Nurah Speaks

American broadcasters and political pundits employ fear and anxiety concerning national and world affairs to persuade the Black community's political leanings and economic actions.It’d be better to compel us to unite our talents and knowledge towards the common needs in our local communities.  It’d be better to acknowledge the urgency of unity as a necessary component to address these collective interests.  Our unity and will to achieve, not our votes, are the greatest resources we have.Imploring political and governmental leaders before we solicit our own efforts is misleading guidance.  We do not need to panic in the wake of national or global turmoil if we have prepared our community.  And there is still time for us to redirect our energy towards a civic engagement that starts with what we do at home in rearing our children and keeping our communities safe and clean.  If you would like to engage with the podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more by

This week’s episode of Nurah Speaks is a Special Tribute Rewind in honor of Munir Muhammad, whose birthday we celebrated March 27th. Brother Munir was the business manager and co-founder of CROE (Coalition for the Remembrance of Elijah Muhammad). He was also known as the chief archivist and historian of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam.This interview was recorded on December 9, 2017 in Camden, New Jersey during a film showing of the movie ‘The Nation’, written and directed by Junie Smith.In this interview Brother Munir explains:•how the Honorable Elijah Muhammad impacted him personally•why time dictated the establishment of CROE•why the Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Nation of Islam are misunderstood by manyI feel it is important to note the significant impact of the work of Brother Munir. He was a man who single handedly performed the work of many men. He was an archivist, a journalist, an investigative reporter, a facilitator, a radio host, a television host, a leading media figure

Harriett A. Washington is featured this episode for her incredible work in cataloguing historical and present day medical abuses experienced by Black patients within the medical industry.  Her research provides the stark reality of how practically racial biases are applied everyday in medical offices, hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. Often Black patients’ suspicion of doctors is dismissed as hyper paranoia related to the Tuskegee Study.  Such disregard suggests the Tuskegee was a one-off atrocity.   Harriet Washington’s research exposes the reality of the exploitation, abuses, under treatment, over treatment and savage treatment by doctors against Black people from the antebellum to the present.In other words, Harriet’s work is confirmation of the sentiments many Black people have concerning the medical industry as less myth than hyper vigilance against true and real medical perversions experienced throughout American history.This episode highlights three of her books:  1.  Medical Apartheid: The Dark Histo

This episode celebrates the conviction of Zora Neale Hurston in holding to her principles in spite of pressure from both the literary world and leaders within the Harlem Renaissance to write in a fashion that was both palatable and expressive of the black grief and pain of American racism.Though Zora acknowledged that Black Americans experienced hardships associated with prejudice, she did not believe it was the predominant experience that should be expressed in literature.  For Zora, Black people were joy and beauty, intelligence and love and in no great measure were we robbed of presence and prestige because of the divisions of segregation.  Therefore, her writings in the 1920’s and 30’s were a deviation from the harsher realities portrayed by other authors such as Richard Wright.  Additionally, as an anthropologist, Zora held to the dialect and vernacular of the subjects she interviewed despite urgings to make the text ‘tidier’ for the reader.  Rather, Zora chronicled the accounts of her subjects unchanged

On the morning of April 12, 2015 Freddie Gray was taken into custody by Baltimore Police officers.  With his hands cuffed behind his back and feet in shackles, he was put in the back of the vehicle and transported without being secured with a safety belt.During transport, Freddie sustained a fractured neck with 80% of his spine was severed. Several days later he went into a coma and on April 19, 2015 Freddie was dead.  Marilyn Mosby was only five months into her first term as Baltimore State’s Attorney, the city’s chief prosecutor.On May 1, 2015 she charged the six police officers involved in Freddie’s death, one of the first cases nationally holding police accountable for the death of a black man while in custody.This decision had its consequences.  Hate mail and death threats ensued forcing Marilyn to defend the decision to charge officers. "For those who believe I am anti-police, it's simply not the case. I am anti police brutality.”  Marilyn Mosby made an unpopular and highly controversial choice

On February 1, 1951 Henrietta Lacks walked into John’s Hopkins Hospital with a complaint of vaginal bleeding and a painful lump.  When tissue samples were collected and examined, they became the marvel that changed medicine forever.Henrietta’s ‘Immortal’ cells were retrieved without her consent or knowledge and scientists were in awe at their unusual ability to survive and grow unlike other cells that, after a few cell divisions, would die.  Unfortunately, Henrietta received a diagnosis of incurable metastatic cervical cancer and she passed away shortly after.   Her cells, however, were the foundation for scientific innovation with pharmaceutical companies patenting novel means of utilizing her cells and reaping huge profits as a result.Henrietta’s family was kept in the dark for decades, only to be mislead and deceived by researchers seeking to study their genetic material under the guise of monitoring for hereditary disease.  They have been seeking justice for many years with recent undisclosed settlements

