Nurah Speaks

“Let every Leader be Swift to hear, Slow to speak.”   Our community needs our leaders to be wise and guided by truth and not their (or others’) emotions.  When the People want our immediate reactions, Leaders must always be discerning and responsible-swift to hear and slow to speak. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website:  NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Organizing is incremental and organizing with any group of people has its challenges.  However organizing Black people has its very specific and unique challenges due in large part to the trauma of the Black American experience. If we do not understand the psychology of our people, we are easily frustrated, overly critical and very quickly burned out.  If one is not willing to lead with love, one cannot lead Black people. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

There is so much we can do to make our communities great and decent places to live. BUT decent communities do not only require accountability of the mayor or city council.   It also requires that we be good neighbors to each other! If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com. Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

EVERYONE COUNTS! Every 10 years the U.S. Census Bureau counts the population in the United States and five U.S. territories. The results of this count will impact school breakfast programs, highway planning, special education grants, low income home energy assistance programs, SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program), Head Start and so much more. You Count. Complete and return your census questionnaire so that federal funds, YOUR TAX DOLLARS, can serve the community where you live. You won’t get another chance for 10 years! To learn more about the 2020 Census and what it means to you, listen to Episode 128 of the Nurah Speaks Podcast. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your

This is not an “either or” scenario.  We can and must address community violence and police brutality at the same time as both are issues of great importance. We should not be persuaded that we have to quiet down about police brutality because we have an ongoing issue with so-called 'Black on Black' crime.  The presence of one issue does not disqualify us addressing the severity of the other. Let’s also be careful with the alarmist narrative about community violence as if Black people are the only ones killing their own kind.  Violence is generally committed against someone by someone of the same racial class. For example, in 2018 of 3,315 white murder victims, 2,677 white perpetrators were identified, roughly 81%.  In the same year, of 2,925 Black murder victims, 2,6000 perpetrators were black, roughly 89%.  https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2018/crime-in-the-u.s.-2018/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-6.xls. This does not mean that we give our own community violence a pass-

In the rise of entrepreneurship within the Black community, we have neglected the most important businesses that makes communities successful. •Family •Education •Remembrance of God (Church, Mosque, Temple) We cannot be about the business of business while neglecting that which anchors our community most. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Our language and choice of words matters a great deal when discussing the history of this nation.   This week’s episode is an examination of common language usage and how our words influence that on which we focus. Episode 125 gives the listener a grammar lesson reminiscent of that which we received in elementary school.  For example:  “Teachers teach.” Here you are presented with a subject and verb.  In this sentence, teachers are the actors. “Teachers teach students.” This example shows us the object of the teacher’ actions.  The object in this sentence is ‘students’.  The students are being acted upon by the teachers. Often in review of American history, specifically that deemed “Black History,” we are presented with something like the following: “Blacks were enslaved.”  “Blacks were lynched.” “Blacks were killed.” The subject in each of the sentences is “Blacks.” The sentences informs us that Blacks had something occur to them.  But, the picture is inco

They removed the statues.  They’ve rename the streets. Even NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “Black Lives Matter.” So now what? How do these symbolic gestures measure up in the absence of broad reaching meaningful change? Do not count your chickens before they hatch Brothers and Sisters! And do not make more of these gestures than the real consequential changes that must be made. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

It is no secret that Black fathers and Black men, in general, are undervalued and unappreciated in this country.  Because of that, and in celebration of Father's Day, I am sharing excerpts from previous interviews with Haidar and Qahhar Muhammad, my own sons.   In this episode, not only do they share lessons they've learned from their father, but also the value that fathers play in the lives of their children. Despite media promoting single parenting in the Black community, the souls of our children are crying for the stability that families create.  Our children need fathers or key male figures in the absence of their fathers. We are imbalanced without them. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram. To bring

We have their attention, now what? What are we asking for? Whatever the ask, our demands should be Actionable, Measurable and Permanent. We have been assuaged for too long with sentiments and empty platitudes that do not create substantive change. This go round we should be smarter and more sophisticated. We must no longer accept temporary measures when what is needed most is indelible and fundamental reform.  If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@NurahSpeaks.com Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Dissatisfaction produces change. The greater the dissatisfaction, the greater the change. The people have spoken and they are dissatisfied with the unjust killing of Black people by law enforcement.  George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, John Crawford, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Atatiana Jefferson are among those who have been killed during interactions with police. This tragic list unfortunately goes on to include many, many more. As demonstrators have taken their protests downtown, there are many commentators who are unhappy with the nature of the demonstrations. Among the mostly peaceful protests has been looting, arson, vandalism and property destruction. It is important to note that there has been organized right wing and left wing militants responsible for property damage, fires and much of the chaos. Oddly placed pallets of bricks were spotted in many cities in non-construction or non-work zones. There has also been coordinated groups breaking store front glass a

In many ways, I don't need to record another podcast episode to talk about what's happened in Minneapolis.  You can go to the Nurah Speaks archives.  The last episode, ‘Action Is The Defining Measure Of Revolution’ talks about what's happened to our brother and to too many other brothers and too many sisters and too many families and communities across this nation. We need guidance, we need leadership.  And as someone who has this platform, I know that it is my responsibility to be dignified, civilized and truthful.  I also know that the truth will sting some and inform all. And that is the purpose of this message- to deliver the truth, to share information that is not going to just inspire us to feel good-but that's going to inspire us to take action. We cannot keep wait for others to stand up and to speak the loudest on issues that affect us the most. We have to give the energy and effort that is going to equal the change that we say that we want and that we need. If you would like

