Imam Jamil Abdallah Al Amin, once known to the country as H Rap Brown, passed away in prison on Sunday. His life stretched across some of the most turbulent and transformative moments in modern American history. He was a spiritual guide, a political prisoner, and a revolutionary whose voice shaped generations of organizers. Before embracing Islam and taking the name Al Amin, he rose to prominence as a fiery young leader. He served as the fifth chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and later as the Minister of Justice in the Black Panther Party. His speeches and organizing efforts championed Black Power and challenged the machinery of white supremacy wherever he found it.

His work on the ground was just as influential as his speeches. In 1966 he moved through Greene County Alabama helping Black residents register to vote and claim the political rights promised by the National Voting Rights Act. In 1968 he joined the Columbia University protests, standing with students and Harlem residents who refused to let the university seize public park land for a gym. That same year his influence among young people grew so quickly that federal officials began to treat him as a threat. The FBI targeted him through the COINTELPRO program which monitored, disrupted, and attempted to dismantle Black liberation movements nationwide.

Prison did not silence him. While incarcerated he embraced Islam, changed his name to Jamil Al Amin, and became a spiritual pillar for many fellow inmates. He wrote extensively about the relationship between Islamic ethics and revolutionary struggle. He led prayers, guided younger prisoners, and called for disciplined political organization even during periods when he was on hunger strike. His ideas traveled far beyond the prison walls and became part of the intellectual foundation for later generations of Muslim and Black activists.

The final chapter of his life was marked by a controversial conviction that many supporters continue to question. Civil rights advocates, legal scholars, and grassroots organizers have long raised concerns about the fairness of his trial and the broader context of state surveillance that surrounded him for decades. Despite these unresolved debates he remained committed to faith, discipline, and community until his last days.

Imam Jamil may not have lived to see freedom again, but the impact of his work continues to echo through movements for racial justice, political dignity, and spiritual liberation. His life stands as a reminder of how powerful ideas can survive even in the face of state repression, and how one person’s conviction can help shape the conscience of a generation. His legacy moves forward with the many people he taught, inspired, and awakened.