A discussion with Mumia Abu-Jamal

From Feb. 24 to 25 at Temple University in the historically Black neighborhood of North Philadelphia, scholars, activists, community leaders and students convened on the anniversary of Dr. W.E.B. DuBois’ 144th birthday. They celebrated not only DuBois’ life as a scholar activist, but the prolific contribution of our modern scholar activist and political prisoner, Mumia Abu-Jamal.

“W.E.B. DuBois, Africana Studies, and The Human Future: A Symposium” was a two-day conference sponsored by the Africana Studies department, where academics and activists spoke on panels discussing such broad topics as philosophy, the color line, war and peace, capitalism and race, activism and social transformation.

Individuals from up and down the Eastern Seaboard delivered astute analyses on current public policies and international affairs, providing the diverse audience with an alternative narrative that seldom receives a platform in mainstream media today.

Conference organizer Dr. Anthony Monteiro shared in his opening remarks, “We are going to keep this like a community thing; it’s all in the family — in the family of struggle, in the family of resistance, in the family of those that seek to know in order to change the world.”

As profound and engaging as all the speakers were, the keynote and highlight of the conference was a 25-minute prerecorded presentation by Mumia Abu-Jamal from SCI Mahanoy state prison. His presentation was followed by a live 20-minute question-and-answer session with Abu-Jamal from the prison via telephone. This was Abu-Jamal’s first public speaking event since his release from death row in December 2011 and subsequent transfer to general population after being detained for seven weeks in restrictive housing, also known as “the hole.”

Dr. Monteiro, who is revered as a preeminent DuBoisian scholar, said Abu-Jamal’s address on Dr. DuBois was one of the best analyses he has ever heard, “I’m not exaggerating when I say Mumia is a genius.”

Abu-Jamal’s admiration for Dr. DuBois as a scholar activist was paramount as he stated in part: “DuBois was such a very deep thinker that his books are written in layers; that is, every time you read his books you learn something new. He wrote in a very deep way. I had read ‘Dark Waters’ years ago, I had read ‘The Education of Black People’ years ago, but to reread those texts you get a richer understanding of how brilliant, how remarkable, how insightful Dr. DuBois was.”

The audience of over 300 people had a chance to raise a number of issues with Abu-Jamal during the question-and-answer section of the program. When asked what his message to today’s youth would be, Abu-Jamal responded: “When you go to college or when you’re studying independently, or when you are reading; wherever you are, study seriously. Study deeply and use it for the most important thing you can do, which is your people’s freedom.”

Through the duration of the phone call, Abu-Jamal maintained an upbeat and positive demeanor. Michael Coard, a Philadelphia attorney, asked him when he was coming home, and with a jovial response, he said, “I’d like to say ASAP, but it ain’t on me!”

Abu-Jamal challenged the audience to stay connected to the family and friends that were currently incarcerated to help support and motivate them. He reminded the audience of words from Malcolm X when asked how he maintains his spiritual fortitude in such a hostile environment: “As long as you are born south of the Canadian border, you are in prison. That’s a reality; Oscar Grant was not on death row, or was he?”

Abu-Jamal left the audience with much to think and reflect upon. After the call, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill shared a few words about his experience writing his co-authored book with Abu-Jamal, called “The Classroom and the Cell.” The audience appeared quite enthused by the presentation as represented by the long line of people waiting to get a signed copy of the book.

Those interested in seeing video clips of the conference can check out this website, vimeo.com/37877743.