponsored by 1 NYC Council member, co-sponsored by any of the 50 NYC Council member colleagues, or passed.

     What does this mean? June 4th was the last day for the Senate and Assembly to vote on Bills that have already been approved (voted Aye) in their committees. We did not secure a NYC Council Home Rule Request and Senate Bill S8655/Assembly Bill A10232 were not moved out of their Senate/Assembly committees and placed on the Legislative Calendar for a vote. Thus, Senate Bill S8655/Assembly Bill A10232 to Save Allah School both died in their respective Cities committees due to inaction, no co-sponsorship support, and the lack of advocacy on our part. Because these Bills died, these Bills will need to be re-sponsored, refiled, and reintroduced as brand-new legislation with a new Bill number in a future Legislative Session. Because there was no action taken, no co-sponsorship support from Lawmakers and our lack of advocacy, this is now an uphill battle. In New York State a little over 10% of Bills are actually signed into law, which is a very low success rate. Because all 63 Senate seats and 150 Assembly seats are also up for reelection this year, 2027 poses another challenge because next year there will be a different State Legislature, and political landscape, where new relationships will need to be built to move an initiative like this forward. 

    I get it. Many people, including members of the Allah Youth Center in Mecca, Inc. board, are probably unfamiliar with how the advocacy process works. I am continually learning how to navigate this landscape. The resources that I shared with an Allah Youth Center in Mecca, Inc. board member on February 19th was a basic advocacy roadmap. To start, direct advocacy support should have been shown to the NYC Council to get the Home Rule Request crafted/sponsored, co-sponsored and approved in the NYC Council. That didn’t happen. Senate Bill S8655 should have be shown by contacting the Cities 1 Committee Chair Senator Luis R. Sepulveda and other committee members to express our community's desire and the socioeconomic benefit for them to pass it in their committee. The Senate Cities 1 Committee meets Thursdays at 9:00am in room 124 CAP of the Legislative Office Building (LOB) in Albany. On the Assembly side, direct support for Assembly Bill A10232 should have been shown by contacting Assembly Cities Committee Chair Patrick Burke and other committee members to express our community's desire and the socioeconomic benefit for them to pass it in their committee. The Assembly Cities Committee meets Tuesdays at 9:30am in room 843 of the Legislative Office Building (LOB) in Albany. Once we were able to help move these Bills out of their committees, all State Legislators (63 Senators/150 Assemblymembers) should have been visited in-person, met with through virtual meetings, contacted by phone, sent [registered] postage mail and emailed to garner their co-sponsor support for Senate Bill S8655 and Assembly Bill A10232. These advocacy efforts would have been even more powerful if we were an organized Lobby Committee that had well-crafted, clear, uniform talking points and literature about the importance of supporting Senate Bill S8655 and Assembly Bill A10232. That advocacy work would have equally served as political leverage in our active engagement with the Mamdani Administration to garner municipal support and collaboration. 

   When I shared these resources one week after I learned that both Bills were now in their respective Cities committees, this gave us about five months to organize ourselves and advocate for this one common cause: GETTING THESE BILLS PASSED! I am not sure what happened during this time period. I don't know what the Allah Youth Center in Mecca, Inc. board's plan was or how they strived to take these Bills from knowledge to born. I don't even know if the resources that I shared were utilized. Whatever happened behind the scenes, it is publicly reflected in the actual status of these Bills that died. To say that I am disappointed, especially considering my experience, network and position that I am in to assist us, is an understatement. At no point did it cease being our responsibility to secure a NYC Council sponsor and Council co-sponsors to advance a Home Rule Request. At no point did it cease being our responsibility to secure Senate and Assembly Committee support and co-sponsors to advance our Bills. It was our responsibility to take the entire process from knowledge to born by supporting our duly elected public officials. 

