Reprinted from the December 1,1972 edition of Muhammad Speaks Newspaper

Celebrating the Black Miracle of life, at 130

By Janice 3X (Sims ) -5R Films, Inc.

"They fooled us all. They brought men and women, wives, children over here and sold them. The Niggers wanted to throw me over board. I don't know why! They would have throw me over if it hadn't been for the white captain of the boat saving me. I don' t have to read for mine (meaning history) I was there. I know what they done...THE SLAVEMASTER branded everything. Everything he owned, that was the way he marked what he owned, cattle and men; all except the sheep..."
Words of, 130-year-old, Charles Smith

CHICAGO - Last week when we talked about Mr. Smith, a 130 year old wonder, it was of a casual nature - how he looks, where he lives and what his home is like. But maybe what we really want to do now- is look to see what kind of life must a Black Man live, in order to reach the age of 130 during times when daily inhumane treatment was being practiced on Black people from coast to coast.

Mr. Smith started talking as though he were thinking out loud. "They fooled us all. They brought men and women, wives, children over here and sold them. The Niggers wanted to throw me over board. I don't know why! They would have throw me over if it hadn't been for the white captain of the boat saving me. I don' t have to read for mine (meaning history ) I was there. I know what they done." Then all of a sudden he changed his conversation. "I remember the time a colored porter couldn't get off the train. There was a sign tacked up in big black letters "READ NIGGER AND RUN." They sent me to tear it down.

"THE SLAVEMASTER branded everything. Everything he owned, that was the way he marked what he owned, cattle and men; all except the sheep. He didn't brand the sheep because hair grows over them. When Mr. Charley called me, I was getting my gun to go round to the other place to brand. He call me C.H for short, since our names were the same ( the white slave master named his property, Charles Smith, after himself ). He said C.H,tell sis to come here and I went there. I called Mr. Charley, dad. I said what is it dad and he told me to bring the holy BIBLE. Don't bring me the new testament."I got the Bible and open it to Genesis. Then Mr. Charley said, " put your hand in here, stoop down. I stooped down and he read Genesis out." Mr. Charley said right out, 'you know what you're doing....' Then he made me a 33rd Degree Mason ! Mr. Charley made me the first Negro to be a Mason! Then he turned the pages over to the Revelation and told me don't break your oath.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPEN TO JEFF DAVIS WAS A WHITE MAN, A GOVERNOR, AND HE BROKE HIS OATH IN THE MASONRY AND THEY LYNCHED HIM KILLED HIM. that's what Mr. Charley, ( his slave master ) my daddy said to me."

Mr. Smith then change back to his own voice tone and declared ; I been to the tree more than one time what they hung him on.I know when it was done. I know how it was done. I been to the tree more than one time ! " My daddy, Mr. Charley warned me "YOU BREAK YOUR OATH, THEY'LL DO YOU JUST LIKE THEY DONE JEFF DAVIS. "

I set there listening, looking into Mr. Smith's face trying to find something, some sign to help me with my next question. There was none, so I ask. "Mr. Smith can you tell now what the oath was? " The answer came deep from within him, and he almost shouted ! " What you won't to ask me a question like that. THAT'S WHY THEY KILLED JEFF DAVIS ! MISSES DON'T TALK TO ME. I RATHER NOT TALK TO A PERSON THAT ASK SUCH A QUESTION AS THAT. I WON'T TALK TO NOBODY ASKING ME SUCH A QUESTION!" It's seems the " MANS " work is well done then he can put fear in a child at age twelve and 118 years later that same fear can so easily be rekindled!

Charles Smith was 18 when he took the oath of the Masonry. After a period of silence, Mr.Smith begin to tell of crossing the SANDY DESERT where it was said no man could come out alive. During that time they called him Trigger- Kid and the boy he was with "BILLY Kid. " He said the King Ranch never was that name ( this ranch ares is seen on Bonanza). That ranch belonged to Jesse James and Jesse's children. I don't have to read for mine...I was there. I saw Jesse James baby fore he did. We road together and we was out on a job when Jesse sent me and some of the other boys back to see his wife through her pregnancy. When he returned, he put me Trigger-Kid on one side of him and Billy-Kid on the other. Then Jesse stood between us and we sang this song:

Hush! Hush! don't you cry, you'er going to be in the military before you die." He sang that song over and over again. He liked to talk a lot about his job with the state. He said I worked for the government all my life, and I still do.They sends me to clean- up things. I used to have to go bring back Blacks who had escaped prison and go into towns and stop confusion Black and white folks was causing. The state still takes good care of me. I gets a check every month."

Then he went on to talk about his fruit picking days. "I picked fruit until I was 113 years old." People around Florida said Charles Smith picked fruit so good that each year at the annual fruit pickers fair, he would take first prize.It got so they would give him 100 dollars just so he would not compete against the white boys, leaving them to win the big money. He talked about his eating habits. What he did for recreation and how much rest he felt he now needed. " Well!"

Mr. Smith said, "most times I eat sardines, lots of sardines ; sometimes a little cheese and off and on through the day, I eat candy. I'm usually up at Dawn and sleep at Dusk ; and I pretty much take a walk each day. I don't go far because the state has to know where I am at all times. I don't go no where lessen they know. They know everybody I talk to, when they come and when they go.

(Charlie) Smith reportedly the oldest citizen in America. Will you romance him? Or will you reflect upon the pages of history held tight within the jaws of this aged very much sane Black man. Will you see Mr. Smith as history as intended.For surely it is experiences such as these which make millions of Black people of every age and locale embrace the astonishing work of a Divine Man, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, who has guided us out of the death strangle of a parasitic race no longer able to hide in disguise.

As a Muslim, I must give constant praise and thanks to Almighty Allah for His Messenger -lest I look forward to 130 years of fears there is a new way for Black men and women here in North America. Perhaps before Charles (Charlie) Smith dies he too will at last add something of "himself " to the small portfolio he cherishes as a keep-sake on his life!

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