Prince Amir speaks on his comrade, Young Malcolm

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by The People’s Minister of Information JR Valrey

In 2010, Malcolm Shabazz and I traveled to Chicago to be a part of the annual Chairman Fred Hampton Street Party, celebrating the life of the assassinated Black Panther leader. While on that trip, we were introduced to Prince Amir, the grandson of Imam Malik aka Jeff Fort of the Black P. Stone Nation, who was one of the honored guests at the Prisoners of Conscience Committee event.

Prince Amir and Malcolm hit it off immediately, and Malcolm considered the prince to be one of his closest comrades. Three years after the assassination of El Hajj Malcolm Latif Shabazz in Mexico City, we bring you a piece of a chapter in Malcolm’s intense, short and very important life. Check out Prince Amir as he talks about his comrade, brother and friend.

M.O.I. JR: Can you tell us how you met Malcolm Shabazz? When?

Malcolm-Shabazz-Prince-Amir-meet-Ch.-Fred-Hampton-Street-Party-Chicago-West-Side-0810-by-JR-BR, Prince Amir speaks on his comrade, Young Malcolm, Culture Currents
Malcolm Shabazz and Prince Amir met at the Chairman Fred Hampton Street Party on the West Side of Chicago in August 2010. – Photo: JR Valrey, Block Report

Prince Amir: I met him in Chicago on the Westside at the Fred Hampton Back to School Block party event, hosted by Fred Hampton’s son, Fred Hampton Jr., in 2010.

M.O.I. JR: Besides the similarity in age, what made y’all so close?

Prince Amir: We share similar views on life, on family and how things are in the world. We both share a strong bond to share the principles and morals of love, truth, peace, freedom and justice with unity and upliftment for all humanity and justice for the unjust people in the world.

M.O.I. JR: For the people who never met Malcolm, could you describe his personality?

Prince Amir: He was a funny person, even though he was so serious when he shared his thoughts with the world. He was a laid back, playful, loyal and a family orientated brother, but it was never a time that knowledge was not being given or received while you around him.

M.O.I. JR: What were some of the political and social issues that were important to him?

Malcolm-Shabazz-his-aunt-Ilyasah-JR-Prince-Amir-Malcolm’s-26th-b’day-New-Rochelle-NY-by-JR-BR, Prince Amir speaks on his comrade, Young Malcolm, Culture Currents
Malcolm, his aunt Ilyasah, the Minister of Info JR and Prince Amir took this photo after Malcolm’s 26th birthday party in New Rochelle, New York. – Photo: JR Valrey, Block Report

Prince Amir: He was into the political prisoner epidemic. Like with Imam Malik and many more people, there is injustice going on around the world but also right here in our communities.

M.O.I. JR: What were some of the campaigns that you were both engaged in?

Prince Amir: When we met, we started doing the Legacy Tour with myself, Malcolm Shabazz and Fred Hampton Jr. We used to talk about a lot. I use to tell him about me building my nonprofit program “PLAAY” (Peace and Love Amongst Active Youth).

We was brothers in the same struggle, loyal soldiers in the same army, sharing unity and upliftment. We spoke on a lot of ideas and a lot of plans, so it wasn’t much that we didn’t support each other on.

M.O.I. JR: What did Malcolm like to do when he kicked it with you in Chicago?

Prince Amir: He liked to eat. He was always traveling, so when he did get around loved ones or close friends, he always wanted to enjoy the moment and he always wanted to meet the people and the community.

He always wanted to meet the people and the community.

M.O.I. JR: Can you talk a little bit about the freedom campaign that you are engaged in to free your grandfather? What can people do to help?

Prince Amir: My grandfather, Imam Malik (Jeff Fort), is a political prisoner who’s been treated unfairly – not getting his mail, phone calls and no contact with others. They have been having rallies for him and other political prisoners in Chicago and in Atlanta. We are fighting for his human rights and the rights of other political prisoners.

The People’s Minister of Information JR Valrey is associate editor of the Bay View, author of “Block Reportin’“ and “Unfinished Business: Block Reportin’ 2“ and filmmaker of “Operation Small Axe“ and “Block Reportin’ 101,” available, along with many more interviews, at www.blockreportradio.com. He can be reached at blockreportradio@gmail.com.