    Now that this NYS Legislative Session has ended on June 4th and we did not secure a NYC Home Rule Request or advance our Senate and Assembly Bills, the Allah School still remains a vulnerable city-owned parcel of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services [NYC DCAS]. Next week on June 12th-14th, Five Percenters will come from far and wide to gather on this city property to celebrate ourselves at our Annual Show & Prove weekend. Brothers will stand in ciphers talking about how we are from a Tribe called Jabbar, debating power verzuz power refinement, and gossiping about ATF. We will sing The Enlightener and proudly say that Allah can't die, yet two important Bills to actually Save Allah's School would have just died in the NYS Legislature. In the midst of all of our celebration, willfully there will be some sobering builds AND commitments made to be more politically engaged to actually secure the future of our national headquarters and its mission. Because the Allah Youth Center in Mecca, Inc. board was responsible for this outcome, I would suggest restructuring that board to replace/add new Five Percent men AND women who actually have the experience and expertise to serve and successfully take initiatives like this from knowledge to born. This was clearly a terrain that the board was not the best knowers of and it cost us. Change should not be a problem, if we are truly about our nation. Some of us are simply not qualified to be in different positions, me included. There are certain positions I would never agree to be in or accept, knowing that others are more qualified than me. Keeping things the same will only produce the same results.  

Peace,

Saladin #AtlantisBuild

Cultural Appropriation and Misappropriation of the Five Percent

RZA and others during Hajj to Mecca

     Language is the heart of a culture. It is the vehicle that enables us to transmit and receive ideas, stories, principles, values, and traditions that shape our identify and define every aspect of our way of life. It is one of the most important parts that determine how we live. 

     As a Five Percenter, we possess a unique language that represents the heart of our culture. Our language is constructed from our Supreme Mathematics, Supreme Alphabet, 120 Lessons and a variety of colloquialisms, idioms, proverbs and lingo that were all born within our Five Percent community. There is no other group of people on the planet who can make this claim. Since our formal 1964 inception in Harlem, NY, many people have been exposed to our unique language and other elements of our culture, based upon their proximity to us. However, that proximity did not, and still does not, make them us. Just like living around Dominican neighbors, learning some Spanish phrases, listening to Dominican music and eating Dominican food does not make someone Dominican. If someone were to claim to be Dominican, based upon their proximity, it would be cultural appropriation. Cultural misappropriation is when this same claim is used to make products and/or provide services to package, commodify and monetize Dominican culture. The same analogy applies to any culture, including my culture of the Five Percent. 

    In the 1960s, the first Five Percenters were sometimes confused with being Muslims and practicing the religion of Islam. Part of the confusion is because the founder of the Five Percent Nation was once a Muslim by the name of Clarence 13X and a registered member of the Nation of Islam's Temple #7 in Harlem, NY. In 1964 he renounced his Muslim beliefs, left the Nation of Islam and ceased using the name Clarence 13X. He began to use the name "Allah." Allah, in collaboration with a few close companions who also renounced their Muslim beliefs, began to create our unique language that shaped our identity, defined and communicated Five Percent culture. To distinguish ourselves from Muslims and their belief system, Allah also encouraged us to change and/or create names from our Supreme Mathematics. For example, Bilal or Jihad came to be known as ABG7. Following this change, names for Five Percenters like Wise, Ralik, Supreme, Mecca, Mathematics, Sha-Asia, Queen, Equality, and etc. became common throughout NYC communities. Names that no other group of people on the planet were using to define themselves.

     As our movement began to grow throughout NYC boroughs among the youth, a cultural cross pollination began to occur where the proximity to Five Percenters within households, neighborhoods, schools, and other public and private spaces exposed people to our unique language and other cultural elements. Those who were Christian began to learn about and practice aspects of our special diet. While some of them stopped eating pork chops, most would not go as far as reading product labels to see if they contained pork byproducts. Some Muslims started hearing Five Percenter lingo and began to use some of it when they communicated. Yet the "Allah" that they worshipped was still a spirit, not the Black man's Arm, Leg, Leg, Arm and Head. For most people, exposure to our unique language and other cultural elements was not something that they completely embraced. For them, hearing us greet each other with "Peace God" was no different than someone saying "Hello." They didn't, and still don't, interpret that statement as a bold declaration that we are not tethered to a religion that worships an invisible entity outside of ourselves. 

      With the growth and expansion of the internet and social media, it has become harder for everyday people to distinguish who is a Five Percenter from those "who used to be" [never was], those who have been in proximity to us, and those who try to moonlight or cosplay as the Five Percent. It is difficult to address cultural appropriation. There is also no legal mechanism in place to address cultural misappropriation. While some everyday Five Percenters often dismiss this as insignificant or unimportant, as a Five Percent public figure I have a different experience and point of view. Everyday people are not contacted by the international/national press for a statement when something related to the Five Percenters is in the news. Everyday people are also not receiving inquiry emails, DMs, and messages every day from people around the world about Five Percent culture. That is my reality. I literally see the global implications of not addressing cultural misappropriation every single day.

