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To be Marrara Of the Black Archives in Mid-America. I'm interviewing. Mr. Malik Kareem. Who is currently Ah, Arabic teacher at the Claire Muhammad. Uh, elementary and secondary school. Mohammad Mosque number 30. Kansas City And is also a musician. Uh, I'm interviewing him at his home. The

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date is October 23rd. 1976. Um, And he is also a composer of music. Brother Kareem, when and where were you born? Uh, Minister Morawa, I was born. March 3rd, 1935 in Kansas City, Kansas. Comes from Sumner High School. My parents were My time your speed. And

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my mother was Charles Eastfield. And they were both students. Mhm Mm Uh, it was a very insistent that I began studying music lessons, piano lessons, exactly. At the age of 5. Mhm. But uh, I wasn't sincere by the time I was 10. I begged him to

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let me quit. So. Um, From age 10 to 14, that gave me a chance to really choose the music profession behind it. That's you know. Music of Charlie Parker cans. Mhm. I'm not take it easy. Uh, would you say that, uh, you learned very much within

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the time from 5 to 10 in, in music, uh, that, uh, were you able to just pick right up in music and go? Yes sir, I resumed my music career at age 14. Uh. But it was with saxophone this time, but by the time I was

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age 15, I started back taking piano lessons because some music. I was sincere this time. I think because I had to. Put up most of the money to buy my home make sense to you. Uh, now you mentioned Charlie Parker. Uh, what kind of, uh, influence

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did he actually have upon your playing? Um, that's when. The type of music may you open. To take out all the religions, and it was. At the, uh, That he's 21. After studying at KU in San Francisco State. Making a music education. breath. 8 hours They

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Completely as I say I'm here. Charlie Parker, you know. It's written actually completely revolutionary. Using then it was something for. You want to carry the spirit of love. What about, uh, were there very many uh young people your age? I know that with both of your

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parents are educators, and you must have, uh, had quite a bit of pressure to become an educated yourself. Uh, is this so? Well, when I dropped out because after I got complimented by. People like Miles Davison. Very wrong on Paul James. I quit my 3rd year

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and went to New York. And that's where. First. Heard the teaching last day arrived Muhammad. I Rinse them out. And I embraced his mom for her 56 months, 20 years. Mhm. Hm. You've been in this arm for quite some time. Right 20 years. November. I'm looking

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back. And you said, uh, Minister Malcolm, and you're referring to uh Malcolm X. Right, he was the mess at that time. OK. I know that probably with the mention of his name, a lot of people wonder, uh, you know, if you knew him. At all and

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anything about him. Mhm, last time. He talked to me over the phone. Was And 64. Um-hum. Mhm Till you did know Fairly well, right, when I'm being at number 7, Until I moved to Chicago, which has not been my favor. A few months later. Then, uh,

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would you say that at that point that your music, uh, had grown to an extent where you could be considered a professional musician? Oh, well, yes, I was past that. I mean, I joined the union when I was 17, so, is that right? Right, right. They

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tested you and everything, a professional union. But it was the music that I would Be proud to take back to the Holy. Did you join the union here in Cass? Yes, I did. Mhm. How, how long has, uh, is it, was the union, where was it

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located at that time? I think it was 1818, 189. The same place that it's located at this point. So music foundation is there. And is this the, is this the union. Most of them since then, uh, they've marriage. And. Uh, one. Mm. Oh you mean now

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what does this merger consist of? None of the races, the farmers. Uh-huh. So now they're, uh, uh, the blacks and the whites. Uh Then you know, how did you, uh, further your career in music, um, after I left to the land. And I start drawing from

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the modes of the Bedouin. Mhm. They all have. Um. You see me. From the Bedouins and the. Yemenites and. All the Arabs and Sudanese. And uh the Ethiopian. Um-hum. I want to. So, uh, He further your music by going to the east. Right, I drew from

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their moves. Was this uh. The purpose of me going to these. Oh yeah, so I'm always gonna be studying, you know. Islam and music. Mhm. Mhm. Uh, how long were you, uh, you went to, what part of, uh, the, uh, Eastern countries did you go to?

