Nurah Speaks

In too many urban areas across this country, un-informed leadership have taken to patterning themselves after a certain beggar named Lazarus who laid at the gate of the rich man desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. These leaders amplify the role of corporations and politicians to reduce crime rates and gun deaths in our communities while diminishing the role of t...

There are consequences for children and communities when children are born to fractured homes. The discussion in this episode shares some of those consequences and the considerations we need to create better outcomes for our families and communities. This is episode is part 2 in a short series of conversations especially for Black women to help us realize the impact we have in shaping our communit...

Truth hurts but it can also heal if we allow it. This episode is part one in a short series in which I discuss sensitive issues regarding black women. This installment calls on us to be accountable for our choices, particularly those involving reckless sexual behavior resulting in unintended pregnancies…and single parenthood. As I say in this episode, this discussion is shared with love, not judge...

“Somebody needs to do something!” This is a familiar refrain in response to events and conditions outrageously offensive to the general public. Gun deaths. Educational deficiencies. Youth delinquency. Drug abuse. Gang violence. Unscrupulous police activity. Neglectful parenting. Food insecurity. It is true that 'somebody' needs to do something and that 'somebody' is you! We do not need to look ove...

Cher McCall is this week’s guest on the Nurah Speaks podcast. She is a licensed social worker who works primarily with the adolescent population. Cher has extensive experience serving youth who’ve endured physical, mental, emotional and spiritual trauma. She shares her insights into practical approaches in helping youth manage their pain and fostering hope in what seems to them as a hopeless reali...

This was an insightful conversation with Judge Charles Dortch Jr. and the takeaways from this episode are abundant. A key takeaway is the lesson of entitlement embedded in him by his parents. He understood at an early age that he was entitled to be his best and do his best. And the encourages the youth who come before him to do the same. Judge Dortch’s impact on youth and families extends well bey...

This is Part 2 of my series for ‘National Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day.’ This episode features my other son Qahhar Muhammad. In this episode Qahhar shares thoughts on mentorship and his experiences with the criminalization of childhood that is impacting children and families nationwide. Qahhar is a member of Camden’s New Jersey’s Youth Leadership and Readiness Program, Camden Men’s Wre...

Since it is ‘National Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day’, I have brought my two sons onto the podcast to hear their thoughts on life. This week’s episode, Episode 70, is part one of a two-part series and features my son, Haidar Muhammad. Haidar shares his thoughts on fear, leadership, 'Dad Talks' and being reared in a two parent household plus so much more. He is a member of Camden New Jers...

Jealousy is one of those social cancers that eats at the fabric of our community and the sanity of the individual bearing the jealousy. In this episode I discuss five common components of jealousy and how jealousy is manifest. Be sure to read the accompanying article to this episode which shares those five components in even greater detail by using this link: https://nurahmuhammad.com/blog/jealous...

We are fooling ourselves if we think we do not need a strategy to capture the attention of our youth. Corporations and organizations (legitimate and illegitimate)are competing for the minds of our young people. And they are very strategic in their solicitations. There are lessons we can learn from these strategies and this episode explores them and what we risk if we do not recruit our young peopl...

In an instant broadcasters, social media influencers and entertainers can define our attitudes and perspectives on trending issues. We can often find ourselves immersed in the overwhelming and repetitive coverage of trending topics while matters much closer to home are left ignored. This episode is a reminder to stay vigilant; stay woke! We had better because while we are swept up in the distracti...

Since there is no maximum capacity to learning, it is great to keep an open mind. Doing so avails us the great potential of learning new and useful information and applications to improve our lives. But we block those blessings, so to speak, when we make roadblocks of pride, fear or even guilt, preventing our accessing solutions to many of the problems we face. In this week’s episode, I discuss ou...

The political season is bearing down upon us. Candidates will soon be stomping in your town seeking your vote. But what considerations do you have when choosing your elected officials? Choosing our elected officials, especially at the local level, is one of our most important acts of civic engagement because it is these electeds who will be voting on legislature that will directly impact our famil...

