From The St. Petersburg Times February 18, 2006:
CLEARWATER – This evening’s black-tie celebration of Black History month at the Fort Harrison Hotel is a clear signal Scientologists are forging fruitful relationships with persuasive voices in some of the nation’s black communities.
Among the four black clergy to be honored at Scientology’s annual Ebony Awakening awards ceremony is Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam.
Farrakhan is convalescing after extensive touring for last October’s Millions More Movement march, but Western Regional Minister Tony Muhammad will accept on his behalf.
The evening’s keynote speaker will be Baptist pastor Alfreddie Johnson, newly elected City Council member in Lynwood, Calif., and executive director of the World Literacy Crusade, a tutoring program that uses the “study technology” of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
In interviews this week, Muhammad and Johnson said they are comfortable partnering with Scientology. They both disclosed a plan to train members of the Nation of Islam to administer Hubbard’s “study tech” and drug treatment methods. The programs will be offered at mosques in the Los Angeles area to start. A similar collaboration is playing out in East Tampa at the Glorious Church of God in Christ. Rev. Charles L. Kennedy has arranged for his congregants to be trained by Scientologists to teach Hubbard’s scholastic and drug treatment techniques to residents in the predominantly black neighborhood.
