Project Islamic H.O.P.E, is a 501 C3 Non-profit national civil rights organization that works collectively with other ethnic and religious groups to stand on the frontlines in the war against poverty, hunger and social injustice. The H.O.P.E. is an acronym that stands for Helping Oppressed People Everywhere. Most people have heard of Project Hope because of their controversial and outspoken Founder and Co-Director Najee Ali.
Ali is a former convict and ex-Crip gang member from South Central L.A. Ali changed his life around in prison after becoming a Muslim. He was inspired to start Project Hope after watching the news and hearing that NBA star, Latrell Sprewell had choked his coach, PJ Carlesiimo. Ali didn't think that the NBA handed out a stiff enough penalty and this confirmed his belief that stars get special treatment in this society. http://www.projectislamichope.org/NewsClips.asp
Fast forward 6 years to today and the Men's support Group; Civil Rights Advocacy organization has chapters in Georgia and Chicago. http://www.projectislamichope.org
An interview with Najee Ali. From gangbanging to civil rights.
Banter: Thanks for taking the time out of your schedule of activism to talk with us. This interview is going to be very eclectic because you are a complex personality. By the way please correct us if we state something incorrectly.
Outside of California most people know of you because they hear about your protest of popular personalities that have done something your organization considers harmful to the communities moral fabric but inside of California you are known because of your work with gang members. This past year L.A. has seen a lot of gang homicides again. Many of us want to know what happened to the truce?
Ali: Well, Some gangs never signed the gang truce and then some situations got escalated when older gang members came home from jail. They came home wanting their respect and positions in the hood. This caused conflict between younger members and older members but its something we are working on.
Banter: Ten years ago, I did some research on gangs and read a scary autobiography by an infamous Ex-Crip Gang Member, named Sanyika Shakur (formerly Kody Scott), who used to be called "Monster". The book was shockingly raw. He also turned his life around and was working to better the situation in the community .You ever work with him or Jim Brown?
Ali: (Laughter) Yes, yes those are some good guys, they are friends of mine and both are very effective trying to better the community.
Banter: Najee there have always been different types of activist, niche leaders although the areas a leader may be concerned with are vast. Usually they have a leadership affiliation Minister Louis Farrakhan is considered a religious leader; Jesse Jackson is considered a civil rights leader. You have religious, human rights and civil rights about your causes. What category do you consider yourself?
Ali: I consider myself a social and political activist leader, who is a hard worker and servant of God; I care about the human rights, dignity, and welfare of all people regardless of race or religion. I am an ex-convict and former south central gang member who converted to Islam in prison 10 years ago under the leadership of one of Americas greatest Islamic leaders Imam W.D. Mohammed, who became my father in law last year when I married his daughter NGina.
Banter: Do you use religion, in this case Islam, as a moral compass in deciding whom to go after?
Ali: The teachings of Islam and his guidance is what I follow in determining "a course of action" for Project Islamic hope.
Banter: Give our readers a list of the pop culture personalities or organizations that you have demonstrated against and why?
Ali: Over the years we have led successful protests and demonstrations against a number of groups and entertainers. We launched the first protest ever against the NAACP Image awards in 1999 for their continued inclusion of gangster rappers. We exposed the hypocrisy of the NAACP, How can you give Image awards to rappers who glorify drug use, gang violence, and misogynistic lyrics towards women? We successfully helped remove Snoop Dogg from the Muppets TV special and his radio show in was L.A was canceled after his involvement and participation in porno movies. We weren't hating on Snoop but as a religious, social and political activist it’s my job to speak out and be the moral balance that society needs. We also went after J-lo for her use of the N-word in the song "I'm Real” We don't support any artist that uses the N-word, Eddie Murphy and the PJ's animation series which poked fun at peoples misery and suffering in the projects and had numerous jokes about crack cocaine and alcohol was also a target for us.