It’s been a while since I’ve done a ‘Drive Time’ episode and this week’s 'Drive Time' conversation is about our Facebook habits. The content that we post online says a lot about our values, our character and our discipline. Take a listen to this episode as I discuss: •Why we should treat Facebook like Main Street •Content that is not good to share on Facebook •Policies your employer, organization...

Negative thinking is not only an impediment to personal and professional growth but also to our health and wellness. We must learn how to prioritize the good over the bad by ‘settling on the best part’ of our lives, of our families, of our communities and of ourselves. Why is it so important to settle on the best part and avoid persevering on the negative? Inclining to negative thoughts and attitu...

It was an honor to sit with this week’s guest, Andrea Lawful-Sanders. Andrea is many things. She is a writer, a wife and a mother, a child and family advocate, a mentor, a columnist, a radio show contributor, an executive director and so much more. And in all that she does, one words resonates loudly: authentic. Andrea lives her life authentically and she challenges others to do the same. Listen t...

Temporary responses to the permanence of racism is getting us nowhere. As it is the cycle, once the offenders of racism issue their apologetic platitudes, we are soon thereafter pacified back to neutral. We are too easily placated with interim damage control in the form of sensitivity forums, promotional opportunities and temporary access. Our short term memory of the sustained offenses against ou...

There is a stark contrast in what a Community Activist is and what some may consider a Community Terrorist. In general, activism is lobbying special interests, confronting inequities, challenging governmental dysfunction and persuading social change, sometimes through protest and otherwise through affirming new social norms. For purposes of this conversation, I will define community terrorism as:...

Black History in America is American History. Separating Black History as an elective, optional subject for teachers and students disadvantages not only Black students but all students. This creates misunderstandings and ill informed, conflict-ridden relationships. Just look at how many current cases are popping up of prominent lawmakers, entertainers and government officials who engaged in some r...

“…if people can’t understand the implications of a white woman yelling at me and trying to badger me into saying what she says - even if I wanted to say it - I wouldn’t have said it the way in which she was speaking to us” Tamika Mallory Tamika Mallory is not new to activism or criticism. But she has been under a new sophisticated attack since she has been co-chair of the Women’s March. These rece...

Over 77.3% of black births were to unwed mothers in 2015 according to the National Center for Health Statistics. In Episode 57 I challenge us (the black community) to confront our staggering rate of unwed births and the social challenges that often result. To be clear-this is not an episode about unwed mothers-it is about unwed mothers AND fathers and the need of putting Marriage ‘back' into Paren...

Sonja is the Executive Director of the Kwesi Prince Foundation, a pediatric cancer organization dedicated to providing support to families suffering the devastating effects of Childhood Cancer with a focus on brain tumors. The foundation is named in honor of Kwesi Prince, Sonja’s son, who was diagnosed with a rare malignant brain tumor in 2010 when he was just 7 years old. After multiple brain sur...

“All things will remain the same until the pain of remaining the same becomes greater than the pain of change.” Reverend Chris Collins I am joined in this episode by Reverend Chris Collins, Founder and CEO of the Anointed News Journal. The Anointed News Journal is the nation’s premier weekly faith based and professional publication for winners - with a 24 year running. This was a great conversatio...

“It is so important that a teacher feels that child’s vulnerability so that they can give them success at the end.… And that’s what’s rewarding!” Chabree Muhammad This episode is why I created the Nurah Speaks Podcast! Chabree Muhammad is a passionate educator, director, teacher of teachers, child advocate and parent advocate. Her passion for youth and families resonates in this interview and it w...

This REWIND EPISODE of Nurah Speaks features Lynita Mitchell-Blackwell, Esq., CPA, CCLC. One of my favorite quotes from her is, “Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean that’s what you’re supposed to be doing.” Lynita is a Top 100 National Attorney, CPA, and Certified Christian Life Coach. She is the CEO of the Leading Through Living Community and Bold Favor Media Group which produces...