His name rings with the clang of an icon, perhaps because he was. Known as Imam Jamil al Amin, he lived at least two lives as an icon, his pre-conversion life as a Black nationalist, fiery speaker and student organizer and activist then known as H. Rap Brown, a man known as a deep supporter of Black liberation. He was born Hubert Gerard Brown in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on October 4, 1943. He was therefore, a man in his 20s when he was elected National Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, known as SNCC in the old days, after Stokely Carmichael left office in May 1967. His rapid speaking style gave him the nickname ‘Rap’ decades before the rise of rap as an art form in music.
As a young man, his rap led to him being targeted by state and federal government agencies; snooping annd harassment. Indeed, the federal government passed the H. Rap Brown Act to stop him from speaking out. He was named a target in the COINTELPRO files. His bust on weapons charges led him to a five year bid in the feds, where he embraced Islam, inspired no doubt by the example set by Malcolm X, later known as Al Haj Malik Shabbat. When he left the joint, he moved to Atlanta to serve the community as their Imam. He worked to keep his community safe from the imposition of drugs.
Imam Jamil, years after he was named the Minister of Justice of the Black Panther Party, emerged as a spiritual leader or minister of his community dedicated to the safety of mothers and children in the neighborhood. It was there that the state attacked, perhaps because of his anti drug efforts; arrested again — or was it targeted again– thrown into the federal system. They tried to silence him forever. With his lawyer and wife, Karima, they fought to get him treated and retried. Imam Jamil suffered from an aggressive form of cancer.
The fight continued, of course. But on Sunday, November, 23 2025, Imam Jamil breathed his last breath. Imam Jamil al Amin lived through 82 winters in America. Through it all, he fought for liberation and spiritual freedom. He returns to the source with love, not fear. This is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.
