The call-and-response ritual that Sultan Muhammad and nine youths spoke into the universe last Wednesday in North St. Louis is 360 degrees from the gang signs he used to throw up as a head member of the 4 1 Crips.
“Uhuru!” called Muhammad, the former gang member who now uses his O.G. status to attract at-risk youths and repel them from gang membership.
“Freedom!” responded the youth.
The youth are members of Muhammad’s Real Talk, Inc. gang abatement program, which celebrated its one-year anniversary last Wednesday at Hagar’s Coffeehouse, at Union and Wabada avenues.
They completed the ritual, with Muhammad yelling, “Sa-Sa!” and the youths responding, “Now!”
“Freedom now!” from gangs is what the youngsters claim – instead of a gang set.
“This program is good for people my age, because it helps us to become more positive and productive members in society,” said 12-year-old Jerma Perkins.
“People that are gang members are domestic terrorists, and that only leads to three things: jails, institutions and death. When you are in a gang – you only hurt yourself and your environment.”
Muhammad applies the Swahili words Uhuru (meaning freedom) and Sa-Sa (meaning now) to resurrect the cry of the Civil Rights Movement, “Freedom Now!”
“I’m following the legacy of mentors past, present and future,” said Muhammad, founder and CEO of Real Talk, Inc., a comprehensive gang violence preventive education program.
“We don’t pick one ancestor over the other; any good they did, we follow,” Muhammad said.
Muhammad points to his past horrific experiences to explain his turnaround. Every month, he said, he knew of someone murdered or handed down a life sentence.
He spent seven years of his own life – ages 17 to 24 – behind bars. During Wednesday’s celebration, Muhammad invited two friends, former members of the West Side Mob, a notorious St. Louis gang, active long before Crips and Bloods claimed the Midwest.
The two men came in suited and booted, looking more like deacons and preachers than former gang members who spent 23 years in prison.
Real examples like them, and real talk, is Muhammad’s way.
“It feels weird, because he’s been there and done that and we know he isn’t telling us anything he hasn’t experienced,” said Jerma Perkins.
“So we believe him.”
“The only way they can relate is having someone there who has lived it and can make it clear so they can emotionally and psychologically feel it,” Muhammad said.
“Many of them have displaced aggression and they feel that something is wrong with the system of things, but they can’t pinpoint it and they get frustrated, vandalizing and doing drive-bys, which speaks to their self-hate because they take it out on someone who looks like them,” he said.
Beyond prevention, Muhammad teaches the young members in the areas of substance abuse, social science, morality, leadership, responsibility, academics and economics.
“I want them to have everything we lacked coming up and compensate their sense of belonging, so they can have adults that can say, ‘Do as I do’ instead of, ‘Do as I say,’” Muhammad said.
The Real Talk, Inc. leader is currently pursuing his associate’s degree in psychology at St. Louis Community College at in Forest Park so he may more effectively educate and reform the minds of at-risk youths.
He spreads his words and work through motivational and informative lectures, workshops, keynote addresses and in an audio book, Gang Psychology.
Muhammad constantly works with schools, churches and community and juvenile centers throughout Missouri and Illinois.
SIDEBAR
Real Talk, Inc, Youth Pledge
I pledge to exercise the power of Resilience to overcome the traps and pitfalls of life growing up in the ‘hood.
Educate myself with the proper knowledge I need to avoid falling prey to perilous streets gangs.
Take necessary Action I must move forward ever and backwards never.
Be a responsible member of my community and qualify myself for future Leadership positions awaiting me.
Triumph in my goal to restore unity, peace and economic prosperity in my community.
Ambitious in my efforts to increase the peace in my word, act, and deed.
Follow the Legacy of Real Talk, Inc. gang violence prevention program mentors and leaders, past, present and future.
Seek Knowledge from the cradle to the grave, because knowledge is power.
