
Nsenga Knight, Last Rite, Last Rite (Janaza Prayer), 2021, Archival Pigment Print, 14.5 x 20 inches, Edition of 50
Nsenga Knight, Last Rite (Red Fear), 2015, Lithograph Print, 5×7 inches, Edition of 5
My Last Rite series (pictured above) reflects on Malcom X’s janaza (Islamic funeral rituals). During a a very scary time in the Black community – for Black Muslims who followed Malcom X especially, key people in the Black Muslim community stepped up to lead this important Islamic ritual and courageous Black Christian leaders offered their place of worship – a Harlem church, as host.
In the audio recording above, I tell the story about this event and the feelings surrounding it, as it was told to me by members of my New York mosque community who lived it, and based on my own research.
You can purchase prints from the Last Rite print series, available as signed editioned prints here.