Amiyr
Al'Hajj Abdul Latiyf
Abu Hamin
Amiyr
Latiyf came to knowledge at age 13 growing up in the Mid-West, U.S. after
being exposed to the teachings of The Most Honorable
Elijah Muhammad and the
Nation of Islam. As a older and more militant teenager, The Amiyr organized and led the
largest anti-war activist youth group to date in the history of Long Island,
New York where his family resided.
Prior to being
an "active" Muslim The Amiyr was a successful musician and political activist
only after a "hard childhood". Since he came from a "troubled
childhood" where he participated in gang activity and "street life" with all
of it's consequences The Amiyr early on had dedicated his "turned around
life" toward helping those youth of similar circumstances to the pitfalls of
"street life" and how to become legally successful, politically
grounded and self-determined.
The Amiyr
entered college in 1974 at the State University of New Yrok (Old Westbury)
under a special program for "non-traditional historically by-passed students" where he was mentored
by Charsee McIntyre, S.E. Anderson, Count Taylor and others in Black
academics (Africentricity). He completed his bachelor of Science requirements in 1979
and immediately came back to the Black Community to utilize his newly
acquired skills for the liberation, service and development of African
people.
Using the
teachings of the Nation of Islam as a base The Amiyr fervishly studied
during the 70's revolutionary Black Nationalism of H. Rap Brown; the Black
Panther Party's social theory of change; Malcolm X's Islam, Stokley
Carmichael's Pan Africanism, Marcus Garvey's Self-help theories; and after
making a change to "orthodox Islam", during the late 70's and 80's The Amiyr
studied the concept of the Ikwan'ul Muslimoon and Tassauf (sufism) under the
Dar'ul Islamic Movement for over a decade while teaching in the Madrassah
for that organization. At a later point The Amiyr took allegiance to
Imam Jamil Alamin (formerly known as H.Rap Brown) where The Amiyr sought to
further his Islamic studies and continue to implement actions that would
result in an autonomous African Islamic community.
After his Hajj
to Mecca in the mid-80's and his African sojourn, The Amiyr was introduced
to the Sudanic theology of the Nubian Islamic Hebrews under Imam Isaa al
Mahdi (Dr. Malachi York) and the Ansaar'ul Allah where he completed his Arabic studies.
It was there that he returned back to a more stringent commitment toward
Islamic Black Nationalism with an orthodox Islamic African flavor.
From that
spiritual encounter with the Nubian Islamic Hebrews, The Amiyr topped off
his studies by joining the African Islam Mission (an affiliate
organization of the Ansaar) under the teachings of al
Imam Obaba Muhammad
who taught modern day African Islamic Black Nationalism and it's connection
with technology. It was at the AIM where he was promoted to the title
of "Amiyr" from his tireless work as Ass't. Imam, counselor and
confidant to that religious community.
For a few
years, The Amiyr studied under Sheik Alpha'him Jobe of Guinea Islamic Law
and Arabic until the Sheik's untimely death in 1996.
The Amiyr has
lectured the philosophy of the African Islamic Mission around the US
and has written several unpublished books relating to Islamic
Africentricity. His most prized writings include: "The Gulf War: An
Africentric Islamic View", "The Incorrect Shahadah:The Polytheism of
Arab Understanding"; "Polygyny as a Social Resolution To Fulfill
God's Message"; and "Africentric Islam: The Sole Choice of Blacks
born in the West".
Amiyr Latiyf
has taught elementary school to Black youth in private schools since the
early 80's, teaching in Islamic and African-centered schools. His favorite
subjects he has taught are: science, writing, Arabic, social studies and
computer literacy. Literally, hundreds of youth have benefited from
his tutelage and have credited their individual successes from his firm, yet
scholarly gentle manner of his innovative teaching methodology.
The Amiyr has
operated Black summer youth camps, Black after school programs and youth groups including
African drum
& dance, over the past 20 years in conjunction with his duties as teacher
during the school year. In the year 2005 he earned the school's
prestigious "Teachers Choice Award" as best teacher of the year, that sits
along with his many other commendations, awards and service recognition over
the years from various educational institutions in N.Y. for his undying
dedication to servicing Black youth. Currently, The Amiyr is teaching 'technology'
to youth in Delaware and working toward opening up yet another Black
institution for youth in that area.
As an
entrepreneur, The Amiyr has operated a Cultural Shop, taught himself
aromatherapy and has produced several products relating to natural
fragrances. In order to support his large family The Amiyr has
traveled to many East Coast cites as an Africentric vendor of imported
African products. He is currently the founder and editor in
partnership with his eldest daughter, Nia, of
Onepeoples' ezine, a family
operated Black Nationalist political, social and cultural
edition designed to educate and illuminate African people of the "oneness"
and "unity" of ourselves with all of our various spiritual, political and
cultural individual philosophies.
The Amiyr's
contributions to Islam during his lifetimes have been: the propagation to
the African Islamic community the false teachings of Arabisms in Islam
(namely the foundation statement of all Muslims, The Shahdah); the many
newsletters he has written; the hundreds of students he has mentored in
academic and life skills; the propagation and insistence on African Culture
as a part of Islam; and his prolific writings that has inspired countless of
Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
Amiyr Latiyf
humbly has credited all of his accomplishments as a Blessing from the
Creator Allah The Most High that seemed to be specifically aimed at him to
fulfill his duty as servant to our people. Secondly, The Amiyr credits
his family Shoshana, Kaliymah and Aminah and all of his offspring for their
support and similar commitment toward Truth, Freedom and Justice for African
people without which The Amiyr feels he would have not accomplished anything
over the last 20 years.
Allah bless
the African Islamic Community, The Amiyr's family and all those who live and
die for the "Struggle".
African
Islamic Mission, Inc.
