Executive Overreach and The Serpents Egg

1977 film by legendary Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman

     

     On August 12th, 2025, the White House sent this letter to the Honorable Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution regarding an Executive Order to Review its Exhibitions and Materials. This Executive Review is to make sure that these Institutions focus on “Americanism” in order to “Restore Truth and Sanity to American History.” Its aim is to “ensure alignment with the President’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.” This review will assess various aspects of the Smithsonian's operations such as its public-facing content (in-person exhibitions and online materials), curatorial processes and exhibition planning, draft plans for future shows, how collections are used to highlight American achievements, the development of narrative standards for exhibitions. Elaborating on this Executive Order, President Trump shared the below August 19th post on Truth Social regarding this federal directive:

     First and foremost, everything discussed at the Smithsonian Institute is not how horrible the country is, how bad slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been. Anyone who has visited a Smithsonian site knows that this statement is a boldfaced lie. There is a tremendous amount of success, brightness and future aspirations shown in numerous in-person exhibitions and online materials. To that point, the National Museum of African American History and Culture literally have a beautifully vibrant exhibition on Afrofuturism. It is worth noting that the term "WOKE" was first created by Black folks in 1930s and 1960s Protest Songs and recently popularized in Erykah Badu's song Master Teacher. This idea describes an awareness of racism, discrimination, prejudice and their harmful results. To be WOKE means that you possess the knowledge to identify and allude the pitfalls and traps of racism, discrimination, and prejudice. Let's be clear, whenever President Trump or any of his MAGA sympathizers dismiss, ridicule, or attack the idea of being WOKE, they are simultaneously denying that racism, discrimination, and prejudice exist against Black people. The statement, "This Country cannot be WOKE" means the U.S. cannot acknowledge that racism, discrimination, and prejudice exist against Black people because that is the perspective of poor Black people. This is the root of the attacks we have seen on Affirmative Action, DEI, Obamacare, Obama Phones, Reparations, and other initiatives impacting Black people. This is also what's behind the stereotypical claims to pathologize Black people as coming from sh*thole countries, eating dogs and cats, having toxic culture, playing the victim, playing the race card, being unmerited DEI hires, being reverse racists, poor, lazy, on welfare, looking for handouts, criminals, uneducated, and killing each other. 

  According to the White House, the initial Phase I to review the Smithsonian Institute's exhibitions and materials will focus on the following eight museums listed below. Additional museums will be reviewed in Phase II.

• National Museum of American History
• National Museum of Natural History
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• National Museum of the American Indian
• National Air and Space Museum
• Smithsonian American Art Museum
• National Portrait Gallery
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

     Who is doing the reviewing? White House appointees/attorneys. Not historians, scholars, curators, or subject-area experts. This would be equivalent to someone who only has a background in sports entertainment serving as the U.S. Secretary of Education. In that position to lead the Department of Education, this person is responsible for reviewing and developing national education policies, overseeing federal education programs, supporting teachers, and ensuring equal access to quality education for all students. Whether it's former World Wrestling Entertainment executive Linda McMahon as the Secretary of Education, former Fox News Host Pete Hegseth as the Secretary of Defense, or Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the EPA with no background in environmental issues, inexperienced federal appointments like this have become the norm of the Trump Administration. Some have argued that this is not problematic. Yet these are the same people who would have a problem with someone who has no medical background reviewing their medical records and developing a health recovery plan for them or a family member. Like it or not, these appointees and others are responsible for developing a health recovery plan for America.

Submission Timeline

Below is the scheduled compliance timeline highlighted in this letter to the Smithsonian Institute.

Within 30 days of receipt of this letter, we anticipate:

• Each museum to submit all requested materials outlined in the first four bullet points above, including current exhibition descriptions, draft plans for upcoming shows, America 250 programming materials, and internal guidelines used in exhibition development.
• Review of America 250 exhibition and program planning and connect with curators and staff about their specific proposals.
• A staff liaison from each museum will be designated to serve as the primary point of contact throughout the review process.
• Our team will begin on-site observational visits, conducting walkthroughs of current exhibitions to document themes, visitor experience, and visual messaging.