                        Da God, 2008                                Experiments with High Explosives, 2012

     If I were to ask someone, "Did you receive more gold?", the average person has no idea what I'm asking them, its cultural context, and what their answer implies. If I made the casual comment about something being, "14 million square miles" or "a fine mist", most people would be completely lost. Even phrases like "wisdom knowledge", "born universal truth", "cee I power her, her power I cee", and "all the above" would go over someone's head. These are just some examples of our Five Percent language that is uniquely constructed from our Supreme Mathematics, Supreme Alphabet, 120 Lessons and a variety of colloquialisms, idioms, proverbs and lingo that were all born within our community. Imagine 'trying' to learn this language without community. Imagine believing that you can get all of this in a YouTube video, social media posts, or a book.  

This May 2026 will be 18 years since I co-authored/published my first book with my educator Raheem titled Da God. To my knowledge, Da God was THE FIRST BOOK ever written using the unfiltered language of Five Percent culture. Here was its summary:

"Da God represents a New Era within The Nation of Gods and Earths (NGE)/Five Percenters! Da God is the first of a series of 'Living Mathemanuals' that are designed to transcend the abstract, intellectualized concepts of the Gods and Earths (NGE)/Five Percenters). Da God takes you into the real life of 'Be God Allah'; giving an honest, unapologetic view of his world and his struggle with defining his 'God Centeredness' in a Society that doesn't support this worldview.

This MASTERSCRIPT has simultaneously set and raised the bar in regard to NGE Literature and represents the first literary model of practically applied NGE Nomenclature."

Da God, 2008

   Because this book was intentionally written in our language, we coined the phrase Mathemanual; a book immersed in language constructed from Supreme Mathematics, Supreme Alphabet, 120 Lessons and a variety of colloquialisms, idioms, proverbs and lingo that were all born within our Five Percent community. For many people, including newborn Five Percenters, Da God read like a foreign language, because it was. It was our attempt to communicate a cultural worldview that was fleeting due to the growth of the internet, social media and antisocial behavior. Four years later in 2012 I authored/published the next Mathemanual, a novel titled Experiments with High Explosives: The Chronicles of a Big-Headed Scientist. Experiments with High Explosives is a book told through the perspective of a man striving to make sense out of his relationships and the relationships that he observed. Through exploring these thoughts & feelings, I sought to empower the reader to consider their ideas about love. 

Drink Champs, June 14, 2025

     Recently RZA was featured in a YouTube interview discussing various aspects of his life and goes into depth about his journey with Five Percent culture and experiences with religion. In this interview, RZA taking a Shahada was discussed. A Shahada is a public declaration of faith in the Muslim religion and is one of its Five Pillars. This declaration that, "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" is typically performed in a mosque/masjid before an Imam and serves as the foundation of the other four pillars of Islam: Salah [five daily prayers], Zakat [giving charity], Sawm [fasting during Ramadan, and Hajj [pilgrimage to Mecca]. To be clear, in Five Percenter culture we don't have a tradition of taking Shahada, practicing Five Pillars or other religious practices like getting Baptized, Christenings and etc. If someone chooses to practice any of those religious traditions, that is a personal choice and should never be interpreted as speaking for or acting on behalf of our nation of the Five Percent or Allah Youth Center in Mecca.

