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IWDM Study Library 
Interview during the Million Man March

By Imam W. Deen Mohammed
Interviewer:
Of Islam. Welcome to our live coverage of what is happening here. Your attitude about this assemblage?
IWDM:
Well, the assembly, we have to be with them and our prayers are with them, but the whole idea is not supported by myself. I don't support it. I believe that much more could have been gained if we had directed all of this energy toward the problems that we have in our personal life and our family life and in our neighborhoods. I would've suggested that leaders met together first and discussed the needs in our life and in our communities, and then presented that to the public later, after we had put our heads together and reviewed history and tried to benefit and learn from what has happened in our history here in America as black people, African-Americans, trying to make improvements upon our life and improve our image in the eyes of our own selves and in the eyes of the white world or other people. I think we could have gotten our heads together and we could have demonstrated to the public, that we ourselves want to atone, that the leaders want to atone. We need a day of atonement for ourselves. And leaders also should demonstrate responsibility, themselves, lead by example, by demonstrating ourselves, that we are responsible for our actions, for ideas, and for our words that we put out in the public.
Interviewer:
Because our time is preciously short, I want to ask you two very brief questions. One, do you have any fundamental disagreement with Minister Louis Farrakhan?
IWDM:
Well, certainly. He tends to keep the same religious idea that the Nation of Islam introduced into the black community 50 years ago. That idea is far from being Islam, and certainly he's aware that is not Islam. Yes, we have fundamental differences and we also have differences as to how we should improve our social life and bring a better sense of business into our community. I think we have several real fundamental differences.
Interviewer:
Okay, and my other question is, would you have rather seen this kind of energy, this kind of assemblage, this kind of media attention devoted to the other problems you alluded to, rather than to a march on one day in October?

IWDM:
Exactly. I think these big marches or big mass gatherings, they give us a quick charge and after a few weeks the charge is gone and we find ourself in the same situation again. I think we need to do more planning. Leaders need to get together and do more planning.
Interviewer:
Okay. Thank you Imam W. Deen Mohammed, I wanted to get to the essence of your thoughts. I apologize for our lack of more time, but we certainly thank you for joining us on CNN from Chicago.
IWDM:
We appreciate being with you.
Interviewer:
Thank you. And we'll be right back with more live coverage from the Western steps of the Capitol building of the United States of America.



