Malik Rahim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malik Rahim
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Malik Rahim in 2001
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Donald Guyton
1948 (age 76–77) Algiers, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Community organizer |
Malik Rahim (born Donald Guyton in 1948) is an American activist who helps people find homes and supports those leaving prison. He grew up in the New Orleans area of Louisiana and has been active there since the late 1990s. In 2005, Rahim became well-known for his work as a community organizer in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He helped start the Common Ground Collective to assist his community.
Rahim is a veteran and was a member of the Black Panther Party. In 1970, he moved to California and worked on making housing affordable in San Francisco. After returning to New Orleans, Rahim started the Algiers Development Center and Invest Transitional Housing. These programs helped more than 1,000 people who had been in prison find homes. He also helped create Pilgrimage for Life, a group that worked to end the death penalty in Louisiana.
Rahim ran for the New Orleans City Council in 2002 as a Green Party candidate but did not win. In 2008, he was one of four people who ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district. He was a Green Party candidate, but Republican candidate Joseph Cao won the election.
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Early Life and Education
Malik Rahim was born Donald Guyton in 1948 in Algiers, Louisiana. This area is south of the Mississippi River from New Orleans. He grew up in this busy city. He went to Landry High School but left before finishing to join the United States Navy. He served in the Vietnam War.
Community Work in New Orleans
In May 1970, after finishing his military service, Guyton returned to New Orleans. He joined efforts to start a chapter of the Black Panther Party in Louisiana. They first formed the "National Committee to Combat Fascism," which became the state's Black Panther chapter. The group set up their base at a house on Saint Thomas Street.
Members did political activities and also offered free breakfast, tutoring, and anti-crime programs. These programs helped community residents, especially children. During this time, Guyton began using the name Malik Rahim, which he still uses today.
The group later moved to a house on Piety Street. In September 1970, they were asked to leave but refused. Police raided the house on September 14, 1970. Rahim was among the group who were arrested by the police.
Activism in California (1970s-1990s)
After being released, Rahim moved to Los Angeles, California. There, he earned his G.E.D. and attended college for a semester. He later served a prison sentence in Los Angeles, which ended in the early 1980s. After this, he returned to political activism.
At first, he focused on helping people who were in prison and those who were released. He worked to create programs to assist them. Over time, he also became involved in wider issues about housing.
In the next twenty years, Rahim helped start and run several groups that worked for change. In San Francisco, he led the Bernal Dwellings Tenants' Association from 1995 to 1997. He worked to keep affordable housing available. In 1996, he helped start "Housing is a Human Right," a citywide group that supports affordable housing.
In 1998, Rahim traveled to Iraq with Kathy Kelly and former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark. They went to speak out against the embargo and sanctions.
Return to New Orleans and Continued Work
Rahim returned to Louisiana in the late 1990s. He helped start and run the "Algiers Development Center and Invest Transitional Housing." This program has helped more than one thousand former inmates find homes. He also helped create "Pilgrimage for Life," a Louisiana group that works against the death penalty, along with Sister Helen Prejean.
In 1998, Rahim also helped start the "National Coalition to Free the Angola 3." This group worked to release three Black Panthers who had been in prison for a long time. They said they were innocent and that the charges were unfair. Robert Hillary King was released in 2001. Herman Wallace was released in 2013. Albert Woodfox was released in February 2016.
Green Party and Hurricane Katrina Relief (2002-Present)
In 2002, Rahim became involved in politics. He ran for the New Orleans City Council as a candidate for the Green Party of Louisiana. He received 3,654 votes. Rahim's platform included supporting a "living wage," improving public housing, and changing youth programs.
Rahim stayed in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, even though people were told to leave. After the hurricane, he wrote an article about the difficult conditions in the city. He set up a relief center at his late mother's house to help distribute aid. This house is now recognized as an International Site of Conscience.
Later, he co-founded the Common Ground Collective with two organizers from Austin, Texas, Brandon Darby and scott crow. They gave out aid and ran a community health clinic. Volunteers from all over the United States came to help. In the months that followed, Rahim traveled across the country to share what was happening in New Orleans. He encouraged more volunteers to come and help his group.
In 2006, Rahim planned to run for mayor of New Orleans, but he did not complete the steps to be on the ballot. In July 2008, Rahim decided to run for national office again. He ran for the U.S. House of Representatives for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district as a Green Party candidate. He ran against William J. Jefferson, Joseph Cao, and Gregory Kahn. Cao won the election. Rahim finished third, getting 2.8% of the votes.
In 2009, it was revealed that Brandon Darby, who worked with Rahim at the Common Ground Collective, had been an FBI informant.
In 2016, artist Brandan "BMike" Odums helped create a community mural of Malik Rahim and local resident Enid Songy.
Featured in Media
Rahim was featured in the documentary Welcome to New Orleans (2006). This film was directed by Rasmus Holm. It showed Rahim, Scott Crow, Dennis Kyne, Jimmy Dunson, and Suncere Ali Shakur working to build up the community in New Orleans.
Awards and Recognition
- In 2019, Rahim received the Living Legend Award from Southern University. The New Orleans City Council also recognized him for helping over 500,000 people after Hurricane Katrina.
- In 2006, Rahim was given the 'Community Builder Award' by Global Exchange. This is an international human rights organization based in San Francisco.
- In 2008, Rahim received the Thomas Merton Award. This award honored his dedication to humanity.