Within 75 days:

• Museums are asked to submit the remaining requested documentation (items 5 through 10), including promotional literature, grant data, educational materials, and guided tour content.

• Our team will begin scheduling and conducting voluntary interviews with curators and senior staff. These conversations will help us better understand each museum’s goals and the broader curatorial vision guiding the institution.
• Each museum should finalize and submit its updated plan to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary and ensure coordination with the White House Salute to America 250 Task Force to align messaging and public engagement.

Within 120 days:

• Museums should begin implementing content corrections where necessary, replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions across placards, wall didactics, digital displays, and other public-facing materials.

The White House also stated, "If all benchmarks are met on schedule, we anticipate completing our review and preparing a final report for your review in early 2026. This report will include museum-specific assessments, institutional trends, and constructive recommendations for future exhibition strategy." 

Executive Branch Overreach

     President Trump is the only President in American history to call for a review of the Smithsonian Institution. According to the Organization of American Historians (OAH) who have openly condemned this order, the Smithsonian Institution was “established by Congress in 1846 as a unique and independent agency" and "is not, and has never been, under the authority of the Executive Branch." The OAH went on to state that the Smithsonian "is an independent statutory agency, led by the Secretary and governed by a bipartisan Board of Regents as established by law." In a statement by American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) it shared, "The administration’s directive ignores our field’s scholarship and the will of the American people, who have repeatedly said they want to explore the nation's history in all of its depth and complexity. The directive removes crucial context that audiences need for a fuller understanding of the past and its relevance to today. It is also an affront to the public’s right to think for itself." As congressionally chartered and independent, the Smithsonian Institute is not part of the U.S. government's Executive Branch. Thus, the White House, and any President, does not have the authority to direct the Smithsonian's internal operations, museum exhibits, or interpretive content.

     What consequence do these institutions face for not following this directive as a part ofExecutive Order 14253? Potential funding restrictions like we have seen educational institutions face via Executive Order 14238, titled "Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy." The Center for American Progress (CAP), an independent non-partisan policy institute has tracked how the White House's Executive Orders have impacted states and higher learning institutions by Mapping Federal Funding Cuts. What this order also does is set a national standard of censorship and suppression of history. The direction to remove improper ideology that does not show allegiance to the traditions, institutions, and ideals of the United States, as defined by federal government appointees, sets the stage for the rewriting of history. This also undermines the trust in institutions, especially by historians, scholars, researchers, documentarians, curators, subject-area experts, and educators who have researched, documented and teach non-revisionist history. Lastly, this attack on scholarship and academic exploration instills fear in those to not present counter narratives that will conflict with the government's review standards, or face repercussions -which may be severe. What is also important to consider is how this federal overreach sets a precedence on a state, regional, and local level. 

How does this affect everyday people? 

     The Smithsonian Institution is a national standard of excellence in museum collections, scholarship, education, and scientific exploration. What happens on the national level informs institutions on a regional and local level. This is where they receive their marching orders, especially with the added pressure of losing federal funding. In the area of WNY (Western New York) I have seen this effecting a number of institutions. As a host for the show What's Next? on BTPM (Buffalo Toronto Public Media) and which receives funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, an entity that was recently defunded by the U.S. government and is shutting down. As an Adjunct Professor at Niagara University, I have also watched extreme cuts to their programs and staff due to the changes within the federal government. Libraries, museums, educational institutions, and regional/local policy makers are all feeling the pressure to comply with the federal government's expectations, which are often not under the legal jurisdiction of the U.S. government's Executive Branch. I have also seen local institutions and business censor how they use social media for fear of losing customers, resources, and funding if they post/share content that does not align with the federal government. What do you call a far-right, authoritarian nationalist political ideology characterized by dictatorial leadership, control and standardization imposed by a central authority, and suppression of opposition? FACISM. While some have hesitated to call it what it is, the elements and tendencies of the current Administration are evidenced in past fascist governments such as Italy and Germany. In fact, the 1977 film The Serpent's Egg by legendary Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, is an excellent example of how a fascist society developed in 1920s Berlin, Germany. Check out the trailer below.

What can we do about it? 

