Amir Sulaiman of Uprising Records and Good Stuff Entertainment
speaks frankly about the new witch hunt and being under federal
surveillance as a Spoken Word artist, African American male and
a Muslim.
“I consider America my country. This is beyond
the sentiments of patriotism or pride. It is a matter of fact. My
people have deep roots and a long history in this land. They have
invested their blood in the soil of the South, in the factories
of the North and the frontiers of the West. Upon the backs of my
fore parents, this nation was built. My family’s history in this
country precedes the White house, the Pentagon even the Constitution.
America is my country.” – Amir Sulaiman, “The
High cost of Freedom of Speech”
Cleverly hidden beneath the cloak of Civil Liberties,
is the reality that thousands of citizens face: such a thing no
longer exists. Vengeful lawmakers and politicians have hijacked
the right we once called Freedom of Speech, replacing it with an
agenda other than the public’s best interest. In a post 9/11 world,
scores of innocent people have come forward retelling experiences
of detainment, interrogation, “secret” hearings, and downright harassment.
The most horrid of all, of course, is the imprisonment of hundreds
of multiracial people in the Navy’s Guantanamo base, most of which
are reported to be completely innocent but still without effective
legal representation five years later. Amnesty International has
labeled this as one of the greatest human rights scandals at the
hands of the US government. Yet, by the same token, the world prior
to 9/11 held similar injustices in the clandestine efforts of programs
like COINTELPRO whose sole purpose was to infiltrate and dismantle
what we have now come to know as the grassroots movement.
According to the ACLU, the government hastily implemented
an expanded version of this country’s laws regarding surveillance
of citizens. Both Hip Hop and Spoken word artists have a reputation
for conveying the truth and in doing so, influencing the very disposition
of their listeners. Although the truths of the world we live in
after the tragic events of September 11th may have slipped under
the emotional and political radar of most, some artists found creative
ways to relate their outlook. One such creative spokesman is Amir
Sulaiman, whose appearance on Def Poetry in February 2004 both shocked
and motivated his audience. Russell Simmons stood in awe of this
fiery young speaker, commanding the attention of not only those
on the set, but more importantly, the multitudes of poetry-goers
watching HBO’s airwaves. Following the premiere of that episode,
Amir Sulaiman and his family encountered frequent and intrusive
visits from the FBI, inquiring about his “anti-American poetry.”
It didn’t stop there.
Amir sought legal counsel, but was still harassed
with incessant phone calls, issued an invasive grand jury subpoena,
and put on a government list that works in conjunction with airlines
disallowing him to fly anywhere. In spite of all the harassment,
Amir Sulaiman still cooperated by returning phone calls but to no
avail – the federal agents didn’t give him the same deference.
“In a new world, wrought nearly insane with paranoia,
I, simply by being Muslim, have become a threat. In an old world,
still stuck in the muck of racism, I, as a young Black man, am still
a threat. This fear is further compounded by my refusal to remain
silent in the face of such blatant hypocrisy, thievery, and tyranny.”
– Amir Sulaiman
While, he is neither a suspect in any criminality
nor convicted in any trial, Amir Sulaiman and others like him are
still being strategically profiled and methodically harassed. This
tactic of intimidation may, in fact, worry, if not outright scare
many, but not so with Amir, who fathers three and leads flocks of
spoken word enthusiasts and Muslim youth. His poetic statements
make those of Jadakiss, Kanye and even the Dixie Chicks sound
like juvenile mumblings. Perhaps it is his rhythmic references to
the military occupation of Iraq, the Israeli Apartheid in Palestine,
White Supremacy in America or his plainspoken support of political
prisoners like Imam Jamil al Amin (formerly H. Rap Brown). Amir’s
album Dead
Man Walking (2004) took on a much more risqué tone in comparison
to his first recorded CD, Cornerstore Folklore. And now in
the year 2006, we look forward to the forthcoming release of his
newest collection, Like a thief in the Night, where he was
joined with Mos Def, Dead Prez, The Last Poets and the phenomenal
songstress Goapele.
Without doubt, it is the likes of Amir’s influence
that challenges blind patriotism and naïve obedience to the system
and what he calls “The Beast.” For decades now, this same system
has effectively suppressed the voice of dissent, particularly in
urban communities, home to disaffected individuals and political
displacement. What Amir symbolizes is a modern-day personification
of the Civil Rights era, a figure born to our generation but fostering
the sentiments of our elders; sentiments that are fervently imparted
in his workshops, a service he offers to any organization interested.
“So what are they going to do with a man with a
heart like Turner, a mind like Douglas, a mouth like Malcolm and
a voice like Kris? That’s why I am not dangerous, I am danger. I
am not angry, I am anger.” – Danger, Dead Man Walking (2004)
One thing is certain: the silencing of Amir Sulaiman
will take a lot more than handcuffs and steel bars. It will take
all the fascism they can muster.
Q: Who are your main
influences, including those beyond the profession of poetry?
A: Some of my influences are from the Black Arts
Movement of the Sixties and Seventies. People like Amiri Baraka
and Sonia Sanchez certainly influenced my craft. However, Hip
Hop lyricism was more influential than these poets, as I learned
of the poets of the BAM long after I had begun writing when I was
a boy. Even more than Hip Hop the language of the Qur’an,
even in translation, colored my speech and gave me the high concepts
with plain language.
Q: So, with that said,
do you feel that it is
the poet or musician’s obligation to provide
critical analysis of our society to his or her listeners?