Banter: In addition to Snoop, more recently your organization stepped to Russell Simmons you called for a boycott against Phat Farm, Baby Phat clothing, Def Jam, Def Poetry Jam and ONEWORLD magazine .Your press release said “Rapper Lil Kim, posed half nude in identifiably Islamic attire on the Dec./Jan. cover of ONEWORLD magazine. This act was very offensive to both the women and men of the Muslim community, internationally. Despite numerous requests, Simmons continues to be unapologetic about his support of Lil Kim's mockery of the prescribed Islamic dress code for women on the cover of his magazine.”
Ali: Russell Simmons in my opinion is in a position to do so much good, but we had to step to him and Lil Kim and voice our displeasure over the way she mocked Islam and Muslim women by appearing half nude in Islamic attire, on the cover of a magazine Russell owns as a black man who has political aspirations he needs to show more maturity and leadership and should not exploited or allowed Lil Kim to keep exploiting herself.
Banter: One of the most outspoken members of our Playahata community is a college professor known as Mad Professor from South Carolina; he is a big supporter of Project hope but took exception to a part of your press release. One section read, "It is unnecessary for Muslims to boycott Lil Kim, as we don't listen to her music or support her pornographic images anyhow." He replied "Give me a break! With all of the Islamic rap fans out there, I'm sure that there are those who do. ..”. Ali, is your position that no Muslims listen or purchase Lil Kim?
Ali: The Muslim community is not monolithic, I am sure there is a small minority that may listen to her, but she cant sing to save her life. That's why she resorts to dressing like a slut to gain attention, the Muslims that listen to her are reminiscent of the same young people who had to sneak in the basement to play there Richard Pryor albums, they didn't want there peers to know they listened.
Banter: [On the magazine cover situation], Morpheus said something that stood out. I wanted you to respond to this. He said, “I understand the Project Hope's complaint with elements of religious and cultural relevance. Of course, I have the luxury of not being a Muslim nor do I have any attachment to Western Asian/Eastern world derived gender-based dress codes...so the sight of a half-naked woman in a veil doesn’t bother me one bit---though again, I understand why it might offend others. A point however to be made is, veils while closely associated with Islam (particularly elements concerning sharia law, etc) are not the sole domain of the Muslim world. They are really more accurately part of the Eastern world .You can find them in the non-Muslim Mediterranean (probably remnants of the early Christian world, which was Eastern) and India---where it is known in use with certain parts/forms of Hinduism. In fact its probably best to say the veil came first, then the religions...”.
Ali: What he said is true but it’s not just the image on the cover, which made us take notice of this foolishness and come after her. It was the comments on the inside of the magazine, which added flame to the fire. The cover alone would be a grey area. The Fuck Afghanistan remarks alongside the cover are what made us call for an apology. Her comments condemning a whole Muslim country. As for the dress code of Muslim women, well it’s not a cultural issue its covered in the Holy Koran.
Banter: Some people feel that Russell Simmons has not shown your organization the proper amount of respect. One might suspect that he respects personalities and not the religion itself. Or maybe that he respects the Nation of Islam’s brand of Islam and not the Orthodox form of Islam to which you and the larger Islamic community belong to. Most are aware of his highly publicized feud with Hip Hop Minister Conrad Muhammad who has formerly of the Nation Of Islam. Russell was really vicious with him. One might wonder if that would ever have happened if Conrad were still in the NOI. Ironically, I think Russell may really be stuck on images. There is a huge difference in the style and dress of NOI Muslims and Orthodox Muslims Islam. In orthodoxy the stereotypical image many Americans have is head wrap, camel, some sandals and a bearded man named Muhammad. This probably plays out in his thought process. I recall in 1991 when he was asked about realism in Hip-hop. He was also quoted as saying, "What's selling is Will Smith. What's selling is Lauryn Hill. I think that people ain't making the records. There's no normal people that looks like you, that are making the positive records. All you got is Common, Mos Def, Dead Prez, Talib Kweli. Everybody got a funny name or a headwrap or an incense. Where are the real ni%$#as making the true stories?..."
