Previous Column

In the continuation of my travels on the West Coast of the United States, principally in the State of California, for a period of approximately two and a half months, I had returned for the second time to the City of Oakland to continue my outreach to the greater community in my efforts to help the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and our Nation, in the areas of Educational Research and Cultural Development. I was nearing the completion of a series of investigative studies which involved several lectures, workshops, and an in-house training program with the M.G. T. (Women�s Classes) of the Nation of Islam, which was followed by Performing Arts Cultural Presentations in venues from Los Angeles to Oakland, San Diego and with a return to Oakland. My final departure from Los Angeles returning to Chicago occurred in the late evening a few hours short of the early dawning of the 26th of May.

The initiation of my journey began at the start of the middle of March with my first invitation and engagement to present my Cultural and Educational Programs on the grounds of the Crystal Cathedral on March 21 in Garden Grove, California. This event was covered in the March and April issues of the Final Call Newspaper by Reporter Journalist, Sister Rosalind Muhammad and myself. The event which opened at the Crystal Cathedral occurred simultaneously with the celebration of the Spring Equinox. As we approach the Summer Solstice, we are continuing in our evolution and revolution around the sun, being at that time in the mid-point of this year, 2001. Everything has its significance and meaning if we would but become more conscious of the transformation and growth taking place in every season and in every moment of our lives in our onward journey and experience on our Planet.

In referring to the title of my article, "The Woman With The Five Dollar Bill," let me introduce the fol- lowing background. The May 22 nd, 2001 issue of the Final Call Newspaper featured two stories which corresponded to the recent discoveries of the Face and Monuments on Mars and a project initiative of an organization pursuing means and methods in Washington, D.C. to force disclosure by the United States Government regarding her Secret Files on the subject of U.F.O.s.

When I was picked up from the airport in Oakland by the local officials and escorted to the home of my host family, once arriving at the curb site of the home, the car door was opened, and at that precise moment, a woman passed by, and looked in our direction. On the back seat were a few copies of that particular May 22nd issue. She paused and looked at me and asked for that current edition. She gave me a five dollar bill, and when I turned to the brothers for the change, she quickly intervened and stated that it was all right, and to keep it as her donation. There I was holding the five dollar bill in amazement because I had made an unexpected sale of the Final Call Newspaper. When I turned it over to the local Minister, he responded by stating that he felt that it was of greater significance for me to receive it for whatever meaning it might have for me.

I have thought over the significance of that special moment and wish to share with our readers something of what it means to me. First of all the number "5" as a numeral is printed eight times on the five dollar bill appearing in each of its four corners on both sides. It is written fully as a word twice on the bottom on both the front and reverse side, and four more times bordering both sides. There are 14 fives in all on the five dollar bill. The multiplication of 14 times five equals 70. These numbers have great significance, which time limits the fullest expression of details. In my last article, I wrote briefly on the meaning of the 85%. This Five Dollar Bill made me think of the other part of this mathematical equation that refers to the 5% in the study of the Nation of Islam�s Supreme Wisdom Lesson Assignment given to all new converts to study.

That was a righteous woman participating in a righteous exchange on the streets of the inner city. This has great significance regarding the time in which we live and the meaning of the five percent as employed in our Lessons. In answer to the question, Who is the 5% in the poor part of the Earth, we learn that they are the "poor, righteous teachers, who do not believe in the teaching of the 10%; and are all-wise; and know who the Living God is." There is much to be understood in the above words, but I close this article by thanking the Woman With The Five Dollar Bill Donation and the impression she generated into my heart. May she forever be enriched and blessed to be counted among the 5%.

To be continued.