Taj Anwar

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taj anwar

taj anwar at the Royal at a Come Up Kids function in Atlanta, GA; May 27, 2007; Photo by Hannibal Matthews
Alternate name(s): Birth Name:

Tajik Assata Anwar Bahoul
Date of birth: July 16, 1978 (1978-07-16) (age 29)
Place of birth: Trinidad
Movement: Black Nationalism, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Women's Rights, Malnutrition, Homelessness and Peace Movement
Major organizations: FTP Movement, Blk Agenda Family, Mothers of Black/Brown Babies, Crew Love, Think Conscious Collective, Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless
Religion: Rastafarian
Influences Assata Shakur, Afeni Shakur, Ernesto Che Guevara, Ceasar Chavez, Hosea Williams, Marcus Garvey, Túpac Amaru II, Dhoruba Bin Wahad, Shaka Al- Thinin, Hosea Williams, Elder Freeman, Kalonji jama Changa, Nkrumah Mau Mau Anpu,

Taj Anwar is a model, community organizer, philanthropist, political motivator, promoter and a social commentator within the Hip Hop community as well as academia. She is most widely known for work with the FTP Movement, Mothers of Black/Brown Babies,and Crew Love, Anwar is known to speak of and challenge the issues of the inner- city community- such as racism, critical pedagogy, police brutality, education and environmental justice, activism against governmental hypocrisy and corporate control. In addition, she is an integral part of the Think Conscious Collective (the hosts of Happily Natural Day) and a member of the legendary activist group Blk Agenda Family.

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[edit] Personal life

Anwar was born Tajik Assata Anwar Bahoul in Trinidad on July 16, 1978 of East Indian, Hispanic and African- American parentage. She was raised in Atlanta, Georgia's southside community of College Park. Her mother raised her as single mother, guiding Anwar's early choice to focus on bettering herself to better others. She dedicated her life to serving the community at an young age, known in elementary and middle school to give her lunch money or bagged lunches to children who did not have money to eat at school. She was an active leader as a child and an engaged participant in community and volunteer activities. While living in a community that had one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the southeastern United States, her sights were on civic responsibility.

Anwar shares three children with ex-husband Khaliq Rashaad: Khaliq Rashaad (born October 1999), Naim Amon (born June 2002) and Linaa Jade (born April 2004). Anwar and Rashaad married in 2003, yet divorced in 2005; citing an amiacable decision to split. They remain friends.

Its been reported that Anwar may be in a relationship with Amond Jackson, producer/ host of the Underground Railroad, an underground hip hop radio show on WVFS FM 89.7 in Tallahassee, Florida. Neither have confirmed or denied a union.

Anwar juggles her time between her children, modeling, teaching, leading a national organization and activism- that often takes her worldwide promoting social issues. She continues to live and work in Atlanta, Georgia's eastside progressive community of Inman Park.

[edit] Education

Anwar went on to further her education at Georgia State University. It was here that anwar found her passion in activism. She gave up traditional college dorm life to devote more time to her activist positions. She was active with the YMCA's Saturday Breakfast Program for children, Knowledge Ciphers, a new book program for poor children and various homeless feeding programs.

[edit] Activism

Upon finishing graduate school and while still pregnant with her second child, anwar went on to establish Mothers of Black/Brown Babies from her negative experience with the governmental assistance programs for families. In 2002, anwar, while still a graduate student at Georgia State University, working full time and a mother of two went to apply for financial assistance from a governmental agency. When asked of she was in school, anwar proudly told her caseworker that she was in school and what she was studying. After a 2-hour waiting period and 2 ½ hour interview process, anwar was denied assistance and told that in order for her to qualify for assistance; she would need to quit school. Angered, anwar left the office and vowed to make a change upon graduating from college. She defended her Master’s degree thesis on Mother’s of Black/Brown Babies, and non- profit she hoped to start shortly after graduating.

M.O.B.B. is named after one of anwar’s favorite songs, “Steady Mobbin’” by Da Lench Mob. In the hip-hop community, that phrase means to keep it moving, no matter the circumstance. The acronym became functional term she used while working in the community. In 2004, anwar put M.O.B.B. into practice. She began going to various public housing projects giving out food and hygiene care packages to families in need. She assembled these packages at home and hand delivered them in her truck. When talking with the people, she recognized that the same conditions that she worked hard to pull herself out of are still existent. Recalling her experience with dealing with governmental benefits, she could identify with their stories as well. She used her experience and learning to write People within the local hip- hop community became aware of the work she was doing and offered resources.

taj anwar

taj anwar by Khalid Hammaad, June 2007

In 2006, M.O.B.B. became a movement in which anwar wrote and developed various programs to strengthen parenting amongst mothers. People could identify with her story and wanted to join M.O.B.B. in its efforts, thus propelling M.O.B.B. to national and international recognition. The organization continues to serve families through emrgency food and clothes assistance, workshops and working on behalf of incarcerated mothers and children. When interviewed by Afrikan Holistic Parenting, anwar gave the following advice for mothers who struggle:

"Be a pillar of strength for your youths. They're watching. Motherhood- Now that's gangsta." [cite quote]

Under the guidance of her mentor, respected activist Kalonji Jama Changa and Nkrumah Mau Mau Anpu, anwar is and has been instrumental in activism programs nationwide- including the FTP Movement, founded by Changa and Blk Agenda Family, founded by Anpu. Using her popularity from being a model with Banana Republic she draws attention to issues in arenas where activism may not be popular and sparks new attention to relevant issues in the inner- city and minority communities.

With all of her accomplishments, anwar is also known for genorousity and humility. She has equally known to give money from her own pocket to a family in need as well as skip award ceremonies and shun accolades for her community work. A writer once wrote about anwar:

"Even before earning her doctorate in sociology, the 29-year-old was entrenched in community service. It's a way of life for anwar, whose list of activist affiliations hangs longer than her knee-length locks, [but] anwar lower-cases her real name to keep things in focus. "I'm not what's important. It's the work behind the name." [cite quote]

[edit] Sources

  • Mothers of Black/Brown Babies. (2007). Taj Anwar Retrieved 10 November 2007 from http://www.mobbb.org/.

[edit] External links