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Uh, play on both continents. I have to go easy. And I uh North America or Latin America too. Hm, that's good. I'm uh. Did, uh, did you have an opportunity to play with, uh, any of the Uh, bands in the East or any play? Well, mostly

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I was working as a single and I, Uh Use the, I don't know. So. Create a rhythm section for native citizens. Could you explain that just a little bit? Well it was Uh, it helped strengthen my hair because I had to. Teach Uh, Yeah. Uh, rhythm,

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so to speak. Mhm Uh In your, in, in Arabic, uh. When did you begin to learn about uh I learned to speak. How did you become interested in learning, uh. The majority. Chief Minister. Um, He's teaching Abbott. At the University of Islam sometimes, you know private

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students. Uh-huh. I know. I was studying with him. in 57. Then, uh, you learn Arabic from, from, uh, the Honorable Rati Muhammad. And then, uh, then you furthered your studies. Did you further your studies when you went to the East and? The time when we were.

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And so and so for. I was going to the army. Sandstone, uh, Minnesota. Have a chance to study with him again. I'm doing well. That's it. All right. Thank you. Uh, and then when he went to the east, uh, this was sort of an on the

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job training. Yes, sir. Well, he told me I was ready. In fact, he. Oh, it's one of my character records. Did you, uh Did you have any problems when you, when you went to the east initially and, uh, what kind of attitude did the people? Being

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an American Muslim. Follow the great master Elijah Muhammad peace and blessings. You're on, we are uh. If you had any kind. Professional skill or talent that they need. We're gonna give you. Just soon. Um-hum. Um-hum. Now, how long were you in? Three years. Three years? Yes,

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sir. OK. Then from August, sir. See the fold to Yeah To me. 67. It's just a bullshit stuff. And then you returned back to the United States. Yes sir, uh, Master Elijah Muhammad. Mhm Secured a study grant fund. Um-hum. Mm. I studied at Asshole University in

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Cairo Med School. This was, this was during the time then when you returned back to the United States. In '67. Mhm. What did you do with that? Uh, mostly writing and teaching private. I don't know. But afterwards. Detained illegally. Or international smuggler. Um-hum.

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Mm. You know what I mean. Cruel. Teaching Jose and its sister Claire Mohammed. Elementary and secondary school. Until 1980. You will be serving there until 1980. Right? Well, I have to, or you'll be on parole, parole until. Uh, so, After you returned to the United States

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and and returned to Kansas City. And, uh, When, when did you actually return to Kansas City? February. 10th, 1975. I know that a lot of people who probably are in a lot of different positions may have gotten a lot of different. Fanfare and so forth to

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have a native uh Kansas City to have traveled to the youth and to have gone to the University of Elizar in Cairo and also uh played music uh with the Egyptian band. Uh, is, is really, uh, it's really something to have this sort of mind in

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Kansas City. Uh, how have you been able to affect, uh, uh. All the changes, and what did you see in Kansas City when you retired? would need to. I don't see the need for. No Arabic speaking. People in this city. In as much as. Yeah, because

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the reading of the Holy Quran. Um-hum. And the Holy Quran, uh, for those that don't, uh, know what the Holy Quran is, could you kind of explain that? That's our holy book. They You believe with Old Testament, the new Testing. You teach, uh, Arabic at the

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uh Claire Muhammad school uh what on the I. To uh Old Testament, New Testament. And so, uh, Altogether fulfilling too. To have a Studied from all three of them in the Holy Land. Wow, that's in your asshole. I had the Old Testament. And you have, um,

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a cup of coffee. And this is of the body. Right. Yeah. Yeah. And I'd like to see that sometimes. Uh, what grades do the students at the Clare Mohammed University begin to learn how this? 3rd and what do they do they learn the uh because I

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have average students, the young ones, the 3rd. Um And how do you see this, uh, helping, uh, the youth uh who come to the Clare Mohammad University? becoming bilingual naturally. I think that uh That the Arabic language is essential to mankind. Yes, indeed. Those do Yeah.

