It was announced last week by Seven On Demand via social media that on Thursday, June 6th, 2024 the First Annual Supreme Mathematics Awards will be held in Brooklyn, NY (Medina) to honor Five Percent nation members who are doing extraordinary work to nationally/internationally represent and advance our nation. Also shared was a list of nominees whose names were put forward by an event committee for different award categories. While some shared their excitement for this first-time initiative, others did not.
After reading many of the comments shared on the event post, a common theme that I recognized was a criticism of some of the nominees, the questioning of the nomination guidelines, and the reasons why some people should/should not be nominated. Some people even shared why they themselves should have been nominated and the assumption that some people probably nominated themselves. In response to those queries, the event organizer Lord Jamel, shared that these nominations were put forward by an event committee, not himself, and anyone nominating themselves were disqualified. Still, this explanation did not suffice for those who thought that they belonged on this list. The great thing about this initiative is that it is creating conversation and calling into question a criterion for how we are actually using Supreme Mathematics to positively impact our environment. Far too often some of us use the abstract phrase, "I'm building!" to proclaim that we are working, yet there is no real quantifiable evidence to show and prove that, especially nationally and internationally.
So, what are the criteria? Is it being someone who has lived the culture for fifty-plus years? Is it based on how many people you got to memorize 120? Is it being nationally/internationally successful in a certain industry? Is it how many parliaments and rallies we have attended? Based upon the comments shared on the event post, it was clear that people had different ideas of what the criteria should be. To some, I should not be on that list simply because my name is “Saladin” and they believe that this is a Muslim name, not an Arabic word. To others, you cannot even create a list about positive national/international impact without my name on it in multiple categories. Regardless, I think it is a great opportunity to publicly acknowledge and honor one another and learn about what others are successfully doing to advance our nation and culture. Here is why, and I think we can start by asking ourselves these open-ended questions:
*What are some of the benefits and opportunities that can come for our youth seeing and learning more about our nation members being publicly acknowledged for their positive contributions to our nation, the communities that we live in, and society as a whole?
*How are some of our nation members national/international work in the fields of health, education, media, technology, economics, arts, sports and entertainment helping better prepare our nation for a world twenty, fifty, and even one hundred years from now?
If we found ourselves struggling to describe more than ten actual benefits and opportunities for our youth seeing and learning about nation members positive national/international contributions, that is problematic. If it was difficult to quantify how more than twenty nation members around the globe are actually helping to better prepare us for our future, that is also problematic. That lacking in recognizing our nation members is part of the reason for such an Award Show. Lacking this information means that we obviously don't have access to benefits and opportunities that connect us to a global network of excellence. We are also less prepared than we could be for a world twenty, fifty, and even one hundred years from now because we don't really know the folks -and the work that they are doing- to help prepare us. This state of lacking is where many of us are, as adults. Now imagine how disconnected and unprepared our youth are because we are unqualified or ill-equipped to share that knowledge and wisdom with them. Some would argue that it doesn't require a Supreme Mathematics Award Show to address this lacking. Well consider this.
This is bigger than a popularity contest or giving someone an award so that they can feel good and validated. While there are many Five Percenters who are doing great work locally and possibly regionally, every Five Percenter is not nationally/internationally known for their work. This Award Show sets a professional standard of acknowledgement to honor those whose use of Supreme Mathematics has garnered positive national and international acclaim. Without a platform to publicly acknowledge, learn about, and celebrate this, how would you, and the youth, even know? Some would agree that we should acknowledge and learn about nation members doing great national/international work, yet they don't think that an Award Show is the best way to do it. The only way to show and prove differently is to create the format or medium to do that, not just talk about what we should do. Some would argue that people should not be celebrated for what we should be doing, which is understandable. This is not to award people for what they should be doing. It is to acknowledge and honor our nation members who have done and are doing extraordinary work to nationally/internationally advance our nation in ways that has not been done before. Using Supreme Mathematics to expand their intelligence, develop their talents, and produce contributions that positively impact society nationally and internationally is something that our nation members chose to do, that many do not. That work of our nation members should never be minimized, dismissed, or treated as commonly expected because it is not. Besides, instead of waiting until people are no longer here to acknowledge their work, isn't there a clear benefit in recognizing them as a present resource to our nation in the fields of health, education, media, technology, economics, arts, sports and entertainment while they are actually here?
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| Palais des Nations (United Nations Office) Geneva, Switzerland |
In closing, in my experience the best way to critique anything is by providing tangible solutions, not just talk. Talking against something with nothing to actually offer as an alternative only proves that we are not truly invested in the solution that we claim. If we are that committed to some idea that we think is better, then we should have already invested our finances, resources, and sweat equity in that idea and have it to actually offer folks. If we clearly have not done this, then why do we think others should do it? I don't know about you b.u.t. I am skeptical of a car dealer trying to sell me a car that they never had, not confident in a phone store clerk selling me a phone service plan that they never had, and distrustful of a health and wellness coach selling me superfoods that they never used. If some of you think that there is another format or medium for people to acknowledge, learn about and maybe celebrate the national/international contributions of our nation members, then put the money up and create it. Talk is cheap, when there is no substance behind it.
The Supreme Mathematics Award Show will be held on June 6th, 2024 at the Polygon BK, 299 Vandervoort Ave. Brooklyn, New York 11211. Doors open at 7pm and tickets are $100 General Admission and $150 VIP. Tickets can be purchased online HERE. This in-person Award Show and Gala will be live-streamed/recorded via Seven on Demand to honor some of the best and brightest minds living mathematics and their contributions to our nation and society as a whole.
Peace,
Saladin
