Nashid AlHadi BLACK Scholarship

I met Nashid Al Hadi in early autumn of 2015 in my class where he quickly distinguished himself as a very talented young man with insights beyond his years.  My course has always been modeled and delivered in university format. Students are encouraged to stay up to date with their syllabus, they were required to read independently and work through challenges. 

Where other students struggled, Nashid excelled at an astonishing rate. Before long, I was giving him independent directives, extra reading assignments and revealing the end of my units to him before I taught them to the class.  As a rule, I never did that but Nashid was ready. As a late teen, He had already begun crafting his life in a way that would allow him to impact his environment, his community and its culture, the city of Philadelphia and ultimately the world.  Nashid overstood the mental, socio-political and economic obstacles that have been set against Black Americans and he held visions of remedying those issues through diligence and sincere application. 

Nashid was seeker and giver of knowledge. He sought wisdom in literature—reading often— as well as from people, he respected. Yet and still he was very firm in himself and his personal beliefs. Nashid knew full well that all knowledge is self-knowledge and his inspiration to  read and study came from a pride in growing into a man that would ultimately help liberate his people. To be the next Fred Hampton for the cause was of great importance to Nashid, even if it meant a similar end. In his heart he knew if he could further the progress of the people it would be more than worth it. There was no fear. His mind was set.  Nashid’s code of conduct for the upliftment of his community was uniform in all aspects of his life. From social outings with friends, to dating, to the creation of the BLACK program, Nashid maintained his integrity and commitment to  an ideal of giving his best and doing right by others. It is rare for a young person to pursue an ideal and to simultaneously be that which they seek for others. 

In his pursuit of becoming a fearless and virtuous leader, his peers exalted him as such. In his pursuit of becoming the most knowledgeable and well-rounded man he could be, he is remembered as such by all those that love and respect him. 

A recipient of the BLACK scholarship is first and foremost a considerate youth. They consider deeply their position in the world and how they might make a positive impact where it is most needed. Said youth is a visionary and has on one or more occasions put their words to action to benefit others. A BLACK scholarship recipient embodies the warrior-scholar mentality of Nashid and those Black heroes he admired—Fred Hampton, Malcolm X and Sharazad Ali to name a few. The BLACK scholarship recipient also stands out as a leader chosen and preferred by their peers and they invest in themselves so that they may enrich their community. Finally, the BLACK scholarship recipient lives the mission of the BLACK program and perpetuates Nashid Al Hadi’s vision of helping black people become a sovereign and self-sufficient nation.