     All marginalized people, based upon our race, gender, socioeconomic status, age, worldview, etc. have always been negatively impacted in various ways by racist, sexist, ageist, elitist. etc. policies that have set inequitable societal standards. These policies and standards have been primarily established and upheld by WASP men; White Anglo-Saxon Protestant men. Because of this, there have always existed resistance movements in every facet of society. Whether those were movements related to classism, racism, gender inequity, labor, etc., people have always strived to fight fascism. This means that there is evidence of where, when, what, and how to fight! As educators, we fought, and fight, by establishing our own institutions to teach the children how to think critically and creatively. This enabled us, and enables them, to intelligently respond to misinformation and disinformation designed to rewrite history. As one of many community members who helped establish our Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center we made it our mission to reveal authentic stories of Underground Railroad freedom seekers and abolitionists in Niagara Falls that inspire visitors to recognize modern injustices that stem from slavery and take action toward an equitable society. These means that we center the stories and agency of people of African descent and do not promote a white savior narrative. We have been firm on this, even in the face of turning down major funders whose financial support hinged upon us changing that mission and our exhibits. The same fearless stances of integrity must be made today. We also must be willing to condemn the actions of those who seek to erase our stories. So along with education must come advocacy. In April of this year at our Permanant Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) at the United Nations, I had an opportunity to speak against the National Parks Services temporarily removing an image/content of Harriet Tubman from their website. You can read my official statement here. As adults, parents, guardians, and caretakers, it is important for children to see us courageously challenge these policies and standards. We can also challenge these policies and standards with our dollars. I am intentional about striving to support businesses, especially locally, that are also willing to condemn the actions of those who seek to erase our stories, and support those of us who are invested in preserving those stories. Supporting local businesses like this and simultaneously boycotting businesses that support fascist policies and standards also works as important advocacy tools. The nationwide boycott of Target for rolling back their DEI initiatives resulted in decreased sales, their stock plummeting and a $12.4 billion loss in market capitalization. These are just a couple of examples that have been used by everyday people in the past and present to challenge the status quo.  

      The Executive Overreach that we are seeing with the current Administration is only going to get worse before it gets any better. This political pressure from the federal government creates pressure on state, regional, and local governments where we all live. And this will continue to affect our local institutions, law enforcement, and businesses. We are not powerless though. Power belongs to the people and that power is the truth. How could we show forth and prove this power, and that we are all wise and righteous? We amplify that power through critical thinking, courage, cooperative economics and collective work and responsibility. For the world to be better, we must commit ourselves to being better in the face of this tyranny, fanaticism, and patriotism. 

Peace,

Saladin

When People Fear Success, More Than Failure

United Nations, Geneva Switzerland

     Back in the early 2000s I was walking down a crowded street in NYC and a man approached me and began talking about an article that I wrote in a UK Publication in the 1990s. He described that article in detail, asked questions, and shared how important it was to his growth and development. This incident was nearly a decade after I wrote that article, before the development of social media apps, and before smart phones even existed. That experience shook me up and was one of my first introductions to what it means to be a public figure. On one hand I appreciated learning about how my work was positively impacting lives, yet it was strange being approached that way in the public. I thought a lot about being surveilled, how this person was possibly a government agent, how many other people were watching me, and the potential threat to my life and possibly those around me. It wasn't like that article was about bird watching in Vermont, it was about cultural awareness and self-determination. 

    With all of the work that I have done over the years and continue to do, experiences like this have only increased, exponentially. Nowadays, I am much more accustomed to and prepared to handle these experiences, embracing the fact that this global visibility is a natural result of the work that I do. Contrary to what some folks would like to believe, I have had to learn to acknowledge, accept, and live with this attention. This is a global visibility that I never strived for or desired. 

