(www.newtrendmag.org)
Artistic Endeavor to Understand and Confront Evil in American Cities
Entertaining and Educational, "INSIDE FIGHTER" takes Richmond, VA by
Storm
"The evil whisperer (the devil) runs like blood in the human being."
(Hadith)
Carpenter Center was packed with people from a cross section of
African-American and Muslim communities in Richmond, Virginia and other
cities on June 1, 2001. They were watching a unique play titled INSIDE
FIGHTER which made them laugh and cry by turns. Basically it was a
comedy,
very funny, side-splitting funny, but like good comedy, it carried a
powerful
message. Both Christians and Muslims participated in the play and were
in the
audience.
The scenes were familiar to people who know the innards of
America, the
violence, fear, corruption, connected to drugs and crimes in our
cities. The
stylized presentations of basic themes, such as gang turf games, the
lack of
trust and breach of trust in established institutions, the externalized
attempts to stop evil were artistically presented with great success.
Choreography by martial arts groups created rhythm in the play
but was
very carefully kept within the bounds of Islamic good taste. Music was
similarly used with good effect.
The most unforgettable segments of INSIDE FIGHTER are about the
role of
the evil whisperer (the devil) in the life of human beings. The
whisperer can
defeat just about every defense human beings have at an
institutionalized
level. The only way to victory over the evil whisperer is through
complete
submission to Allah, wholeheartedly and inwardly.
The devil in INSIDE FIGHTER was played by Br. Jihad Abdul Mumit,
the
originator and director of the play himself. It was a superb
performance, a
combination of the comic and the deadly serious. The cast of 44 played
their
roles flawlessly.
Former Black Panther leader Br. Jihad Abdul Mumit and his wife
Latifah
Abdul Mumit deserve praise for this extraordinary, in fact unique,
achievement. We have described Br. Jihad Abdul Mumit before as the
Malcolm X
of our times. Few people can retain such vibrant Islam plus
understanding of
the world after being in prison for 22 years. This man is truly a
leader and
deserves the support of the entire community. It is amazing how humble
he was
at the end of the program after being applauded by hundreds of people
packed
into Carpenter Center.
We urge Muslim groups, mosques, communities, to invite INSIDE FIGHTER.
It is
not much more than $6500 (ALL EXPENSES INCLUDED) and if the ticket is
$30 per
person, it can easily be done. The performance group is called: Sure
Reality
Productions and the address is:
SURE REALITY PRODUCTIONS
P.O. BOX 35103
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23235
804-560-5250
All you need is 216 people paying $30 each. It will be a night which
your
young people will never forget.
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2002-06-09 Sun 18:39ct