     While some things in that interview were clarified about where RZA stands regarding the distinction between culture and religion, there were other things still left unclear to outside onlookers. Much of that interview was a conversation taking place before a virtual audience of mixed company [outside onlookers]. That mixed company was exposed to language spoken in and referencing our Five Percent culture that most outside onlookers do not understand. I think that it is important to understand that whichever way that RZA chooses to define himself is his prerogative. What is not a prerogative is what we say and do within the context of Five Percent culture. In other words, a woman cannot simultaneously be the Earth and work as a prostitute. We cannot claim that we are not a "poisonous animal eater" yet eat creatures from the bottom of the sea. We also cannot say that we are the true and living God and simultaneously pray to an entity/person outside of ourselves. There are certain differences between a culture and a religion that are simply irreconcilable. From my experience seeing and being around RZA, it's not uncommon for him to say and do things that are, or appear to be, a contradiction. I remember in the late 90s attending our Five Percent Nation's annual Educational Show & Prove and when RZA pulled up with Poppa Wu [Freedum Allah] and some Wu-Affiliates he was wearing a gold necklace with a huge cross pendant. Eventually a heated exchange took place where some Gods had RZA cornered outside of the event demanding an explanation for showing up wearing that religious symbol, especially around the children who might get confused. I think all of us may say and do things that are, or appear to be, contradictive. RZA is no different. When this occurs, the questions that I always ask are: 

• What are we doing to become better for ourselves, others, and our planet Earth? 
• How can we support others and/or what support do we need? 

    These questions don't dismiss actions that are, or appear to be, a contradiction. These questions are meant to critique something and refocus the conversation on what we are actually doing. It opens up a conversation for potential collaboration as opposed to criticism and contention. While I can relate to the frustration some of us experience when seeing confusing representations of our culture, I also understand the importance of how we choose to appropriate our time and resources to address it. I think that some of us spend too much time and resources talking about what we see as a problem and not enough time and resources creating actual solutions. 

    Culture is the sum total of all of our people activities that is centered/rooted in our language. And as I shared, our language is uniquely constructed from our Supreme Mathematics, Supreme Alphabet, 120 Lessons and a variety of colloquialisms, idioms, proverbs and lingo that were all born within our Five Percent community. As Five Percenters, we strive to be thoughtful about what we say and do, how it aligns with our culture, and the results of our words and actions. If we are honest, we would also acknowledge that some days we do better than other days. We are always a work in progress. Our way of life is not a religion nor are we religious. We are not missionaries spreading a gospel and we don't try to convert people to follow what we know. We don't have a house of worship; we create community outreach and youth advocacy spaces to serve as cultural anchor institutions in our cities. We are intentional about teaching those who are sincerely invested in learning our culture. Others will still learn, just being exposed to how we live. We are not followers and we don't have a hierarchal structure with a leader. We teach leadership and that people should only follow to the extent of learning to lead themselves. There is no other group of people on the planet who can make these collective claims. 

Peace,

Saladin #Atlantisbuild

"Nothing (No thing)" Happens in a Vacuum

     Let me start by saying that nothing happens in a vacuum. We live in a world where all things are connected. Nothing also happens in our little corner of social media where our images, posts, comments and "likes" are somehow disconnected from keyword internet searches or Google alerts. All internet activity is connected and is a part of a larger digital footprint. Fifty years from now, if the internet still exists..., people will be able to find these articles and thousands of other literary, audio, and visual content that is directly connected to me. Some people believe that this kind of global visibility only matters if you are a public figure, and that is not true. You can post something right now that will win you a personal visit from men in black, a pair of shiny steel bracelets, and a first-class trip to your local FBI office. Nothing happens in a vacuum, especially content that garners a lot of visibility and engagement, be it positive or negative.

     Speaking of internet activity that is a part of a larger digital footprint, recently there was a modified Five Percenter Universal Flag with a gun in the center being circulating online via a Queens Hip Hop artist who goes by the stage name "Criminal God." It was in August of 2024 that I first became aware of this artist because he performed on the premises of the Allah School in Mecca at a City of Gods Concert. That City of Gods Concert was widely promoted, hosted by former Source Magazine writer Edward Sunez Rodriguez, and publicly broadcast on the Allah School in Mecca YouTube Channel. While I respect artistic freedom, there are certain expressions of art that I do not support, platform, or share with others, especially our youth. This is one of those expressions. It must also be clearly understood that any individuals who engage in or promote irresponsible, unlawful, or inflammatory behavior are not representatives of the Five Percenters or the Allah Youth Center in Mecca, Inc. (AKA: The Allah School in Mecca). As the Five Percent, we stand on the principles of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, and we reject conduct that undermines community trust or public accountability. Any such actions are personal choices and should never be interpreted as speaking for or acting on behalf of our nation of the Five Percent or Allah Youth Center in Mecca's efforts to lessen neighborhood tensions, combat juvenile delinquency, and foster civic engagement.