     This year I was sitting with colleagues at a Conference in Philadelphia and shared with them my experience filming Episode 5 of the award-winning docuseries Enslaved, executive produced and starring Samuel L. Jackson. Three days prior to filming I learned that the production date/location was changed to the middle of the week 700 miles away to Lake Michigan in Sherboygan, Wisconsin. I was teaching Pre-K at the time, it was nearing the end of the year, and I was coordinating/practicing our students graduation event that was going to be held that Friday. So that Tuesday I brought my luggage to school so that I could leave directly from class to the airport in order to catch a flight to Milwaukee. I flew out of Buffalo, New York that evening and arrived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that night where car service drove me to Sherboygan about an hour away. I arrived after midnight, checked into the Blue Harbor Resort, and was informed by some of the production team that we would be meeting for breakfast at 5:00am to be out on the dive boat by 5:30am. Keep in mind that from the time I left school the day before, every single moment was a completely new experience for me. I could hardly sleep; it seemed like I blinked my eyes, and it was 5:00am. 

On set of Enslaved docuseries

     When I went downstairs to breakfast, I briefly met the production team and was informed by the Director Simcha Jacobovici that we were going to be boarding a dive boat that would be taking us two hours out into the middle of Lake Michigan. There our team of scuba divers would be examining the wreckage of the Home and the Niagara; two sunken schooners now sitting almost 170 and 50 feet below the surface that once ferried Black freedom seekers to Canada from Sandusky, Ohio. Again, I cannot emphasis enough that this was all new to me. This is the first time I was in Wisconsin, staying at this location, meeting the crew, riding on a dive boat, and filming a documentary in this environment. To top it off, an hour into our boat trip, as I start to get seasick below deck, Simcha starts to get footage of myself and Historian John Polacsek discussing Black freedom seekers using waterways along the underground railroad. We then moved to the upper deck and this is footage that was primarily shown in the docuseries. We filmed all day, and we got back to the resort in time for a late dinner. The next morning after breakfast I was scheduled to get car service to the Milwaukee airport to fly back to New York, but Simcha had other plans. There was some footage that he didn't get, and we all had to change back into our clothes from yesterday to get back on the dive boat to shoot. I was able to get to the airport to make my flight just in time. I made it back to New York that night and was up the next morning for our last day of school and Pre-K graduation. All of that happened within a span of 72 hours, and it took me some time to process that experience. The best way that I could describe it is teleportation. In the midst of that experience I was nervous, it was stressful, and I was seasick at times, yet it emotionally prepared me for every single thing that I have done after that. Not once did I feel unqualified, unprepared, or in a space I did not belong. That experience empowered me with the ability to professionally show up under conditions like this, that most folks would be afraid of, which has now become a consistent part of my life. One day I may be at the local grocery store speaking to a person, and 24 hours later be in another state or country speaking to a room of 1,000 people. There is a fearlessness that I have when it comes to showing up, and that is an important part of being successful in any of our undertakings.

     Most folks don’t know how it feels to be visible, and vulnerable. When people around the world can recognize you, reach out to you for assistance/advice, constantly express their gratitude, invest in what you do, quote you in music/literature/curriculum, etc. Take a moment and Google your name to see what comes up about you. Now Google my name, Saladin Allah, and see what comes up. This has been my constant reality for well over two decades now. In no way am I complaining or saying that this is a bad thing. What I am saying is that being a public figure comes with a level of scrutiny, responsibility, consistency, and other expectations that most folks do not understand, are not prepared for, or maybe would not even want. Some folks even believe that they are prepared, or even deserving of this kind of public visibility, and do everything in their power to get it. Yet they usually refuse to do the consistent often "non-visible" work that is actually notable and commands this attention. I didn't just get here, nor did my global visibility happen overnight or because of some viral video, meme, or social media post. I am an internet immigrant who came from an age before household computers and some Tictokers were born native in a digital world. I became influential before Influencers existed and taught online classes before there was something called Zoom, and doing online radio shows before podcasting existed. I have been here for a while. For years I humbled myself and would not even share with people the reality of what goes on in my life as a public figure. Sure, some people can see what I choose to share on social media about my work, but that is just a small fraction of what this internal world is like, and the demands that come along with it. Seeing life through this lens, I continue to learn a lot about myself and other people. A major part of this education is understanding that socioeconomic, educational, and etc. factors aside, when we are our own worst enemies, we drastically limit our ability to succeed. 

