Adam Shakoor
Rosa Parks inspired many. The first lady of civil rights movement was best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. Rosa Parks knew what is good for her. She chose Adam Shakoor as her counsel in 1995. Adam Shakoor served her until her death in 2005. Shakoor was born in 1947 as Adam Caddell. He was born in the northeast Detroit area and raised in the Sojourner Truth public housing complex Shakoor converted to Islam when he was a student at Wane State University, studying law. His social activism led him to prominence. He was appointed as Chief Judge of the 36th District Court by Governor William Milliken in 1981. He, therefore, become the first Muslim judge in America. Shakoor received more than a hundred proclamations, awards and honors from federal, state and local government agencies as well as community groups, in his lifetime. As an attorney he won several landmark cases for Muslims. In 1979, he represented a mosque in Detroit, Masjid Wali Muhammad. He won them the right to call to prayer, or Azan, over loudspeakers. It was the first such ruling in the country. The same year he led the litigation against the Michigan Department of Corrections that pushed for religious accommodations for Muslim inmates. This led to the hiring of its first Islamic chaplain. His family says that he was an activist for social change and stood up for the rights of others with a passion for justice and fairness, especially during the civil rights movements of the 1960s and 70s. His friend, Wayne County Treasurer, Eric Sabree says He was totally committed to helping people and was a great family man. He left the world on Sunday at St. Mary's Hospital at the age of 74 in Livonia, Michigan. May Allah elevate his ranks in Jannah. Ameen.
