Nurah Speaks

To every extent possible we must exert control over that which influences our young people. They are too valuable and our future too precious to defer the responsibility and direction of their lives to outside persuasion. If we want a future of prosperity, longevity and security-the work is ours to do today to make sure that happens. Parenting and guidance of our young people is an active - not a...

Standard Bearers are those who uphold values or ideas. They are those who champion the values and ideas in which they believe. They possess the strength to endure changing trends; they have the discipline to remain consistent and on message and the fearlessness to speak to that which is unpopular or unfavored by the masses.   If you want to be a leader and be successful, you must possess...

When we conduct ourselves without standards, we devolve into chaos - as evidenced by the outcomes in our community.  There must be some acceptable standard for language, dress and behavior - especially in public. We are so worn down that we’ve acclimated to our substandard conditions and argue with those who encourage us to do and be better.  It makes the words of Henry Berry true: “We h...

Do not mistake correction for condemnation, they are not the same. To receive correction is to receive guidance when we have erred. We need not assume any judgement has been made upon us. Too many of us are uncomfortable, agitated and distrustful when receiving counsel that does not align with our attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. I have personal experience with working youth and some adults who pe...

A New Jersey school principal told her faculty that pajamas, do-rags and bonnets are ‘their culture’, referring to the school's black pupils. If this would upset us, what argument do we have with Mo’nique? She is giving no less than what I received growing up from the women responsible for shaping and cultivating me into womanhood. The rearing, training and chiding (when needed) that I received in...

Juneteenth, also known as ‘Freedom Day’, ‘Emancipation Day’ and ‘Liberation Day’ is the day that marks the enforcement of the freedom of slaves in Galveston, Texas. It was on June 19, 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger enforced the freedom of slaves still held in bondage despite the January 1, 1863 signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the congressional passing of the 13th Amendment on...

Nurah Speaks is back with another fresh episode, this time talking about the ‘I Got It’ mentality?  Don’t know what that is? It is the compulsion of us Black women to reflexively say, “I got it” when offered assistance or support.  We say, “I got it” sometimes without even assessing if help is warranted for the given circumstances. Some of us are so in the habit of not needing anyone tha...

Nurah Speaks is a catalyst for change. It is a conversation piece, an information center, inspiration, guidance and love in words. Nurah Speaks listeners are informed, conscientious and committed community members on the front lines of change. I am grateful for all of the listeners and subscribers of the podcast and especially to those who have commented, rated the show, sent emails, provided crit...

It is with pleasure that I welcome Mandene Muhammad to the Nurah Speaks audience. Brother Mandene is the founder of Legacy Men’s Boutique, a store providing high end men's clothing and accessories at affordable prices located in the heart of Bronzeville Chicago. Additionally he is a member of the Coalition for Remembrance of Elijah Muhammad (CROE) and a producer at CROETV studios. He also hosts a...

Episode 156 challenges our unhealthy tie to dysfunction and deprivation within our community. We have accepted these unfortunate conditions within our community as norms and we ingrain these in our children and the cycle continues. We have to confront these unhealthy norms and challenge our thoughts and behaviors if we want better for our coming generations. If you would like to engage with the Nu...

We are wrapping up Women’s History Month with this week’s guest Wendy Tabor. Wendy is the President of the Tri County section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). She’s also a Registered Nurse, Entrepreneur, a dedicated community servant and an overall beautiful soul. Wendy and I touched on a variety of topics in this interview including: How her upbringing influenced her path in leaders...

A boss says, “Go.” A leader says, “ Let’s go!” There are important delineations between a leader, someone in charge, and a boss, someone who is also in charge. The delineations lie in the perspective they have of their role, how they operate within their authority or power, how they relate to their members/employees and how they take responsibility for the outcomes of the operation. In episode 154...

Earlier this month a mother reported her 13 year old son was severely bullied and forced to drink urine at a school mate's sleepover. It is alleged that a video of the incident was circulated among his classmates. The story is unbelievably horrific and difficult to read. The trauma this child experienced and the anguish of his mother is unimaginable. Bullying and cruelty among children is not unco...

