(BALTIMORE – June 13, 2025) – Lyle Muhammad introduced me to Brother Naba’a Richard Muhammad, a Baltimore native, around 1999. I had just begun writing for the Afro and the Baltimore Times and sought an opportunity to spread my wings even further with the Final Call Newspaper. As many in the news industry know, Brother Richard was the longtime Editor-in-Chief. I have consistently concluded that this is America’s most prominent Black newspaper, if not the world.
For the uninitiated, The Final Call is one of the most valuable resources we have as Black people in America. After all, whoever controls the media controls the narrative. As a lifelong media student, I cannot have that on any level. We must be able to communicate with the world and tell our story accurately and with respect.
This is what I can tell you about Brother Richard. Although he was the editor, over time, he became one of my biggest supporters, all the way from Chicago. He was the personification of Black Wall Street, if you ask me. Sometimes, there are people we talk to every single day who wouldn’t lift a finger to help us do anything. And then, there are people like Richard who may not call you every day, but when he calls – it was always good.
Writing for the Final Call under Brother Richard was a blessing. You never know how high you can fly until you try. Writing for such an influential newspaper was an overall treat. Plus, I made a few bucks. Brother Richard helped me grow my brand. He gave me exposure. He was not a gatekeeper, as so many become when placed in a position of authority—au contraire. He opened doors.
Back in 2014, I’ll never forget the opportunity of a lifetime for me at the time. Because of the kind of cat he was, this man got me a paid speaking opportunity at the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Convention in Portland, Oregon. The NNPA represents about 200 newspapers with a Black legacy across America. It was the kind of trip where I literally bumped into Ron Busby, President and CEO of the US Black Chambers.
This trip wasn’t just about speaking to other Black media owners about how BMORENews has been able to monetize our news outlets. This trip gave me up-close and personal time with myself. The ink pen has served me well, and I will continue to nurture that gift. On top of that, I met Willie Brown, former Speaker of the California Assembly. Brown has been a hero of mine for years.
I had an editorial supervisor who once wrote in my evaluation that I thought I was a better writer than I was. I thought about that long and hard. After her, the new supervisor was quite encouraging and would never find such words appropriate.
Richard was a self-actualized person, like my second supervisor. Richard had covered countless national and international news stories. Of the Black people I know in the industry, few have the depth of a Richard Muhammad. He once shared a piece of wisdom that the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said to him: “The other guy might have more resources, but we are going to outwork him every single time.”
That piece of motivation sticks with me to this day. From my perch in Baltimore, I watched Richard navigate the onset of the internet, the transition to a world where newspapers are losing their luster, and even start a podcast. I watched him develop his own brand that was still in sync with the Nation of Islam.
Not only has the Nation of Islam lost its scribe, but the world has lost a truth-teller. His boldness encouraged me halfway across the country. He demonstrated for me what it means to be on the ground. And he always passed the ball. Because of him, I got to cover national news stories that were read worldwide.
I’ll end with this. The most admirable trait I think of when it comes to Brother Richard is this: he was a loyal soldier to the Minister. In my experiences with him, he always represented the Nation of Islam in his life. We talked about family, responsibilities of men, the role of the Black media … We even spoke about Malcolm once. I always respected his position. Even more, he respected mine. Where some people try to bully religion on you – and this is across the board – wiser people understand that it is better to attract people to one’s faith by the life one leads.
That was Brother Richard. He could show you better than he could tell you.
The biggest honor for me was helping with his birthday party here in Baltimore about 12 years ago. I was truly grateful to serve a brother who has looked out for the Black nation through his courageous stances and determination to speak truth to power. I have looked at his stories over the years and have always been amazed at how in-tune and well-connected he was. You name the national Black news story, and Brother Richard has credits somewhere.
May Almighty Allah welcome Brother Richard to the kingdom. May peace be upon his soul.