    Something that I have also learned is that many people would rather sit and post content on social media to simulate success rather than do the actual work to be successful. Some people even fear success more than they do failure. They would rather accept being safe and mediocre than take a chance at being better. In many cases, they will make up all of the excuses in the world, and create the most elaborate self-sabotage schemes, like play the B.S.E. [Blame Somebody Else] Game, as the reason for their failure to succeed. I have seen this scenario time and time again and could write a book about the number of times that I have helped put people in positions to succeed and they fumbled the bag, dropped the ball, or simply did not show up. And YES, as crazy as this sounds, some folks have even tried to blame me for their failure; even though all I did was open doors for them, get out of the way, help them get money, and never ask for anything in return. I used to take that personal, be hurt, and disappointed in people. Then I grew to understand that it was not personal. It was clearly not about me, or everything that I was able to do for them, that they were not able to do for me or for themselves. 

     Over the last decade I began to be more intentional about publicly owning, acknowledging, and talking about my work, and receiving acknowledgement from others. It was never a case of Imposter Syndrome or lack of pride; I just really considered the feelings of other people by choosing not to be as big as I really was. I am still considerate like that, yet I no longer shrink myself for others to feel comfortable. If I feel like talking about working with the UN, sharing some experiences consulting a celebrity, international travel with a purpose, or a chapter in the seventeenth book that I published, it is what it is. I mean, if a watched a lot of reality television, had a job I didn't like, wanted someone to make me happy, or gossiped about what other people were doing/not doing, I would have that to talk about too, but I don't. Another thing that I learned is some people see your accomplishments and happiness as a magnifying glass that only enlarges their failures and unhappiness. For whatever reason, sometimes even unknown to them, they do not 'feel' proud of you, regardless how they try to mask it. I have seen men who cannot genuinely say things like, "I am proud of you", "You inspire me" and "You helped me..." I've watched dudes literally repeat my words as if they said it or copy/remix some project, program, or initiative that I created, yet act like it didn't come from me. Some even went as far as privately reach out for my guidance and resources behind closed doors but then act like they don't associate with me in the public. Yeah, it's wild, but this is something that has come along with being in the public like that. 

     I grew up in a pre-internet era where the work that people did, or didn't do, was clearly evident in our everyday lives. That is where we were recognized, or not, in a concrete reality. In today's digital landscape of social media, many people are constantly seeking virtual attention and notoriety that they haven’t concretely earned or deserve. People start something and then fizzle out months later because they are ambulance chasing content creators. They post things they did years ago for credit because they are not doing anything credible right now. They troll public figures on social media because a response validates them as "somebody" and equally important. I've said on many occasions that I use social media as a routing device back to reality. It directs people to what I have actually done, and what I am actually doing, in concrete reality. 

    Even though I get frustrated sometimes, I may feel like I need a personal assistant, and there are not enough hours in a day, I have learned to personally handle the attention and expectations of being a public figure. My biggest challenge has been how to establish and maintain a relationship in the midst of all of this, which I am still striving to figure out. One day I will get there. 

Peace,

Saladin

Global Representation and the United Nations

United Nations Headquarters

      In 2020, following the release of our award-winning Samuel L. Jackson Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade docuseries that I had the honor to be a part of, I became connected to the United Nations. From March through August 2021, the Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery, together with the International Decade for People of African Descent, and with the support of Fremantle/and Associated Producers Ltd./Cornelia Street Productions, hosted screenings and in-person/virtual discussions of the docuseries. Participating in these programs became an opportunity for me to add on globally and learn more about the inner workings of the United Nations. 

United Nations Panel Discussion

     What began as participation in programs centered around our Enslaved docuseries, led to more in-person visits to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. It was through my in-person engagement that I eventually received a personal invitation from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to participate in the United Nations Second session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. It was here at the United Nations Headquarters that I became a member of the International Civil Society Working Group (ICSWG) for the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD). Two months later on August 31st, the United Nations featured me for International Day for People of African Descent and to honor the contributions of the African diaspora. You can view it HERE. This involvement with the United Nations, especially as a Five Percent pioneer, further expanded the global visibility of my work and its digital footprint. 

What is a digital footprint? 