Revolutions are defined by the actions we take to produce radical change. In 2020, the Black community is still petitioning for justice, fairness and equity within a country founded on unimaginable crimes committed against humanity. We have marched; we have sat in, we have stood, we have sang, we have boycotted and we have been ignored. In spite of our efforts we remain outside of the gates of justice.  Our mistake has been putting the burden of change on the patron of our pain.  The burden to change is our own. This includes extreme adjustments in our behaviors and performance as a people. If all we want is to talk about the problem of injustice, we can continue to demonstrate. But if we truly want a revolution, our actions must be commensurate to the changes we want to generate for our people. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeak

Not all are celebrating Mother’s Day in the same way. Some are celebrating without their mothers and some mothers are celebrating without their children. In honor of this Mother’s Day, I want to share an interview with a mother who I admire greatly, Sonja Prince. Sonja is the Executive Director of the Kwesi Prince Foundation, a pediatric cancer organization dedicated to providing support to families suffering the devastating effects of Childhood Cancer with a focus on brain tumors. The foundation is named in honor of Kwesi Prince, Sonja’s son, who was diagnosed with a rare malignant brain tumor in 2010 when he was just 7 years old. After multiple brain surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant, Sonja lost Kwesi in 2014. Listen as Sonja shares their journey and the amazing work of the Kwesi Prince Foundation. This conversation with Sonja is informative and listeners will learn: -how friends and family can support caregivers of children with cancer -the extreme need for increased fundi

Leadership can be more pain than glory and few truly appreciate the demands of a good leader.  Anyone seeking to be in leadership (or those already leading) should ask themselves the following important questions: Who - Who are you- Who do you want to lead-Who has lead you-Who is leading you now? What - What are your qualifications that validates your desire for leadership? Where - What is your ultimate destination for those whom you wish to lead?  What is your end-goal? When - Will you serve only when it’s convenient?  Are you a 9-5 leader?  Or will you serve when it is not easy or convenient, when the cameras are not rolling, when the crowd is not large, when your allies are not present? Why - What is your why and motivation? Are you leading for clout, ego, vanity or personal access?  Can your 'why' make you vulnerable? How - How will you lead? What is your leadership style? How Much- How much are you willing to give and how much are you willing to endure? If you would like to engag

Liberal media using Donald Trump as the scapegoat for American racism is a distraction. Sure, his language may be deemed incendiary to some and insensitive to others. However, we have to be clear that he is not the author of bigotry or prejudicial behavior in this country. There is a four decades long track record of racism in the American fabric that existed well before Trump’s business endeavors or presidency. We can easily become distracted when pundits, cable news anchors or commentators scream “Racism” each time Trump says or tweets something outrageous. Before major news outlets were following his tweets, we, Black people in America, faced racism in the housing markets, in education, in healthcare, in the criminal justice system, and so on. If our attention is diverted from breaking down inequities in these structures each time someone screams about Trump, what progress would we make? Here is an example… I read an article recently which recounted racist slurs and insults directed towards an American fen

Recently, Dr. Terry Mason, former Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Chicago, was a guest on CROE-TV discussing how we can stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic.  He shared four key steps that should implemented for good health during our current crises and at any time: 1.   Manage Stress When our stress is high, our the stress hormone cortisol is released into the blood stream.  Cortisol increases our heart rate, blood pressure, constricts our blood vessels and increases blood glucose levels. These health impacts over an extended period of time can lead to significant health issues like heart disease, heart attacks, stroke and diabetes. 2.  Get Proper Sleep Poor sleep can increase inflammation, blood pressure, insulin resistance, cortisol, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease, as well as decrease blood sugar regulation. Less than five hours sleep per night on a regular basis is associated with higher mortality, and having less than seven hours sleep for three

Fasting has such great benefits for our health. But it contradicts with our American culture that promotes an overindulgent lifestyle wherein we are encouraged to do, say and be whatever we want. However, as we are confronted now more than ever with our mortality in the wake of COVID19, we really have to examine our thoughts and habits around food-and the impacts on our health. Fasting is the foregoing of food for a specified period of time and it has several benefits including: •cleanses impurities from the blood •causes the body to eliminate toxins from previous meals •allows the body to rest •clears the mind •regulates the mood, promotes a humble spirit If you are challenged with high blood pressure and high blood sugar consider changing your eating habits. Three, four, six times a day to eat puts a lot of tax and strain on the digestive system. I encourage you to research the benefits of fasting for yourself.  If you want to try fasting, I would encourage you to begin eliminating meals.  For exa

We know about the disparities in healthcare. We know of the inequities in access and treatment. Therefore, the best choices we have are to create optimal wellness through good lifestyle choices and begin development of a healthcare network of our own. Though some may say that developing our own healthcare system is a long ways away, good choices are ours to make today. If there is anything that the COVID-19 pandemic is showing us is that in a national emergency we will continue to suffer the most and suffer the worst. What will we do differently so that when the next crises comes, we will be a much less vulnerable population? If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link. Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email info@Nur

Let’s create a lifestyle for ourselves that supports good physical and financial health.  This way, if we live in a state of readiness, we will be better prepared when life’s next disaster strikes. Healthwise- Don’t smoke, drink and abuse drugs. Eat nutritiously. Practice fasting. Get plenty of exercise, at least 20 minutes daily. Financially- Create a rainy day fund and stash it in a high interest savings account.  Set up recurring deposits. Consider what you wish you had now. Greater savings?  Self employment?  Home based business?  Better health.  Survival kit?  Write it down and in this moment of forced stillness, consider what you can begin to do to make this your reality. In the episode, I share briefly how my lifestyle of 20 plus years has helped me to be prepared for straiter times as a tenuous food supply and economic instability.  The links below can explain more on the benefits of navy beans and eating one meal a day as is customary in my culture and religion