More than 350 black Muslims from across the United States visited the Island last week for the 10th Annual “Time To Be Grateful” celebrations of the Chicago-based, The Muslim Journal.

Joined by their Bermudian counterparts, the Muslims virtually took over the Fairmont Southampton Hotel as the springboard for an exciting round of activities highlighted by a fabulous Saturday night dinner and dancing. followed by a Bermuda-style Sunday morning codfish and potatoes breakfast with all the trimmings and brimful of fellowship.

Hamilton City Hall was the centre of attraction on the Friday night for a lively show of Muslim culture and beauty in the Earl Cameron Theatre.

The Muslim Journal is the modern-day name of the newspaper Muhammed Speaks that was heavily subscribed by generations of Bermudians, ‘back in the day.’ Each year The Journal has held its “Time To Be Grateful” weekend of celebrations at a different State to which strong Bermudian delegations were attracted.

And national and international personalities were singled out and honoured for their outstanding contributions.

In a sort of variation of the ancient “Mountain going to Mohammed fable”, the principals of The Muslim Journal concluded that for this significant milestone it was Bermuda’s turn to be saluted.

Resident Iman, Bermudian Basim Muwwakkil gave the welcome address at the dinner. Mistress of Ceremonies was Bermudian Tracey Sharrieff, the wife of Bermuda Industrial Union president, Chris Furbert.

Guest speaker, direct from the White House was D. Paul Montiero, the Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs Advisor to the President. Keynote speaker was Diane Nash, now an elegant grandmother, who gained international prominence at age 21, as a bold leader in the southern students’ civil right movement in the Southern States that countered overt racism against black Americans.

Six Bermudians were singled out for high honours. Businessman and former Senator Cromwell Shakir received the Public Servant Award. Judith Hall-Bean, whose nearly 50 years in the Civil Service culminated in her being Secretary to the Cabinet, from which she recently retired, received the Civil Servants Award.

Iman of the Year Award went to Resident Iman Muwwakkil. And the Clara Muhammed School in Hamilton was cited for its role in educating Bermudians. The Progressive Young Student Award went to Ra’ees JibriTankard, the son of Dr Radell Tankard and wife Mellisa Gibbons Tankard.

The US Consul General in Bermuda, Mr Robert Settje, presented the Imam W. Deen Mohammed Distinguished Citizen Award to keynote speaker Diane Nash. He personally cited her as a Great American hero, having listened to her speech, and seeing the movie about her activities that preceded the speech.