Senator Cordell Cleare, sponsor of Senate Bill S8655
~NYSABPRHAL's 55th Legislative Conference~
Albany, NY, February 13-15, 2026.

When I used my social media to share how that modified Five Percenter Universal Flag associated with crime jeopardizes the potential acquisition of our Allah School, I received a variety of responses. While most people were quick to condemn that content, others also communicated their support of an IP [intellectual property] trademark initiative that I put forward in 2021 to legally stop this kind misuse, misappropriation, and monetization of our Universal Flag. Unfortunately, that IP trademark initiative was not widely supported among my Five Percenter community. And as I predicted, that failed support has allowed the continued misuse, misappropriation, and monetization of our Universal Flag in the film and television, toy manufacturing, jewelry, clothing, literary, and music industries. This recent incident was yet another open attack on our cultural identity that we had no legal authority to stop.

Some people have criticized me for using my global platform to raise awareness about issues like this and the solutions that I offer. To them, I am the problem for pointing out the problem and sharing solutions, not the people who are actually creating these problems. Some people believe that if we just ignore situations like this, they will simply go away, fade into folks' daily routines or disappear into some insignificant content abyss on the internet. Again, nothing happens in a vacuum and none of it just vanishes. We have to confront ignorance with intelligence, apathy with action, and positivity with negativity. Consistently. Also, gossiping about me does not address individuals who engage in or promote irresponsible, unlawful, or inflammatory behavior or the continued misuse, misappropriation, and monetization of our Universal Flag.

As a writer, when I share my lived experience, I do it to give people a glimpse into worlds that they often aren't familiar with. My journey, stories, and accomplishments are unique to me. What is also unique to me is that in every world that I step into, I literally come in the name of "Saladin Allah." This is socially equivalent to having a cultural face tattoo. My name is not an alias, attribute, street name, stage name, or nickname that my buddies call me. Whether I am in a classroom teaching students, speaking to State Lawmakers, filming an interview for a documentary, advising United Nation Delegates overseas, or etc., I am Saladin Allah. This is how I show up every. single. day, in every single way, personally and professionally. Many Five Percenters cannot relate to that. They live a somewhat covert life because their actual names are Donnie, Alicia, Christian, Meghan, etc. These folks don't know what it means to walk into every social, economic, educational, religious, and political environment where a central part of your cultural identity is openly visible and always a potential topic of discussion. They don't have a face tattoo. They have a hidden tattoo, and it only becomes a topic of discussion if they choose to show it to somebody. Many Five Percenters can hide in plain sight in a way that I cannot and chose not to. With my name and its cultural significance, I made a bold decision to be seen and heard everywhere and accept the public-facing responsibility that comes along with it. Because of this, I have experiences that others will not. I have conversations in places that others will not have. I also encounter certain societal expectations and public scrutiny that others will never experience or learn to navigate.

So, what does all of that mean? It means that as Five Percenter, I have a vantage point of view that many others do not, based upon my personal and professional experience. In some instances that vantage point of view is better because I am the best knower in a given situation. In other situations, I am not the best knower. Someone else is the best knower, regardless of their age or gender. I respect that, yet I cannot say the same for others who have a bad habit of trying to speak on subjects and professional spaces that they know very little about. It reminds me of a recent online discussion that I had with someone who shared some A.I. laced Islamophobic content about protecting American values from a Muslim invasion. I took some time to educate them by sharing numerous examples and references of Islam's foundational influence on shaping Western Society, including a link to one of my books that is a part of a Curatorial Activism Archive in the British Library. This person, in all of their arrogant American ignorance, still tried to debate me, even though I am clearly an educator, author, and subject matter expert. The audacity. Around the same time, I had another experience dealing with a different kind of audacity. I shared an online application for high school students to apply for an all-expense paid 9-day trip with me to East Africa. Part of that application required students to submit a 300-word or less essay, a 3-minute video, or a 3-minute audio explaining why this trip is important to them. Of the 75 submissions that I received, 73 of them used some form of A.I. to write their essay, produce their video, or dictate their audio responses instead of just sharing their own thoughts and voice. Both of these exchanges represent a small example of a larger more pervasive anti-intellectual groupthink mentality that we are seeing on a national, regional, and local level. It is also happening within my own Five Percent community, and other communities, who have historically valued knowledge, lived experience, and critical thinking. If you really want to take a deeper dive into how A.I. is negatively impacting our cognitive development and creativity, check out this Science Direct article.