In this concluding Black History Month Episode, I provide an abbreviated sketch of the great history of the Nation of Islam under the leadership of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad with present day work happening in Camden, New Jersey.Huey P. Newton, Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson Sr….we have heard mention of these incredible men and their contribution towards equity and justice for the Black man and woman in America.  But we learn very little, if anything at all, about the Nation of Islam (founded in 1930) and how the revolutionary ideology of ‘Self Love’ and ‘Do For Self’ influenced their efforts, inspired the Black Community and impacted national and international leaders alike.The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam, was described by Reader’s Digest as the ‘Most powerful Black man in America’ and we have not seen any modern economist, sociologist, educator or psychologist impact Black people the way he did.Beca

Mississippi Appendectomy refers to the involuntary and forced sterilization of Black Women in the southern United States from the 1920’s through the 1980’s.  This procedure was bolstered by the practice of Eugenics whereby scientists and political leaders enacted state control through sterilization laws to govern the population growth of Black people not unlike that which occurred on the slave plantations.  The notion that reproduction was restricted to candidates deemed fit and black women were only 12% of the population yet 64% of those sterilized demonstrates the states’ antipathy of Black proliferation.The celebrated feminist and women’s rights activist Margaret Sanger was a prominent eugenicist and proponent of arresting the growth of the Black population.  As an advocate of birth control, especially for Black women, her intentions towards Blacks have been described as genocidal.In 1964, during her testimony at the Democratic National Convention, Fannie Lou Hamer detailed her experience of being forcibly

The Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of many Blacks towards the Covid-19 vaccine was a stark reminder of this nation’s historical mistreatment of Black patients and their resulting distrust in the medical industry.The Tuskegee Experiment, also called the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, is the most commonly known medical malpractice of physicians towards a vulnerable Black population in the U.S. This research was conducted 1932 to 1972 by the U.S. Public Health Service in which Black men already, infected with syphilis, were diagnosed as having ‘bad blood’. And rather than providing them the proven and effective treatment of syphilis, doctors duped these patients by instead engaging in a four decades long study in which they observed the ravages of the disease on their bodies and health. As horrific as this study was, it was by far not the most gruesome and barbaric of malpractice. In March 1945, a Black truck driver, Ebb Cade was severely injured in an accident with what was believed to be life threatening in

Black History Month derived from Carter G. Woodson, a journalist and historian, who established Negro History Week in 1926. Negro History Week was created, in part, to develop pride amongst Black Americans for their heritage and contributions to this nation. In February 1976 President Gerald R. Ford became the first president to issue a Presidential message urging the nation to recognize Black History Month.As we embark in this month long observance, let us examine the history of our people in this nation critically and soberly. We must be mindful that all history is relevant although not all history is pleasing. And during this month of reflection, let us consider how the events of yesterday can help us prepare a successful tomorrow so our observance this month is not in vain.If you would like to engage with the podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more by visiting NurahSpeaks.com.You can follow Nurah Speaks on X, Instagram and Facebook @NurahSpeaks and

This episode of Nurah Speaks is a deeply personal reflection on love, loss and what I've learned from grief.In Episode 260, “Losing Ellen,” I chronicle the story of losing my grandmother, Ellen, and walk listeners through my experience before and after her passing along with what grief has revealed to me along the way.Losing my grandmother was an excruciating loss—filled with agony and heartbreak—but also with moments of profound love and deep gratitude. Those who have accompanied a loved one through their final days understand this painful irony: the trauma of loss co-occurring with all the beautiful, tender and loving moments just before.On Nurah Speaks, we do not shy away from life's hard but important truths. Death can arrive in a single moment or it can unfold slowly through a series of moments of months or even years. How we manage death— the acceptance of it as a normal part of life—can help us survive the very, very lows while honoring the love that remains.This episode is for anyone navigatin

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Episode 259 features an excerpt of Dr. King’s Sermon ‘Unfulfilled Dreams’.  While Dr. King is most commonly known as a leader within the Civil Rights Movement, it is important to remember that Dr. King was a pastor and concerned with the moral fiber of his people.  In ‘Unfulfilled Dreams’ King speaks on the substance of our hearts, our character and inclination to good, though our goals are unattained.   And while we are often judged and unjustly criticized in our effort to establish  truth and justice, the desire for good in our heart is a virtue and blessing. If you would like to engage with the podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more by visiting NurahSpeaks.com.You can follow Nurah Speaks on X, Instagram and Facebook @NurahSpeaks and subscribe to the channel on YouTube.Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