  A digital footprint is the trail of data that we leave on the internet such as the information/content that we publish online and our online activities. While my YouTube Channel activity is one part of my digital footprint, my footprint primarily consists of hundreds of articles published in print/online, two dozen books, albums/singles, animation programs, online classes, and numerous podcasts, radio shows, interviews, presentations, news stories, national and international youth/community projects, programs, and initiatives. Keep in mind that this is without considering the countless reshares or repurposing of that content which adds to that digital footprint. As I mentioned before, I don’t take this lightly, or for granted, and I strive to make sure that I represent the best of what we are, as a people and as a Five Percenter.

What is the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD)?

     The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) is a consultant mechanism established by the United Nations General Assembly for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders as a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent and as an advisory body to the United Nations Human Rights Council. You can read its mandate here: PFPAD Mandate. In short, the PFPAD is a ten-member board that advises the main intergovernmental body within the United Nations [Human Rights Council] on issues specifically related to people of African Descent around the globe. One of the groups that advise this ten-member board is our International Civil Society Working Group (ICSWG). 

What is the International Civil Society Working Group (ICSWG)?

     Our ICSWG is a formation of civil society individuals and organizations from around the world working toward the establishment of a strong and effective Permanent Forum of People of African Descent (PFPAD). Since the United Nations General Assembly resolution to establish the Permanent Forum was established in 2021, our working group has mobilized civil society, hosted events to spread knowledge and awareness of the Permanent Forum, and worked closely with partners, groups, and communities to advocate for the Permanent Forum to be well-resourced, supported, well-attended, and impactful. We utilize several mechanisms to carry out that mission including monthly general meetings, seven subcommittees that carry out our working group’s objectives, and developing mechanisms to promote transparent and democratic processes for the PFPAD to engage civil society and set the agenda for the Permanent Forum sessions and providing feedback both on substance, content, and logistics of the Permanent Forum. In short, we are a global network working in every imaginable space related to people of African Descent. From the food insecurity of our people in Haiti to Reparations here in the United States. From anti-Blackness in Columbia to institutional discrimination against Afro-Brazilians and Afro-Mexicans. 

Speaking at the United Nations 

     It has been an honor to be a part of such an important global body to build upon strategies and direct resources that improve the safety, quality of life, and livelihoods of our people across the diaspora. This has allowed me to connect with an expansive global network of our people and see the different challenges that we are facing in various countries. As a Five Percenter pioneer in this space, this is especially important for our younger generation to see, learn from, and be empowered to take further than me. I literally show up in the name of Saladin Allah and I am proud to be an instrumental part of creating a path for others to think deeper about being universal, teaching civilizations to others, and the possibilities of global citizenry. 

 

Peace,

Saladin

9 Ways to MASTER 2023!!

Photo Credit: Alana Adetola Arts Photography

     First and foremost I want to acknowledge those whom we lost this year. This has been and continues to be a tough year for many of us. It is my will that we honor them by walking with the best part that they shared with us. By allowing their knowledge and wisdom to live through us, others can understand who they were and are! Reflecting upon 2022, I just wanted to take a moment to share some of my thoughts with all of you regarding being successful in our undertakings. Whether we make New Year Resolutions or not, striving to be resolute in all that we say and do is important, regardless of when we choose to make that decision. In part, this is what “word is bond, bond is life and I will give my life before my word shall fail” means to those of us who are Five Percenters. This phrase is not simply something to recite. It is a declaration of being resolute and it highlights the integrity, fortitude, and consistency to follow through with our word. In fact, when our word is truly a bond we will not be broke, or broken...

   Despite the challenges of this year, there were a number of things that I accomplished; from helping coordinate some amazing Niagara Falls National Heritage Area and Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center projects to being featured in a United Nations Short Doc, speaking at the United Nations, and filming two documentaries that will be released in 2023. What I am most proud of is the completion of the renovation project and receiving the official license to open our Atlantis School For Gifted Youngsters!! As one of our cultural ambassadors, I take great pride in knowing that positive contributions such as this continue to expand the global footprint of our Five Percent Nation. This means nothing if I am unwilling and unable to show others how to also be successful in their undertakings. There are certain things that I have done, and continue to do without fail, that has allowed me to take my ideals from knowledge to born, from inception to conception. In this article here are 9 Ways to MASTER 2023:

1. Although it is your personal idea, our idea should be something that improves your quality of life with the intent/consideration of making you a greater resource to others and the world that we share. Life is interdependent and there is a constant process of giving and receiving. This intent/consideration ensures that our idea is in tune with the universal order and is something that is sustainable -because we are actively providing a service (and/or products) that others, and the world, need. If all we are thinking about is what we can get (keep), and not what we are able to consistently give, what we get (keep) will eventually run out. If you don't believe this, try it with your breath. Keep it to yourself and see how long it takes for your oxygen to run out... It is all about reciprocity.