That to me suggest he has a conflict with images. Ironically, in 2002 Mos Def was hosting his Def Poetry venture. But my point is that Muslims wear head wraps and have names many Americans consider funny. Thus outside of his love for Minister Louis Farrakhan Do you detect that Russell Simmons may be anti-Islamic in terms of Orthodox Islam?
Ali: Russell Simmons I would have hoped would be more respectful but I do not think he is anti-Islamic. I was told that he was actually ready to apologize but Minister Benjamin Muhammad of NOI told him “not to worry about it”. It seems that Benjamin Muhammad got some bad advice, he is not educated enough on Islam. He has only been a Muslim for a short time. He just joined the other day.
Banter: I had been alerted to Russell’s Simmons attempt to apologize, recently and it was all based on what representatives of the NOI thought. If I recall Cedric Muhammad of Black Electorate.com interviewed him and asked about the apology and he [Simmons] said.“I don't know man, Ben saw it and didn't think nothing of it. I didn't even think about it. I didn't even think about Islam, nothing. And now that I know about it I feel really uncomfortable with the fact that I have offended all of these people. But there is nothing that I can do about that. If she wants to wrap a towel around her face and be naked then that is Little Kim. I bet you, it was a great cover. And I really wanted to respond to them in some way. My first response was, 'Oh my God write an apology!' I am sorry they are offended. That is the most my apology could have really been anyway. I didn't get a chance to respond. I was away and I got back and they said 'you should respond now, let's write an apology'. And I got half way through dictating it and I realized, yeah but, as much as I am apologizing I wouldn't have stopped it. So, it is not that helpful. Like, what am I going to do.. Minister Ben, down the hall who is a Muslim minister (NOI) told me that it is a cultural thing more than a religious thing.
Now I know you stated that it was a religious thing and the Palestinian Chronicle took him to task on that. They stated “Whatever Simmons and the One World staff intended with this photo is irrelevant, because for Muslims, both the 7 million in the United States and the 1.2 billion spread across the rest of the world, it is a clear and unambiguous jab at the religion of Islam. It is well known that practicing Muslim women adhere to a strict code of modesty; and regardless of what non-Muslims might think of those standards, they remain valid personal choices by Muslim women wishing to be observant. Even in Afghanistan, many Muslim women don the burqa as a matter of faith and conscious choice it seems that we are left with one of three things. (1)Russell doesn’t believe you or. (2)He doesn’t realize the difference between NOI beliefs/philosophy and Orthodox Islam.3. He understands both and simply feels Islam is suppressive to women cause he told Blackelectorate a few telling things.
Simmons stated, "Mother Khadijah (Minister Farrakhan's wife) don't wear that (a veil covering the face)!" Furthermore, he stated in a matter of fact fashion, "To make women wrap up in towels, I don't believe in that either. I think that is foul. She should wear whatever she wants and express whatever she wants and certainly from what I know about the Muslim faith - it is beautiful. You know, Farrakhan, out of all spiritual people, is...Probably one of the people that has most influenced me to do all of the positive work that I do today is the Minister and that movement has been my favorite, that I have seen, growing up, my whole life and my young life to my adult life too..."
Banter: I think that the events of September 11th have made this such a big issue, where so many Muslims groups have been paying attention to the Islamic image in America. Do the events of 9/11 make you more sensitive to what is going on in pop culture and put your organization more on the defensive?
Ali: The events of 9-11 were tragic, my group had done everything in our power to help make a positive difference by the correct portrayal of what Islam teaches. But we're never on the defensive. We lead by taking charge and being aggressive with our activism on various issues.
Banter: Did you support the boycott of Pepsi by Russell Simmons that erupted due to the Ozzy Osbourne and Ludacris situation? What was your feeling on the hole thing?