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I say in, you mean in school. Uh, When you make reference to that, you mean that uh you're talking in terms of uh the Arabic language being What, yes sir, of all those. Other languages I mentioned Mhm. You know, know what I mean. Even the I

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don't know. the character. Mhm Um, Before I ask you any more in terms of the uh Arabic language, uh, I imagine with the kind of history that you actually have, uh, which is very interesting. I know that you've uh The And, and having been around you

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for a few days, uh, uh, I'm able to see that there's a lot of history that you have in terms of uh Um, our past and so what would you, do you intend to write, uh, do any writing anytime soon? Yes, sir, I'm waiting for a

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publisher now here. Back my book Postman in the Holy Land. Hm, that's a good. Uh, now, uh, for those people that might be interested in learning that. Um, Why don't you, uh, first of all, could you just, uh, maybe say a few sentences in Arabic, uh,

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It's such a beautiful language. I know that they would like to hear. Hamden. But It's all crazy. Mhm. Uh, I suggest that. Mm. They are interested to visit the mob. Because You're telling me I'm the only. Have it. 2 638. Uh-huh. Will you be, do you,

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uh, just teach, uh, Students say 89 years old and you teach older people there also. Yes, sir. I teach um adult classes. During the week. Mhm. Do you, do you plan to expand, uh, these classes, expand on the classes, right, instead of meeting once. Which is

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on Tuesday at 3:30 and 611. Uh Pick a spot in Kansas. For Mhm. So you'll be teaching, uh, teaching Arabic in, uh, Kansas as well as Missouri. Yes, sir. Mhm. Uh How long would one have to uh You know, what, you know, I know you maybe

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go to courses, say 3 or 4 years in order to really begin to speak a language fluently. Uh, how long would one have to study to really be prepared to Uh, go to the east and I have a friend close. Who you been. Mm Curriculum. You.

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Um-hum. To the Is your wife also uh Uh She does she speak Arabic fluently? No, she's one of those students. Oh, is that right? And my derelicts. Hm Uh, what, uh, kind of advice could you give to people who were inspire aspiring to learn about The

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East, uh, especially, this is the black archives. And I know that uh As Muslims, refer to black people as Malays. What, uh Advice could you give people who are in search of their heritage? I suggest that they. Get as much Arabic as they can, yes. That's

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The origin. A lot. Um-hum. And. Mhm. Um, You seem to put a lot of emphasis on Religion. Uh, in terms of growth of people. I know some people will wonder why. Where is this? In Egypt when the pyramids were built, musicians were in the. Musician. Uh-huh.

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Doctors, I. Um, You know. Revelations about 24 scientists. Please. To. Mhm. What significance was uh? That uh There Send this to that. A Well this time my wife. Why? Because it's not essential. Mhm So, there is a place for um the technology that has been uh

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established by The powers of being or the systems that have grown up since the time of the pyramid. Mm. Um, up until now. When the radiation. It's all. What was going on? You know, we Solar. Mm So that's you all that but now you know the

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students. Melissa. That's another. Um And what does that work, uh, leading to? No, I mean my children because uh. Um. OK. Mm That. Because they can OK, um, No. There's a prayer service. Which I think that you usually do. Not tomorrow. It was the I. It's

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a beautiful service. OK, well, And you, you, you yourself are a minister. Yes, uh, I don't know who have used the plan. That's. Mhm Uh Yes, sir. So, in, in our closing out, I noticed like I've watched movies like The Omen and things like that. And

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the old man, and a lot of the movies uh that deal with uh religion. Uh, circumstances, good and bad. We hear, uh, some. Uh, it is. Yeah. I think it's called a call to prayer. So in closing, could you give us just a little bit in

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Arabic, uh And the cold. Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar. Allahu akbar, Allahu Akbar. I should do and la la la la. I should do in the hand. I do and Mohammad. I and Muhammad. Higher Allah. Higher assua. I Allah and Allah. High it out of the law.

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Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. no law. That's very beautiful. And I thank you very much for your time. It's very, very valuable. I know that you probably, uh, constantly studying and preparing yourself. Uh And I hope that uh. Hope to see that book uh coming out very

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soon. I'm sure it'll be successful. I thank you very much and I leave you as good as you make some good and peace last long life.