NJ Muslim Brother Melts The Nation’s Heart

By: Jamilah McMillan

Earlier this month, Akbar Cook, a principle at West Side High School in Newark, sat on a sofa across from Ellen DeGeneres. He wore a black suit and a charismatic grin. As he spoke in front of a live audience his nervousness dissipated as soon as he began talking about his students; his “babies.”

Cook, was invited onto the Ellen DeGeneres Show after a nj.com news article spread about his innovative technique for tackling bullying amongst his students. Cook installed laundry machines inside his school for students who did not have the means to wash their clothes on a regular basis.

“Most people take for granted having clean clothes," he said. "Some of my babies are homeless. Other babies are coming from homes where there is no parent, or where they cannot wash clothes in their house.” 

“This was leading to so many issues in my building, which caused bullying, fights because of the bullying, which had an impact on attendance because they were just not coming to school, and I knew I had to do something about it,” Cook continued.

Two years ago, when Cook realized how the inability to wash clothes was impacting some of his students he contacted the MCJ Amelior Foundation, and received a $20,000 grant from the PSEG Foundation to install five commercial washing machines and dryers inside his school.

As Cook spoke to Ellen his love for his students was palpable. Since the episode aired, his story has spread into the hearts of supporters from around the nation and across the world. In recent weeks, West Side High School has received a flood of donations for his laundry room and students. One of those donations was a $50,000 check from Cheerios, which Akbar received from Ellen while on the show.

“We are really laying down the foundation for what a community school looks like, and what better way to change the world but in a school,” said Cook.

Cook’s work is just another reminder of what it means to be Muslim. He is an example of how the Muslim community can use Islamic values to be socially active in order to improve the communities in which we live. Let Cook be a role model for us all.