Malik H. Majeed

Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, in the aftermath of the 1967 Civil Unrest, Malik H. Majeed’s childhood was shaped by an environment both honest and complex. “As a child, I didn’t even know what a housing project was, even though I lived in Kretchmer Homes, also known as Dayton Street Projects,” Malik recalls. “To me, this was just what living in the city meant.”The city’s scars—vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and blackened, smoke-charred structures—were explained to him as deliberate designs for Black communities after the 1960s unrest and the civil rights movement. Yet, Malik’s upbringing in the Nation of Islam offered a broader perspective. “I learned early that the struggle for respect is an enduring journey, a corridor we travel for generations.”

Reflecting on generational differences, Malik notes that the post-1960s remnants were fading as he came of age. “Traveling outside Newark was no longer blatantly restricted by traffic stops,” he explains. The generation after the 1970s missed the visible presence of drug addiction—at least until the crack epidemic. “Disco culture and programs like Newark’s Summer Jobs for teenagers distracted from the harsher realities,” he adds.

Malik remembers a time when older men—fathers, uncles, even local drug dealers—looked out for the youth. “They kept us away from trouble spots and scared us straight when needed,” he says. “Gangs were present, but nothing like today. Now, it feels more like indoctrination from movies and music.” The absence of that intergenerational guidance, he feels, is a defining challenge for today’s youth.

With 12 years as a Corrections Officer, Malik’s view of the justice system is candid. “I’m not convinced there is a justice system—only a system of penalty. Plea bargains exist to protect prosecutors’ conviction records, not to serve justice.” He’s seen firsthand how fear of lengthy sentences drives people to accept plea deals, regardless of guilt. “Society has a problem when people can’t meet basic needs and the government won’t help. Patriotism can’t exist without support for the vulnerable.”

Despite his career in corrections, Malik’s love for history predates his professional life. “History was always my favorite subject in high school,” he shares. It was a family event—the passing of his maternal grandmother—that truly sparked his journey into ancestry research. “At her repast, I realized her great-grandchildren didn’t know we were descendants of American Indians with Cuban ancestry. Their curiosity—and my own—drove me to write.”

Malik’s research led him back to Southampton, Virginia, in 1642—just after the Anglo-Powhatan Wars. “That discovery almost made me fall out of my seat,” he laughs. “It changed the narrative embedded in our mentality.” For Malik, these findings explain his family’s uniqueness and challenge stereotypes: “Our exotic appearance, the curiosity from immigrants, and the stories that block us from understanding ourselves.”

Initially, Malik had no intention of publishing his findings. “I wrote about 150 pages, just for myself. My uncle Edward Patrick read it and was amazed—he insisted it needed to be published. He believed, as I did, that others might share this ancestry and need these answers.”

Malik’s book, “Roc the Mike: Methods of Obliteration of the Native Americans,” delves into overlooked chapters of American history. “Everyone knows about the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World Wars One and Two. But what about the War of 1812?” he asks. “That was the final era of conquering and subduing American Indians, and it’s when racial ideology was truly established in the U.S.”

Malik challenges accepted narratives: “Suppose there is no African American experience—suppose there’s a difference between Native American and American Indian. The term ‘Native American’ only started after the War of 1812. What are the odds that many slaves in Virginia weren’t African at all?”

For those interested in their own ancestry, Malik offers practical advice: “Study the time frame and the surrounding areas. You’ll be surprised by what you find.”

His hope for the future is simple but profound: “Unify with the authentic identification as American.”

Reflecting on his journey, Malik’s greatest appreciation is for his grandmother’s strong, emphatic stance—her legacy of resilience and love.

“That’s a difficult question,” Malik says. “The obliteration is ongoing. But Allah has preserved the knowledge for us to obtain.” To hear more from Malik H. Majeed and explore these stories further, listen to his podcast: http://www.youtube.com/@RocTheMikeByMalik

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