We are riding a wave of anti-intellectualism where folks religiously reject expertise, promote mistrust, and are outright hostile towards education and intelligence. This is undermining our ability to grow and develop, individually and as a community. Right before our eyes we are watching the deterioration of American society because of this dysfunctional mentality from the Federal level on down to our local communities. A mentality where irresponsible, unlawful, or inflammatory behavior is celebrated, and so-called leaders, public figures, podcasters, and everyday people sit around and BLOVIATE about people, places, and things without offering any solutions. Sadly, and frustratingly, many of my folks are willing participants in this madness. Yet, in all of this, I still see the potential for positive change. I see it in my own work, my children, other youth, elders, and peers who are still forging paths of possibility through these dense forests of ignorance and apathy. This is also not happening in a vacuum. So I remain encouraged in my work and being connected to others who are also doing the work. Despite the madness, I will that you stay encouraged too.

Peace,

Saladin #AtlantisBuild

Senate Bill S8655 and Allah School in Mecca

     In my recent article New Executive Order will require Allah School in Mecca to be inventoried and reviewed by July 1, 2026 I shared about Executive Order 04 and Executive Order 5 that NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed into law on January 1st, 2026. I also explained how these laws would affect the Allah School in Mecca [2122 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd] -an undeveloped city-owned parcel that has served as our national headquarters.

     Executive Order 04 [LEVERAGING CITY-OWNED LAND TO ACCELERATE HOUSING] was created due to the housing shortage in New York City. Executive Order 04 created a fast-track process to identify and utilize city-owned land for housing development (AKA: economic development). For that purpose, Mayor Mamdani established an interagency Land Inventory Fast Track Task Force (the “LIFT Task Force”). According to Executive Order 04, "The LIFT Task Force shall consist of representatives from Mayoral agencies offices, and affiliated non-profit corporations, including the Department of Citywide Administrative Services [NYC DCAS], the Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the Department of City Planning, the Department of Buildings, the Office of Management and Budget, the New York City Economic Development Corporation, and representatives from other agencies, offices or entities affiliated with the City designated by the Chair." This LIFT Task Force will also seek participation and cooperation of additional public and other entities as the Task Force Chair deems appropriate. Some of those additional entities that were identified are the New York Public Library, the Queens Public Library, the Brooklyn Public Library, the New York City Department of Education, the New York City Housing Authority, the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Empire State Development Corporation. I spoke with the NYC DCAS and they confirmed that city-owned parcels, including 2122 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd, will be reviewed and inventoried no later than July 1, 2026 as specified in Executive Order 04. Executive Order 5 created the SPEED Task Force. The SPEED Task Force is tasked with identifying and developing city department policies, procedures, and processes for Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development [SPEED] in NYC. According to Executive Order 5, these recommendations will be shared with Mayor Mamdani no later than April 11, 2026. 

     Following the publishing of my article it was shared on Facebook that on January 7th, 2026, NYS Senate Bill S8655 was introduced by Senator Cordell Cleare of the 30th Senate District. This Senate Bill 'Authorizes the conveyance of certain property by the city of New York to The Allah Youth Center in Mecca Inc.' After seeing this Facebook post I quickly learned that many of us did not understand the legislative process, assuming that this introduced senate bill addresses the active NYC Executive Orders 04 and 5 that I highlighted. Senate Bill S8655 does not, and this is why.

An introduced senate (or assembly) bill is only a proposal that has not been considered, let alone passed, in the state legislature and signed into law by a governor. An Executive Order that is signed into law by a Mayor or City Executive IS the law. You can only stop an Executive Order by 1.) signing into law a new Executive Order that overturns it, 2.) a Court Order that declares that the bill is unconstitutional, 3.) a City Council law that contradicts it, or 4.) the State (New York in this case) or the Federal government passes a law that contradicts the bill. None of these actions have occurred to override Mayor Mamdani’s Executive Orders 04 and 5.  

HOW DOES A BILL BECOME A LAW?

