Black Power Activist Jamil Al-Amin Dies at 82

Jamil Al-Amin, a significant figure in the Black Power movement known earlier as H. Rap Brown, has died in prison at the age of 82. He was serving a life sentence at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina. His death was confirmed by Kristie Breshears, communications director for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

A Voice of the Black Power Era

Under the name H. Rap Brown, Al-Amin rose to prominence in the 1960s as a leading voice in the more militant wing of the civil rights movement. As chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), he advocated for a shift away from nonviolence, leading to the organization’s rebranding as the Student National Coordinating Committee. Known for his signature black beret and sunglasses, he championed armed resistance and Black separatism.

During the widespread riots of 1967, Al-Amin became a powerful cultural force. His impassioned speeches on street corners and college campuses gave voice to the deep frustrations within the Black community, particularly in the wake of unfulfilled promises following the end of slavery. He famously declared, “Violence is necessary. Violence is a part of America’s culture. It is as American as cherry pie,” and stated, “Black folk built America, and if it don’t come around, we’re gonna burn America down.”

Later Life and Conviction

By the 1970s, Al-Amin had converted to Islam, changed his name, and adopted a quieter life as a Muslim cleric and shopkeeper. This period of his life concluded in 2000 with his arrest in connection with the killing of a sheriff’s deputy. In 2002, he was convicted of murdering Fulton County Deputy Ricky Kinchen.

The conviction stemmed from an incident where Kinchen and Deputy Aldranon English were attempting to serve an arrest warrant at Al-Amin’s Atlanta home. Gunfire erupted during the encounter. However, advocacy groups, including the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Imam Jamil Action Network, have called for the case to be reopened, citing a confession from another individual for the shooting.

A Legacy of Activism and Controversy

Al-Amin’s son, through the Davis Bozeman law firm, expressed gratitude for the support received during his father’s life and requested continued prayers during their mourning. The statement highlighted Al-Amin as a “father, a husband, a brother, a leader, and a servant of the people.” At the time of his death, Jamil Al-Amin was serving a life sentence without parole.