|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Passing
of
El-Hajj
Honorable
Adam A.
Shakoor
WEST
BLOOMFIELD
- It is
with
profound
sadness
that the
family
of
El-Hajj
Honorable
Adam A.
Shakoor
announces
his
sudden
passing
on
Sunday,
March
20th at
the age
of 74.
Adam A.
Shakoor
was a
native
Detroiter.
He
obtained
a
Bachelor
of
Science
degree
and a
master’s
degree
in
Educational
Sociology
from
Wayne
State
University
He
earned a
Juris
Doctorate
degree
from
Wayne
State
University
Law
School.
He was
an
activist
for
social
change
especially
during
the
tumultuous
civil
rights
movements
of the
1960’s
and
70’s.
After
graduation
from law
school,
Shakoor
began
practicing
law and
standing
up for
the
rights
of
others
with a
passion
for
justice
and
fairness.
In 1981,
Shakoor
was
appointed
as a
judge of
the
Common
Pleas
Court
for
Wayne
County
by then
Governor
William
Milliken,
making
him the
first
Muslim
judge in
both the
United
States
and
Canada.
Shakoor
served
for two
terms as
Chief
Judge of
the 36th
District
Court as
a result
of
election
by his
fellow
judges.
The
Honorable
Adam A.
Shakoor
later
served
as
Deputy
Mayor
and
Chief
Administrative
Officer
for the
City of
Detroit,
under
the late
Mayor
Coleman
A.
Young.
Shakoor
became
known as
Detroit’s
“Crime
Czar”
for
coordination
of city,
state,
and
federal
agencies
to fight
existing
drug
problems;
development
of
exemplary
crime-fighting
activities
that
focused
on
treatment,
bootcamps
and job
skills
training
for
addicts;
and
implementation
of
policies
that led
to the
forfeiture
of
assets
seized
from
drug
dealers
by
Detroit
police.
Adam A.
Shakoor
was a
long-time
friend
of the
late
civil
rights
activist,
Mrs.
Rosa L.
Parks,
and
often
expressed
that he
was
honored
to have
served
as her
attorney
and
trustee.
He was a
professor
of
Business
Law and
African
American
Studies
at Wayne
County
Community
College
District
for over
45 years
while he
worked
was an
attorney,
judge,
and
deputy
mayor.
Shakoor
loved
teaching
and
enjoyed
interaction
with
students.
He
served
as a
mentor
and a
role
model as
he
shared
his
experiences
and
knowledge
in the
classroom.
He
challenged
his
students
to make
a
difference
in the
lives of
others.
Shakoor
served
as a
public
administrator,
facilitator,
mediator,
receiver,
and
special
master
for the
State of
Michigan
until
the time
of his
death.
Shakoor
was a
devout
Muslim
and
family
man. He
made
Hajj,
his
pilgrimage
to
Mecca,
in 1981.
He won
several
landmark
decisions
on
behalf
of the
Muslim
community.
He
cherished
his
family
and
instilled
in them
his
faith in
God and
a strong
work
ethic.
Shakoor’s
presence
and
leadership
will be
truly
missed
by his
family
and
friends.
“Judge
Shakoor
was not
only a
leader
in Metro
Detroit
for
African
Americans
and
Muslims
of
varying
ethnicities
pertaining
to civil
rights
but was
also a
shining
example
of moral
excellence”,
said
CAIR-MI
Executive
Director,
Dawud
Walid.
The
Honorable
Adam A.
Shakoor
leaves
behind
his
wife,
Gail
Lawrence-Shakoor
and six
adult
children.
Two of
his
children
preceded
him in
death.
His
family
will not
only
remember
how
their
beloved
husband
and
father
gave
deference
to
African
Americans
and
others
who
fought
for
justice
long
before
him, but
they
pledge
to
uphold
his
legacy
of
equality
and
justice.
He
advised
them
that
activism
is
required
until
the
color
barriers
and
other
inequities
are
totally
removed.
Family
members
reflect
on one
of their
many
conversations
with
their
father
in which
he
stated,
“The
struggle
continues.
I still
have
more to
do as
long as
God
gives me
life. I
will
serve
and do
what I
have the
capacity
to do to
always
help
others.”
In honor
of his
memory,
the
family
asks
that his
legacy
of
fighting
for
equality,
justice,
and
fairness
is not
forgotten
and that
we all
continue
to make
our
contributions
until
barriers
are
totally
removed.”
Family
releases
arrangements
details
regarding
services
for the
passing
of The
Hon.
Adam A.
Shakoor
Public
Viewing
will be
held on
Friday,
April 1,
2022,
from
1:00 -
7:00
p.m. at
Swanson
Funeral
Home
Eastside
Chapel,
located
at 806
E. Grand
Blvd
Detroit,
48207.
Home
Going
will be
Saturday,
April 2.
2022,
beginning
with
Family
Hour at
10:00
a.m. and
Funeral
Service
at 11:00
a.m. and
will be
held at
Fellowship
Chapel
7707
West
Outer
Drive
Detroit,
Michigan.
Advertise With Us:
Certified Minority Business Enterprise
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|