2. Make sure your idea is real and obtainable. It is less likely that we are going to change EVERYTHING at once so it is important to work on what we can change, one goal at a time. Also, take things one day at a time. It took a while to create habits/routines and it is going to take time to change them. The smaller goals we accomplish serve as steppingstones; helping us build confidence and gain the tools and experience that are necessary to reach our larger goals. And with any goal, one of the most important steps we need to take, and habits we need to create, is to “get our day underway with a positive, productive attitude.” That attitude sets the stage for our altitude. This is one reason for asking ourselves, and other members of my Nation, “What is Today's Mathematics?” and “What is Today’s Degree?” It orientates us with higher-order thinking and enables us to get our day underway with a positive, productive attitude. Whatever your cultural worldview or religion is, start your day considering the positive principles that your worldview and religion share. Our attitude sets the foundation of our altitude.

3. Make your goals specific. Instead of saying something ambiguous like, “I’m going to read more” say something more specific like, “I am going to read one book every month.” This is called Specificity. Specificity helps you better focus on your goals and encourages you to be more responsible and committed to those goals. If you were to say, “I want to be healthier in 2023” there is no sense of ambition or plan of action to take that idea from knowledge to born. Now if you said, “I am going to only eat baked chicken once a week and go to the gym three times a week for 1 ½ hours after work” that has a sense of ambition and provides part of a plan of action to achieve your goal of being healthier in 2023. If it is not clear, our path will not be cleared. When we learn about being ‘right and exact’, Specificity is what ‘exact’ means.

4. Set a projected time/date for your goals. Setting a time/date creates a sense of urgency, responsibility, and accountability to meet your goals. If you don’t meet your time/date then set another one. Without setting a time/date then we are saying that our goals are not really a priority (important). Why? Because under these circumstances they can happen any time and any day; that is not resolute. If you don't have a time/date, you are creating the possibility that there will never be a time/date. Keep in mind that “one day” or “someday” are not days on a calendar. This is especially important for those Five Percenters who still have not knowledged 120. Apply yourself and make a serious commitment to getting your degrees on cap. Set a reasonable time/date when you want to be complete and don’t procrastinate. We need you, especially our youth!

5. Write down your ideas. I have known people who had challenges with organizing their day, appropriating their time, and focusing on achieving their goals. One of the solutions I shared with them was writing down their goals on index cards or signs and posting them in visible places around their home. Not necessarily for everyone to see, it is for you to see! This helped reinforce and remind them of their goals so they would not allow themselves to get lost in the hustle & bustle of each day. Committing your ideas to paper is the understanding of knowledge and wisdom. How? Because it is outside evidence that allows you to physically see what you thought [knowledge] and spoke [wisdom] about. Understanding is often referred to as the child or the best part. This is one reason that Creatives often refer to their projects, such as their paintings, literature, or music as ‘their baby.’

6. Only share your ideas with those who have shown themselves to be supportive of you fulfilling them. If they are not there to help you, they are only going to hinder you. If they are not an asset, they are a liability. If they are not in your life to build, they will destroy. This also includes the nice folks with pleasant attitudes. Just because they have a happy disposition, it does not mean that they can automatically help. Again, our idea is likened to a baby and a baby must be nurtured, respected, loved, protected, and educated. That baby must build its immunity to repel the bacteria and viruses that could compromise its health, growth, and development. It is unwise to let any and everybody touch your baby. It is equally unwise to expose your idea to any and everybody.

7. Look into networking with people/organizations that will help you fulfill your physical and mental health goals. That is why our social equality is important and the reason some keep us apart from their own social equality. Our network is a prime indicator of our net worth. Take care of yourself and connect with those who are invested in doing the same. There are no ideas when we don't have your health!

