When 79-year-old Donald Bakeer walks into this South Los Angeles classroom, he was immediately greeted by a small group of 8-to-10-year olds.
“As-Salaam-Alaikum,” the third and fourth graders say, or “peace be unto you.”
“Wa alaikum assalam,” he responds, “and upon you be peace.”
As Bakeer took his seat, the students at the private, Muslim Islah Academy sat down in a semicircle with one goal: to learn about his part in South L.A. history. Bakeer also had something to gain: He wanted to feel like he still mattered.
Recalling history
Bakeer has worn many hats in his life. He fought in the Vietnam War, participated in restaurant sit-ins against discrimination while a student at Howard University in the 1960s, and taught in public schools across South L.A. during periods of police brutality and gang wars.
After observing the violence and unrest unfold in his community, he wrote the 1987 novel Crips: The Story of the L.A. Street Gang from 1971-1985, based on his research and experiences living in the area as a teacher who would watch his students fall into gang life. Crips was later adapted into the 1992 Oliver Stone-produced movie about a father and son who get caught up in L.A.’s gang wars.
He also shook hands with some well-known stars. He met Tupac after writing the novel at the premiere of the movie South Central in 1992.
He talked to Sidney Poitier for an hour during a film event. And he was longtime friends with boxer Muhammad Ali and filmmaker John Singleton.
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