Ali: I did not pay any attention to the Pepsi boycott. The boycott did not achieve the respect that hip hop was due. We should not accept token concessions from corporations. It was just in essence a shakedown. But I am aware of the double standard that the Pepsi displayed in regards to hiring the Osborne family to represent their product.
Banter: What do you think of Bill O'Reilly of Fox5? He has co-signed on to the same issue as you on a number of occasions to my knowledge. You have been on his show before. What is the difference between you and he?
Ali: Bill O'Reilly and I have been on the same page a couple of times. He even had me on his show before. Because of my strict religious beliefs, and my habit of storming inside of city hall and police stations my friends call me the conservative militant, but my major difference with O'Reilly is he is a hip-hop outsider trying to make change. I am a hip hop insider. Change is easier from within, its like when all the ministers and C. Deloris Tucker were attacking rap, they were outsiders attacking a culture they were not a part of and had no understanding. of. That's the same thing O'Reilly is doing. When I attack something in the culture I'm doing it because I'm part of it. I grew up in it and feel its my right and obligation to help steer it back on course if I feel its off track. O’Reilly has a different agenda.
Banter: Many people outside of California hear of Project H.O.P.E. but have no idea of your organization's presence. How many members do you have and is it open to all faiths? Who makes the decisions on who to move on, is this basically your decision or are elders deciding?
Ali: Project Islamic H.O.P.E. is not a membership group, we have a board of directors. And chapters in LA, Chicago, and Savannah, GA. we are the civil rights component of the American Society of Muslims. this is the largest group of African American Muslims in America with over 2, million members who follow the leadership of my father in law Imam W.D. Mohammed, son of the Hon. Elijah Muhammed. Our acronym H.O.P.E stands for (Helping Oppressed People Everywhere) anyone can join our efforts to help society. The decisions are usually made by our board of directors once we get the green light I'm always out front as the spokesman and face of the issue since that's my expertise.
Banter: Can you tell us what type of
feedback, if any you have received
from the artist you protested against?
Ali: Not
much. Basically they have nothing to say. In my opinion,
they know they are wrong. Some of the most noted rappers who
inspired other gangster rappers are just fronting, for instance neither Ice Cube
or Dr. Dre were ever in a gang. They never lived their lyrics, so it has never
been a matter of keeping it real as they might claim.
I am from South Central in the same age bracket as they are and I know
their history.
Banter: Your website shows you pictured with numerous Hollywood celebrities and personalities. In general celebrities are very "apolitical" or non-political at least in public. Has your political activism stopped any celebrity types from wanting to be involved with you?
Ali: No, in fact most of them are very supportive of me
Banter: What about rappers in specific, who would you say has embraced you?
Ali: Chuck D
Interviewer Note: It should be noted that Russell Simmons was one of
the 1st celebrities to come out against the war against Iraq which is
basically a Muslim nation. Russell had a very hard and clear position
w/statements like "Iraq's been contained for 12 years. Hundreds of
thousands
don't have to die. Stand up, demonstrate, and have your voice heard."
Although, an anti-war stance does not mean one is not anti-Muslim, in a post
9/11 jingoistic
climate Simmons comments showed bravery during a critical
time of adversity. He has been pushing his colleagues to
do something in the name of justice abroad. On the other hand if Lil Kim
wanted to pose on Russell Simmons OneWorld Magazine cover in a half naked
Jewish attire, dressing in kipots, yarmulkes, matzah covers, tallitot, prayer
shawls, challah covers or other Jewish garb those of the Jewish faith would
be going crazy (ask Michael Jackson or Professor Griff) and Russell probably
wouldn't have allowed it. Lil Kim wouldn't ever have had the chance to say
"Fuck Israel" (Jewish Nation) or anything brazen inside of Oneworld.
In short all this could have been avoided with a pose but no comments or even the
comments with no pose. (Not that either would make it correct). The two
together proved to be a very sensitive thing, that many people have voiced an
opinion on. - Nuff Said
