Reflections in the Key of Life

About the Book

An autobiography of events and experiences tells a great deal about what has happened to us. But, does it really reveal who we are? I think not. These events are the circumstances of our life and often give birth to labels by which others think they know us. As Yale Law Professor, Stephen Carter so eloquently put it: “To be black and an intellectual in America is to live in a box. So, I live in a box, not of my own making, and on the box is a label, not of my own choosing. Most of those who have not met me, and many of those who have, see the box and read the label and imagine that they have seen me. The box is formed by the assumptions others make when they learn that I am black, and a label is available for every occasion The reality is that being black and being named Muhammad Abdullah gives birth to labels that become more than boxes in which I am placed, they have become glasses through which others attempt to see and judge who I am. Worse, for a large portion of my life, they were the glasses through which I saw myself. These glasses were akin to attempting to see myself as one tries to see the bride behind and beneath the veil. This book removes the veil. It is an autobiography of my inner life – of my ideas. Reflections in the Key of Life, is like a song – a song of my soul. It is my composition, and like my favorite music form jazz, it will often appear to stray from the melody. But even in the midst of the straying, a gem is discovered, then another, and yet another, and just as you find yourself becoming interested in gems and collecting all you can gather, you find yourself back at the melody and the gems like bread crumbs have led you there back to where you began. As T.S. Elliot put it: “And the end of all explorations is to return to that place where you began, and know it for the first time.”

About the Author

Muhammad Abdullah, formerly Ronald Arnett Matchett, a graduate of Yale University, during a time when Blacks at Yale were about as plentiful as Blacks in South Dakota and Blacks in the United States Senate, has often been called a modern day Will Rogers or Mark Twain. A varied career which has included being a professor, a religious leader in more than one faith (from Methodist Youth Leader to Imam), a civil rights activist, a lawyer, a professional entertainer, a radio personality, a Salsero, a Tanguero, a Headmaster, an Admissions Officer at Yale and at UCLA, College Academic Advisor and Minority Liaison at Iowa State University, Director of the MBA Program at Pfeiffer University, a newspaper columnist, an award winning National Public Radio commentator, a coach, a kung fu teacher, a mediator, a CEO, and a motivational speaker (Commencement Address at the American School of Paris), Muhammad responds: “I’ve done just about everything but die. I’m saving that for last.” On the tragedy of 9/ll: “the real ground zero is the human heart.” On racism: “racism is an acquired taste.” On education: “the educational system is the reproductive system of our society.” On being a parent: “the toughest, most important job in the world; the job we praise the most but appreciate the least.” On our gifts: “our gifts are not just to us, they are through us for the benefit of others.” On love: “the nectar of life.” Best advice I ever got: From my Dad: “Don’t take your dreams to your grave.” On resolving life’s most important questions and challenges: “sometimes you have to wait and listen for the answer…the religious call this the voice of God, others call it inspiration or insight. What matters more than what you call it, is that you heed what you are given. On personal harmony: “Soul is when the outside looks like the inside feels.” On award shows especially the Oscars: “A barometer of the cultural conscience of America at a particular moment in time.” On ourselves: “We are what we believe we are.” On Self-help books: “The best self help book is the one you write.”