A: I believe it is the musician’s obligation
to be sincere. That is all. If he/she is sincerely about
justice then he must speak on it. If he is not sincerely about
justice I’d rather him not pretend. Rumi didn’t
speak much about social injustice but his very personal poetry in
turn inspired a socially invested artist such as myself. Everyone
has a role. We don’t have time for pretending.
Q: Who have you had the blessed opportunity to work
with?
A: I have been blessed to work with some phenomenal
artists; some known and some unknown. Of the known, The Last
Poets, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, K’Naan, Chuck Treese many of
the poets from Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry cast. Masha’Allah,
(by the will of God) I’ve been blessed.
Q: Can Spoken Word and Hip Hop affect social change?
A: Spoken word and Hip Hop will bring about the
change when the artist in the genres becomes more sincerely invested
in the cause of the people. If this happens – a sincere
unwavering investment – then the change will be irresistible.
Q: Your poetry has transcended inner city limits and
become a voice for oppressed people globally. Is this what you mean
by “Bearing the Cross”?
A: Yes, my investment is in this Ummah (global
Muslim community) and in the cause of the human being everywhere. That
is what my work is for. I feel honored and privileged because
to bear the cross is not much different than carrying the flag.
Q: Why do you think intelligence
agencies have historically and still do target and harass certain
artists?
A: Because we can cause change and they know
in their hearts that my power far exceeds their power. Although
all I have is a mic and they have a billion dollar intelligence
budget with planes, choppers, guns, computers. And the artist
just talks or sings or writes. I can imagine it’s frustrating
for them.
Q: How did 9/11 and its legislative aftermath change
this?
A: Mostly, it just gave a legal front to a behavior
that has been going on for years. This broad blanket surveillance
is not new, now its just legal.
Q: By your own definition what are civil liberties,
what is free speech and how have these been perverted by the state?
A: I do not invest much time in learning the
law. There are good people who do and I take advice from them. As
far as I am concerned my right to speak has been given to me by
Allah (God). So it would be a means of dishonoring myself to
go to the agents of this government and ask them for a right that
has already been given. My right to speak cannot be taken away,
it can only be surrendered. I am not in the business of surrendering.
Q: What was your experience like with being under
surveillance and what sort of emotional toll, if any, has that taken
on you and your family?
A: My family and I believe in Allah. Our
work is in line with the commandments of Allah. After this,
fear is foolish. The power that I pull from and the power that
they, FBI, CIA, whomever and wherever they pull thier power from
are incomparable. The threat that they place in me and the
threat of God upon them is incomparable. Perhaps we should
interview them about the emotional toll. Here is my question: As
you know there is an angel on your right shoulder and an angel on
your left shoulder, you have been under 24 hour surveillance your
whole life. Do you fear Allah? Do you fear being counted
among the tyrants and oppressors? What is the emotional toll
of being part of an organization that harasses and kills those who
speak the Truth? I, Amir Sulaiman, am not afraid. They have a greater
right to fear than I.
Q: What are your thoughts on The Dixie Chicks’ and
Kanye West’s political statements?
A: As I am sure they would agree it was their
responsibility. Although they are not Muslim and probably never
heard the Hadith (prophetical saying); they saw an evil act and
wanted to change it with their hands, since they couldn’t
they condemned it with their tongues, and hated it in their hearts.
And as we know, that is the weakest level of faith. Using wisdom
is always better than not using it. Wisdom is honey that sweetens
whatever you mix with it.
Q: How do non-Muslim fans react to your conviction
with regards to Islam?
A: They respect it. Sometimes we, the Muslims,
play down our Islam thinking that the non-Muslims will like us more
or respect us more. It is the opposite. The way of Muhammad
(peace be upon him and his family) garners respect wherever I go.
Q: On the album Cornerstore Folklore you revealed
a great deal of empathy for women and the struggles that we face.
Where is that compassion coming from, given its rarity in our society
and especially in the Hip Hop generation?
A: My mama. She is the one most responsible
for my Deen (way of life), my conviction, my life. Secondly,
I find Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) especially sensitive
to the needs of women and I like to be on his Sunnah (example).
Q: Are you concerned that Spoken Word is on the verge
of becoming commercialized just as “Rap” music has?
A: It will. I don’t doubt that. But
that does not mean there will be no room for sincere artists. “The
Truth has come and falsehood has vanished and falsehood by its nature
is a vanishing thing.”
Q: Having grown up in the Hip Hop generation, how
would you characterize the changes we’ve seen in our Art?
A: The people’s hearts have become harder
and more disease ridden and it shows in the art we create. We
have a lot of work to do.
Q: Coming from the perspective of a writer and an
educator, how do you feel about the illiteracy rates in the Ummah
(global Muslim community) and more importantly about the virtual
illiteracy in the urban communities across our country? How might
we encourage the youth to become more literate and well read with
hopes that they find empowerment and liberation?
A: Subhan’Allah (Glory belongs to God),
I wish I had an answer to this problem. I don’t know
where to start. The school systems are so toxic and backwards
it is hard to find a starting point. My best option is [like]
the saying “each one teach one.” Tutor, start small
schools, home school. Do whatever you can to educate our children.
Wa Allahu Alim (And God knows best).
Yahsmin Mayaan Binti BoBo, a community activist
of 9 years, writes freelance articles about culture, music, politics
and spirituality while living in Oakland, California. Currently,
she is an undergraduate studying for a degree in Political Science
& International Relations. [email protected]. |