We are back with another LIVE streamed episode of Nurah Speaks with this week’s guest Dr. Nicole Muhammad, founder of Sew Elevated. Sew Elevated is a luxury women’s fashion brand created to empower and elevate the women who wear her designs. In this conversation Dr. Nicole Muhammad discusses developing a consciously driven brand, the diverse partnerships needed to launch her line and a behind the...

Angela Lewis is this week’s phenomenal guest on the Nurah Speaks Podcast! Angela hails from St. Louis and is a former pro basketball player, championship coach, international speaker and author. Angela is the founder of Ignite Her Game Academy where she teaches girls about more than basketball. She delivers life skills using the game as an analogy for life. As basketball opened a world of opportun...

Jamil Muhammad is the Executive Producer and Host at C.R.O.E. Television Productions, based in Chicago, Illinois. He hosts the signature programs Muhammad & Friends and the Munir Muhammad Show. C.R.O.E. Television Productions was created by the Coalition for Remembrance of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (CROE), a non profit organization whose aim is to deliver informative political, social and...

Welcome to the Black History episode that nearly wasn’t!  I decided right after the new year, I would not be doing a 2021 Black History episode. Frankly, I really dreaded another month coming in where we pretended at having cultural pride in our Blackness. Coming from a year of national unrest following the tragic killings of countless Black men and Black women by state actors, we have asked...

This week’s Nurah Speaks guest is Sister Colette Muhammad of ‘Canning with Colette.’ Sister Colette is a registered member of the Nation of Islam and learned the proper canning of foods in the Sisters’ class and now she provides these classes to others. In this episode, Sister Colette shares why canning is an important food preservation technique that benefits both our physical and financial healt...

Although racism is a terrible and cruel thing, it is not the most pressing of our present challenges. Our greatest and gravest issues since Emancipation and Jim Crow have been a destructive and self deprecating mindset that inhibits our desire to meets the needs of our people. Our tee-shirts and caps claim “Black and Proud,” however a great measure of our political and social activism does not dem...

I am joined this week by Sister Aquila Ali.  Aquila is a member of the Coalition for Remembrance of Elijah Muhammad (CROE) and is an integral part of their media production team.  Unfortunately for black women in media, the bar has been set very low in terms of image and content.  However Aquila continues to endure as an example of character and integrity In this conversation, Aquil...

On this MLK Day of Service be reminded of the fullness of Dr. King’s movement.  We cannot let him be another figure we memorialize in distortion.  He was more than his passive resistance.  He was a fierce opponent of injustice, standing in full defiance to racism, poverty and unjust war. On this 26th MLK Day of Service, 53 years after his tragic assassination, be reminded that the j...

In an era popular with youth task forces and social programs serving ‘at risk’ youth, we must ask what we can do to head off delinquent behaviors in our young people. In this episode, I suggest that ‘Family Is The Best Social Program’ and I have research that I share to support this assertion.  The research indicates that, “Children born to unmarried mothers generally receive lower human capi...

In this week’s episode we hear from Dr. Sandra West.  Dr. West is an optometrist having over 27 years of practice. She also happens to be my own personal physician. I met Dr. West several years ago when I scheduled a routine vision exam and to my surprise and pure delight the doctor was a Black woman.  Interestingly enough, when I attended a business conference in New Orleans several mon...

Some may wonder why I close each show with the words ‘Stay in peace!’    As peace is literally my religion and my way of life, it is also my message. And in such a trying time as this-it is more important than ever that we focus on efforts to increase or maintain our peace by focusing on self care. So - as we close out 2020 with Episode 146, I share ways in which we can attend to our own...

When the world settles into its new normal, Nurah Speaks will still be here!   Therefore, I am actively preparing for the 2021 season of the podcast.    I have several goals for the upcoming year including:  featuring 13 insightful guests, refining the podcast, increasing listener engagement, and more. If you have ideas, show topics, or guests you'd like featured, ple...