   When a senate bill is sponsored and introduced, an identical assembly bill must also be sponsored and introduced. As you can see below, Senate Bill S8655 has only been sponsored and introduced by Senator Cleare and is now in the Cities 1 Committee. You can also see that an identical assembly bill has not yet been sponsored or introduced by an Assemblymember.

     If an identical assembly bill is sponsored and introduced by an Assemblymember, it will then go to an Assembly Committee. If an Assemblymember does not sponsor and introduce an identical assembly bill, or refuses to take up Senate Bill S8655, this bill will die at the end of the two-year legislative term. 

     If an identical bill is sponsored and introduced by an Assemblymember, both the senate and assembly bill will move to the floor of both the Senate and the Assembly. Once on the floor, it is placed on the legislative calendar, allowing for debate, potential amendments, and a final vote by the full house. The full house consists of 63 State Senators and 150 State Assemblymembers (213 representatives) across the state of New York. For more information about how the legislative process works, you can check out this information: How A Bill Becomes Law in NYS.

It is important to understand that passing a senate AND assembly bill is a process that takes time. That process does not supersede or override active Executive Orders that were signed into law within a municipality. In other words, Senate Bill S8655 does not stop the July 1st, 2026 city-owned parcel review and inventory specified in Executive Order 04 or the SPEED Task Force recommendations that will be shared with Mayor Mamdani by April 11, 2026. It is equally important to understand that the sponsoring of a senate bill, and potentially an assembly bill, broadens the discussion about who we are as the Five Percent beyond the municipal limits of NYC and the Mamdani Administration. This legislative process will call upon 213 statewide representatives to debate, potentially amend, and ultimately vote on the transferring NYC property to The Allah Youth Center in Mecca Inc. While introducing Senate Bill S8655 can be a powerful opportunity to move in a direction to secure the future of Allah School, it does not address the immediate need to engage the Mamdani Administration concerning Executive Orders 04 and 5. Equally important, it does not address the ongoing negative press, lack of revenue, disorganization, and estranged community partnership obstacles that we consistently deal with. In my previous article I discussed how unfavorable we appear in a quick Google or YouTube search, if surrounding Harlem anchor institutions were contacted about us, or if some city officials wanted to pop-up at the Allah School on a random Tuesday just to check out what is going on. Senate Bill S8655 now opens up the same assessment of us from Senators with partisan politics across NYS -many whose only point of reference for the Five Percent are correctional facilities, crime, juvenile delinquency, and gang affiliation in their legislative jurisdictions. The only way to combat these founded and unfounded assessments are to consistently show a better example. 

     Now that a senate bill exists, what can we do about it? In addition to monitoring this bill on the Senate Bill Search website to see its progress, to show support for Senate Bill S8655, you can create an account on this website and select ✔ Aye where it asks, DO YOU SUPPORT THIS BILL? You will find this on the right side of the webpage as shown below:

     Direct support for Senate Bill S8655 can also be shown by contacting the Cities 1 Committee Chair Senator Luis R. Sepulveda and other Committee members to express your support of this bill. You can also contact state legislators by phone, [registered] postage mail or email to express support of Senate Bill S8655. These efforts are even more powerful as an organized Lobby Committee that has crafted clear, concise, uniform talking points and literature about supporting Senate Bill S8655. This advocacy work can then be leveraged in our engagement with the Mamdani Administration to garner municipal support. ALL OF THIS effort hinges upon our public image and the actual work that we are doing as Five Percenters. If these same public officials looked us up, what would they see on our social media? If they did a background check, what would they see regarding criminal history, employment, education, etc.? Will the name(s) that we use to engage these public officials be interpreted as "aliases" or our legal identification and why? When someone sees us, online or offline, do our words and activities reasonably represent the provisions of Senate Bill S8655 which state that we provide "educational, social, recreational and developmental community-based services to the Harlem community in Manhattan"? ALL OF THIS means something. These public images and our actual work will contribute to how we are collectively perceived, as a culture and a nation of people, seeking the transferred ownership of prime NYC real estate for $0. If we took our public image for granted before, as if our ways and actions have ZERO impact on what happens in the public domain, we will now see this in real time. While it is my hope that public officials, both city and statewide, will have the capacity and diligence to cut through the noise to see the good that we do as the Five Percent, it is reasonable to say that many will not. 

Peace,

Saladin #AtlantisBuild