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Since 1968 Brother Robert has been a member of African-American organizations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dedicated to helping and teaching at-risk or inner-city youth and the community the Martial Arts (Karate) and African-American History. In the late 1960's he was a leader and President of Black History programs in High School, and carried his leadership skills in the communities of Darby and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He strives very hard to be a positive role-model and a righteous contributor in uplifting humanity for his family and community. Mr. Dickerson was raised as a Christian; however he attributes his love and dedication for the community to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Because of the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King in April of 1968, Mr. Dickerson says this gave many African American organizations another meaningful platform to attract new members. Mr. Dickerson and his two brothers George and Warren became members of the Nation of Islam in 1968 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as teenagers and received their official X in 1971 at Temple #12 Headquarters, Philadelphia, Pa. Since 1968 following, learning, studying and loving our Scholars, Leaders and great people like the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Honorable Prophet Noble Drew Ali, Honorable Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Muhammad Ali, Imam Warith Deen Muhammad, Dr. Edward Robinson, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Dr. Maulana Karenga, Dr. Molefi K. Asante, Dick Gregory, Haki R. Madhubiti, Kenny Gamble (Luqman Abdul Haqq), Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones), Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Kwame Toure (Stokely Carmichael), Askia Toure, Dr. Professor Leonard Jefferies, Dr. Professor James Smalls, Jawanza Kunjufu, and Dr. Francis Cress-Welsing just to name a few; was the thought and teachings that gave me the inspiration to start and/or continue the Unity Community Center and especially the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble, Universal Pasha Karate School and all of our programs since 1983. Brother Robert and Sister Wanda's life experiences in religions has helped us to become UNIVERSAL AFRICAN SPIRITUALIST; "we believe this gave us the ability to learn the universal approach to truly uplifting humanity, while teaching our students the value of working with and understanding all people’s ways of life. Our ultimate goal is a universal and a spiritual approach to continue the beauty of uplifting humanity and teaching African American’s their roots, culture, pride and the history of the African Diaspora. We believe that our accomplishments with our group, the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble is the final example or model to prove the value of educating and teaching young people their roots, heritage and history is paramount and of most importance."
I would like to
state my love for
my wife
Wanda, who I meet in 1973 at our
Karate School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
and we
married in September 1975. Immediately
she join with me to help me do this work of helping our people to love and
appreciated their roots, heritage and original culture of Africa. I give honor and
respect for her dedication, love, skill, knowledge and wisdom.
My wife Wanda, is a license
hair Cosmetology stylists in the state of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She is
currently owner/operator of Jana's
Unique Hair Salon in
Lindenwold, New Jersey passing the torch to our daughter Atiya Our oldest son Jamal, in 1995 graduated from Camden High School. Jamal attended Morgan State University and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education and a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University 2010. Jamal is married to his lovely wife RONSHA with their six wonderful children, Jamal II, Karima, Sekou-Moussa, Tenenfig, Fatima and Akeelah. Jamal is currently the Director of Bands and an Instrumental Music School Teacher for Camden Creative Arts Public High Schools. Their son Nasir is also a graduate of Camden High School and was honored with a full paid scholarship for high academic and musicianship achievement to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pa, for music education. In 2006 Nasir, graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor Degree in Music Performance and in May 2007 he earned and received his Master's Degree in MUSIC EDUCATION with three beautiful daughters Nuri, Jalia and Aisha and his lovely fiancee SAHREEDA BALLARD. Their oldest daughter, Atiya is a graduate of Camden County Vocational School with high academic achievements. She majored in Cosmetology and is the manger operator of her family business Jana's Unique Hair Salon in Lindenwold, New Jersey. Atiya is married to DWAYNE JOHNSON and were blessed with two lovely daughters Dayanna, Anisah and one son Dwayne (DJ). Ayanna graduated at Camden Creative Art High School, Camden, New Jersey majoring in music and graduated from Rutgers University earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management 2010 and a Master of Arts Degree / Counseling in Educational Settings from Rowan University. Ayanna also has a lovely son named Jaleel. Ayanna is married to an educational scholar and administrator ANDREW BELL with wonderful son, Andrew Bell Jr., and daughter Zoe Bell. With our union, family and Unity Community Center family, we have been blessed with a successful national and international accomplished performing arts organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Camden, New Jersey and surrounding areas against many odds.
Let's honor, love and respect the AFRICAN DIASPORA (The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade) and understand the African-American struggle in America. We love our religious community such as the Christian, Arab family and our African-American Muslim community, however we must teach our African-American young people and family the value of their own original culture, which is AFRICAN CULTURE. In order to love yourself, you must love and be your Culture. This is the true essence of loving yourself. WE MUST PUSH and BE our AFRICAN CULTURE. (3) As, Universal African Spiritualist and having wonderful friends and admirers, who are of many religious faiths such as Apostles, Bishops, Pastors, Reverends, Rabbis, Imams, Ministers, Dalai Lamas, Swamis and Gurus; PROVES THAT LOVE IS THE ANSWER.
REPRESENTING and PRESENTING
The MANIFESTATION and IMPLEMENTATION of
the SOLUTIONS and
the MODEL of
what scholars, leaders, historians and educators MANY SAY we are one of the greatest REPRESENTATION and PRESENTATIONS in AMERICA "WE ENCOURAGE THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE & FAMILY"
LOVE &
the
Development
of SELF-DISCIPLINE IS
THE KEY "Keeping them in the discipline -UNTIL- They develop SELF-DISCIPLINE""We must TEACH by EXAMPLE" Below, please read this beautiful writings by Haki R. Madhubuti (Don L. Lee). His poems and writings were always inspirational to me. After listening to Haki R. Madhubuti at the BLACK WRITERS MUSEUM, being honored by Brother Supreme Dow speak on ART in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 24, 2013; IT WAS AWESOME, I immediately order his book called Run Toward Fear. Everyone who loves and believes that ART of all forms is the best vehicle to getting our young people to appreciate themselves, others and of course humanity, you must get this book. Below is the poem by Haki R. Madhubuti on ART.
Sincerely, ART (1) Art is fundamental instruction and food for a people's soul as (2) (3) by Haki R. Madhubuti
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Our
Performing Arts program was inspired from the
Three of their main goals,
in the Universal African Dance & Drum Ensemble is to help African Americans or Black People understand the importance of
their original culture and
honoring their place of origin (ROOTS). We must honor,
respect, appreciate and understand that geographical area called AFRICA
(The Motherland), while at the same time helping our
African Family appreciate that there are African Americans or
Black People helping to build
between the two,
UNITY, through
emphasizing the