In this episode, I reflect on my experience running for elected office and share key lessons learned from the journey. While the outcome wasn’t a win at the ballot box, the experience reinforced that the work of service never stops.Before running for office, there are important questions that must be clearly defined and questions I confronted prior to running:Why – Why are you running, and what qualifies you to serve?I was already serving my community, and elected office offered a way to broaden my impact. I ran to serve—not for a title or personal gain.Who – Who will support you, challenge you and vote for you?I was supported by a small, committed team that stayed focused on purpose rather than political negativity. Strategic relationships built during the campaign strengthened both the effort and our community.How – How will you run and represent yourself?Introducing myself to voters required sharing my story—beginning with my grandmother, whose example of service shaped my foundation. I chose to run a posi

Well, I am elated to be back at the microphone hosting Nurah Speaks.  I know it has been a while so I take this episode ‘Back From Loss’ to catch everyone up with the events of the past several months and what is new with the podcast.I want to thank everyone who has continued to support me and this project.  Welcome to Episode 257!If you would like to engage with the podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more by visiting NurahSpeaks.com.You can follow Nurah Speaks on X, Instagram and Facebook @NurahSpeaks and subscribe to the channel on YouTube.Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

I am elated to be back at the microphone hosting Nurah Speaks.  I know it has been a while so I take this episode ‘Back From Loss’ to catch everyone up with the events of the past several months and what is new with the podcast.I want to thank everyone who has continued to support me and this project.  Welcome to Episode 257!If you would like to engage with the podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more by visiting NurahSpeaks.com.You can follow Nurah Speaks on X, Instagram and Facebook @NurahSpeaks and subscribe to the channel on YouTube.Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Black History Month 2025 comes at a time in this nation wherein we need love amongst ourselves more now than ever.  But we must advance the notion of Black Love beyond affection and recognize that love is a verb.  Love is doing good and bringing no harm.  Love is elevating each other, teaching and encouraging and even correcting each other.  Black Love is more than a slogan or rhetoric on tees and hoodies.  It is more than hashtags and raised fists.  It is the activity we do in service of our people that promotes a future with promise.If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions or topic suggestions to info@NurahSpeaks.com.  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website:  NurahSpeaks.com.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!

This episode revisits a discussion about neutrality and our tendency to be noncommittal despite real challenges impacting our communities. We cannot be on the fence forever being neither this nor that, never having made a commitment or obligating ourselves to one direction or another.  Indecisiveness is obstructive to our personal development.  It is time now to be accountable and this comes with settling down to a good choice and solidifying ourselves with other like minded individuals engaged in the good work of creating change.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.comRemember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

After the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States, it seems that every liberal leaning media outlet is sounding an alarm of fear and terror with what has occurred and what is to come in the current presidential administration. However I propose that the panic, fear and terror for what is to come for us is long overdue.  We have already been existing with certain vulnerabilities in ways that other groups have not.   And what this podcast and other media sources like CROE TV and Muhammad Speaks Radio has been doing for years is helping us understand what these vulnerabilities are that the black community face and what we can and should be doing about them. It is not necessary that we wait for the government to secure a future for us-because as we see, depending upon whose ideology is in power, we are simply in an insecure, unstable and frankly unsure condition. And while our eyes and ears are summoned to the White House, we can overlook what is in front of our faces locally, whether that is publ

At various points in our lives we are confronted with the decision to choose the exhausting path for truth and justice or the easy path of agreement and compromise.  It is at those times we should reflect on what our choices will declare about our character.   In revisiting Dr. King’s ‘But If Not’ sermon featured in the last episode, I am encouraged on my own path for truth and justice, no matter the inconvenience or costs.  We should all be willing to stand for truth because, as in the example King cited, we have the biblical illustration of the three thrown into the fiery furnace and what came from holding true to their convictions.   Because they - in the face of their own tormenting death - remained unwavering, not only were they unharmed but enjoyed in such time the presence of the Lord.  This account serves as a caution and guide to each of us in such times of decision. Truth is not alway convenient and compromise is not always righteous.  Yet our principles must be incorruptible, believing that the

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a poignant example of a man standing on faith and principles, regardless of the risks, discomfort and persecution. In his work of pressing the United States government for civil rights of the nation’s ex-slaves and in his anti-war stance on Vietnam, he made an enemy of the FBI and the U.S. President. Even his companions in the Civil Rights Movement deserted him.  He was a man standing on principle, refusing to sit in spite of threats and public disgrace because he believed he had truth and justice on his side.  Questions that his example compel us to ask ourselves: What will we stand for? Will we remain standing in the face of criticism and threat?  What is the cost to our souls, consciousness and freedom if we do not? The excerpts in this episode is from Dr. King’s speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church November 5, 1967 titled, ‘But If Not’. If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions or topic suggestions to ⁠info@NurahSpeaks.com⁠.  List