8. Speaking of health; strive to maintain a positive outlook! Some days it will be easy to maintain a level of positivity and other days you need fellowship with others who share the same goals and are just as resolute about achieving goals. This means investing the time to build with others and being present to learn as much as you can about the positive principles/values they are sharing with you. 

9. Your idea is not the end all be all. Some people live to have a wedding while others strive to be married in the mind, have a family, and etc.  While the wedding is a place, being married in the mind is a state. So although your ideas may help you arrive at a place, the ultimate goal should be to achieve a state of existence. And this state of existence should set the stage to help you achieve even higher and greater goals! It is all about constant growth and elevation, not stagnation. Life is constantly changing and evolving and so should the living.

PLUS DEGREES: 

"Be a shark, not a peacock" as one of my homegirls would say. When a peacock walks into a room with its feathers fanned out everyone can see it. It is not necessary to be showy and strive to get attention. You also attract predators that way. Sharks move in silence and by the time you see their dorsal fin it is too late. In many cases staying below the radar and not revealing what you're doing until it's actually done is a sure way to be successful in your undertaking. Be a fine mist that the naked eye can hardly detect. When we talk a lot we are also subject to the expectations of others which are usually unrealistic. If you tell people you are writing a book and you know that you don't even have a manuscript yet, people may assume you are going to be publishing a three-hundred-page book next week and expect it. Now when you obviously don't deliver, people begin to look at you like the boy/girl who cried wolf. Always remember that light travels 186,000 miles per second and sound only travels 1,200 feet per second. People will see what you are doing before they can hear what you are saying so your reputation precedes you. So talk less in 2023 and let your work speak for you.

*Just say “NO.” Sometimes we put too much on our plate because we don't know how to tell people “NO” and we feel guilty about it when we do. Here's the thing: if you don't have the time, you don't have to agree to do it. Let time be the reason that you cannot commit to something. It is unreasonable for someone to expect you to create more than twenty-four hours in a day. Just. Say. NO.

   In closing, I will that every one of you and your families have a positive and productive 2023 and that is adds more beauty to our families, community, and environment.

Peace,

Saladin 

Saladin Allah Appears in United Nations World Campaign

November 30th to December 2nd, 2021 I had an opportunity to film a video feature with the United Nations Department of Global Communications as a contributor of their #FightRacism Campaign. This Campaign is in conjunction with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on March 25th, 2022. The #FightRacism Campaign marks the 20th-anniversary celebration of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA). The Durban Declaration was a document adopted by consensus at the 2001 World Conference against Racism (WCAR) in Durban, South Africa. This document proposes concrete measures to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance globally.

On August 9th, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution establishing a Permanent Forum of People of African Descent to provide expert advice on addressing the challenges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and intolerance. The resolution adopted by consensus by the 193-member world body also called for the forum to serve as “a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent” and their full inclusion in the societies where they live.

     In regards to this video feature the United Nations states:

 "Our lead character is educator, author and human rights advocate Saladin Allah, a descendent of Underground Railroad forerunner Josiah Henson, whose life was the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. As a visitor experience specialist at the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, Saladin is an expert storyteller who takes us on an unforgettable journey through African American history and reminds us that we all play a role in shaping the next generation. Only through education and historical truth-telling can we achieve recognition of past wrongdoing, and work toward a more just world."

Peace,

Saladin

WATCH HERE: United Nations Panel Discussion on "Resistance"

     On July 29th I participated in an online panel discussion hosted by the United Nations Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery. This panel highlighted the Samuel L. Jackson award-winning Enslaved docuseries that I appear in; Episode 5 "Resistance." 

     Every year on 25 March, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade offers the opportunity to honor and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. The International Day also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today. As a part of this year's National Day of Remembrance, the United Nations Remember Slavery Programme consisted of a series of panel discussions and episode screenings of Enslaved. 

     I am thankful for this opportunity and you can view our Enslaved Episode 5 "Resistance" panel discussion at the link below.

UNITED NATIONS PANEL DISCUSSION