Siddeeq's Influence

LOOKING BACK...

It takes a lot of self-assessment to figure out why we do what we do. This came to the forefront when yet another person asked me why I wrote a book called THE HISTORY AND FUTURE OF BLACK PEOPLE: A Realistic Assessment (https://rodericke.com/black)

As a believer that all things happen for a reason, I began to look back to determine what brought me to this point. It was not just one thing but as often with the major decisions we make, it was a series of events. Why does a little white boy from a suburban upbringing write such a book? Am I arrogant and self-consumed by my own perception of things? Or has there been a series of events that caused me to operate outside my "own lane" as it were?

First, being an adoptee, given up at birth where my birth mother supposed I died at the hospital due to medical issues, has lent a life of disconnect. Imagine having no connection to a culture or heritage of your own. I wasn't even given a name at birth; I was simply "male Luttrell". This is worse that having a heritage of bondage. Further, my physical features (thick lips, wide nose, full face) has always led me to speculate that I must have African in me somewhere. (DNA now says otherwise, I'm Viking, which are also known for many of these same features). Add in that I have multiple nephews I've seen try to navigate the world was biracial people. The ah-ha moments were my time and deep discussions with Louis Farrakhan's men on street corners. But perhaps one of the deepest influences came from my path crossing with a man named Muhammad Siddeeq. He was the "spiritual advisor" to Mike Tyson when Tyson was arrested for rape. Not only that Siddeeq was my grade school teacher and one of the first people to challenge me to question manufactured narratives. He and I would have hours and hours long discussions about culture.

Now, I didn't agree with his conclusions on many things, especially on Islam and the "Nation of Islam" (black Muslims) perspective, but he did get me to think outside my "own lane". If anyone is to "blame" for this book, it is all these life experiences.
If you like to read more about Muhammad Siddeeq, here is an article about a memorial of his life. I wish I could have attended.
https://indianapolisrecorder.com/e80c86dc-b45d-11e9-b5e5-730e953086c7/