King Salim Khalfani Executive Director
Virginia State Conference NAACP
(The name is pronounced Sah-Leem Call-Fah-Nee)
Salim Is fond of saying that the "slave ship" dropped me off in Cleveland, Ohio by way of Birmingham, Alabama. Both parents are from Birmingham and Salim spent a significant part of his life there. He completed the Cleveland public school system and moved on to Virginia Union University.
Salim served the Virginia State Conference as the Branch Field Activities Coordinator. He later served as the Interim Executive Director until he was appointed by the State Executive Committee and National President Kweisi Mfume as the Executive Director of the Virginia State Conference in 1998.
Salim has lived a life of service and organizing to improve the lives of oppressed people. He founded the Pan-African Resource Center. African Awareness Association, Sons or Africa, Operation STRIKE (Students Tackling Racial Issues with Knowledge and Enlightenment) and African Perspectives, a weekly live call-in television show on the Community Access Network seen in metropolitan Richmond,Virginia. He was recently appointed by Governor Mark Warner to serve on the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, which seeks to improve Virginia's ranking of 51st in the nation in funding for indigent defendants.
Salim has appeared on BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley, BET Nightly News. MSNBC's Hardball, and ABC Evening News with Peter Jennings. Salim has been quoted in Essence Magazine, The Source Hip Hop Magazine and host of news papers across the country. He has appeared on Radio shows in London, England, Canada and as far away as Japan. Salim is most proud to have learned' from giants in the movement such as Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael), Olive W. Hill, Elaine Jones, Ashra Kwesi, John Hendrik Clarke and Dr. Ben.
It is Salim's primary objective to end tile African Holocaust that has cost the lives of at least 2OO million African people and counting. He preaches unceasingly "Don't Hate: Participate! Advocate! Liberate! Where there is no struggle, there will be no progress. Therefore, our struggle continues! 'the blood of our ancestors has consecrated our victory." Salim believes in earnest that, "the beginning of wisdom is to know who you are!"
My greatest accomplishment is that I am by choice a revolutionary Afrikan Man. I am a Pan-Afrikanist. I am one who speaks truth to power unashamedly on behalf of Afrikan people. I have not cringed or cowered when faced with criticism, ostracism or threats of bodily harm. l have represented my people with Integrity. I have Carried forward the traditions of our great Ancestors and Elders in the struggle to liberate Afrika and Her people." Salim is the proud father of one daughter, Queen Nzinga (Pronounced In-Zin-Ga) Khanifani!
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Convinced the Warner Administration to implement "serious” redress practices for State employees with discrimination complaints. The new process is undergoing a "pilot program" currently.
- Convinced the Virginia State Police to think outside of the box in reaching its goal for a more inclusive department. Working directly with the Recruitment Team to implement creative ethnic marketing tactics.
- Initiated the Oliver W. Hill Freedom Fighter Award Reception for the NAACP. It is one of the premier events in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It has had Elaine Jones, Esquire, former Counsel President of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Honorable Robert C. Scott, U.S. Congress 3rd Congressional District, Irene Morgan, Plaintiff in landmark case that the U. S, Supreme Court ruled Virginia's statutes of segregation on inter/intra-state transportation unconstitutional, and Judge Damon Keith, 6th Circuit U.S. District Court.
- Worked diligently to increase voter registration in the Commonwealth and voter turnout at the polls for The 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. Registration amongst Afrikan people increased dramatically.
- Formed a strategic alliance with the Central Virginia Business and Construction Association and the statewide alliance of Afrikan contractors to demand that the General Assembly, and Governor address the issue of racial disparities: in state contracts awarded to Aftikan contractors. The overall figure is 0.44%. The number gets significantly lower when you look at Afrikan contractors 0.25%. The Governor has implemented initiatives to address this important matter. While the NAACP continues its lobbying efforts. Organized an Afrikan Leadership Summit this spring and summer to address issues of concern to the religious community along with community and civic organizations.
- Visited and counseled inmates at over 20 adult male, and juvenile correctional centers and assisted in the initiation of 3 prison branches of the NAACP.
- Assisted at least 70 local affiliates to resolve discrimination complains.
- Worked with the Department of Justice's Mediation Team to :resolve local complaints with police, social services, and other local administrative bodies.
