The written transcript delivered by IABPFF President Joseph B. Muhammad on Saturday, February 12, 2011. The occasion was the installation of officers and executive board of the Progressive Firefighters Association of Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Installed, Involved, and Engaged “God of our weary years, God of our silent tears; thou who has brought us thus far along the way; Thou who has by thy might, lead us into the light; keep us forever on the path we pray.”


Behold, how good it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity! Tonight’s gala event would not have been made possible without the hard work of the Progressive Firefighters Association, Inc. of Miami Dade County (PFA) and those who assisted them. Let’s give them a deserving round of applause.


To: Outgoing President Elizabeth Ison; Incoming President Keith Bell and your Executive Board; SER Director Lindsey Plummer; National Political Action Chairperson Faye Davis; members of the BCOC and BWFS; Family, Friends, Guests, and Dignitaries…
I must reiterate how good it is to be in the “Sunshine State”. So good for me in fact, because of the extraordinary snow storms I have experienced this winter, it reminds me of the movie “Harlem Nights”.


Do you remember the scene where the Policeman calls his son on the phone after he installed, involved and engaged in sunshine? He told his son to tell his mother that he was never coming home. Well, because of the sunshine and great hospitality I’ve received since I’ve been here, I call my son last night and told him to tell his mother that I am never coming home…


On behalf of the 5200 mighty men and wonderful women of the IABPFF, it is my pleasure to be a part of this fine PFA Installation Banquet and Gala. Before the swearing in of officers, I would like to take a brief moment to press on your minds the significance of tonight and what it means to our success or not.


First, the younger firefighters must know today is the best day of the rest of your lives. It will also help you to know the symbolism behind the uniqueness of our IABPFF Maltese Cross. The colors are red, black, and green and if you think about it, then you’ll know what I mean. The red representing the PFA’s 33 years of shifting gears, facing fears, receiving cheers, and blood, sweat and tears. The Black represents a people with a rich heritage and invaluable legacy. Yet being black is not a color; it is the essence from which all other colors come. Being black is also culture, consciousness, and a corresponding connectedness to the Creator. The green represents the hope and the wealth we have always had from the “Motherland” Africa, until now. The fist represents the power and strength we would have if we unified, oppose to 5 individual fingers. And the flame is what we all must go through to be purified, and personified with purpose. This symbolism is about getting installed, involved, and engaged. Is that right?


I also must tell you what to consider if you decide to accept the passing of the baton from those “Founders” who have contributed by serving, soldiering, sacrificing and solidarity. 1) Use your time to develop your talent. Time management is critical as we move forward. 2) Study; whether it is IFSTA, NFPA, NFA, EDI or the upcoming BCOC Symposium, study to show yourself approved before God being not ashamed. 3) Organize, for all of us have a role to play. If nothing else, President Obama has brought 2 out the best in people and the worst. If we don’t understand the importance of organization today, then shame on us. Do you not agree? 4) Be cognizant of your health to be installed, involved, and engaged on this level. Our health is our wealth and our wealth is our health. 5) Our struggle is maximized by being installed, involved, and engaged on a natural high. Our upward mobility is predicated upon the lyrics of the song, “take to the sky on a natural high, loving you more until the day I die”.

Or we could consider these particular lyrics in the third verse to “Lift Every Voice”: “lest our feet stray from the places where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world we forget thee…” To be as fortunate as we are to have careers in the fire service profession, and not be installed, involved, and engaged is selfish. Some of us have gotten drunk by the wine of the world and forgotten who helped us to get where we are today. Word on the street is “negroes sure act funny when they get a little money”. Too many of us have stray from the places where we met, and can’t find our way back because we have been blinded by money, music, sex, and substance abuse. Today is the anniversary of “Lift Every Voice”, let’s celebrate it by getting installed, involved and engaged.


Lastly, Brother Levi Thomas asked us earlier to remember the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr., the civil and human rights movement; and where we would be if it were not for his desire and others like him who accepted the challenge to be installed, involved, and engaged. Dr. King often times said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort and convenience. The ultimate measure of a man is where he stands in times of challenge and controversy.” Tonight is the time to get installed,
involved and engaged, for it is the best time of the rest of your life. Dr. King is also frequently quoted, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Think about, be about it, and “Keep the Fires Burning for Justice!”

On behalf of the IABPFF and my family, I thank you and your family for allowing me to share these few, and hopefully encouraging words. Now it gives me great pleasure along with the assistance of SER Director Plummer to install the Officers and Executive Board of the Progressive Firefighters Association,
Inc. of Miami Dade County, Florida.