Imam Chad A. Akbar

“Empowered Unity”
Olaniyi Omotayo (Artist)

Happy Veteran's Day! ✊

Upcoming tours to Cuba, South Africa, Ghana, Colombia, Brazil, Egypt, East Africa (4 countries) & more! Comment "ALL TOURS" for more info.

You can also join the Traveling Black notification list to hear about new tours when they are announced: https://traveling.black/tours/tour-notification/

Traveling Black

Julian Brown is a 22-year-old inventor based in Georgia who is turning plastic into fuel. His project is called Plastoline, and it uses a scientific method known as microwave pyrolysis, powered by solar panels. The process heats plastic until it becomes v***r, then cools it into crude oil that can be refined into gasoline, diesel or jet fuel. Julian began developing his own version of this system at 17 and built his first small reactor in high school.

On Oct. 4, 2025, Julian started a 2023 Dodge S**t Pack and ran it entirely on Plastoline. He demonstrated it live at a Nissan dealership in Duluth, Georgia. The road hasn't been easy, but Julian refuses to give up. Building these machines costs thousands of dollars, and some parts can reach tens of thousands. Grants have helped him keep improving his designs. Julian says he has tested his fuel and believes it burns cleaner than regular diesel.

Julian said he has faced cyberattacks and helicopters flying near his home but remains focused on his goal to help the planet. In high school, he saw a video of a turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nose. The image broke his heart and made him realize how much plastic harms animals and the environment. Instead of looking away, he decided to act. In an interview with WTVM 9, Julian said, "I see it now as, let's get it in the world and implemented. That's the whole point of why I started this."

📸 (Photo: Julian Brown / WTVM 9)

Assata Shakur taught us that freedom is a collective pursuit. It’s rooted in care, resistance, and the refusal of systems of oppression.

At IBBG, we carry her lessons forward. Our work to center Black women, femmes, and girls is part of the same struggle for dignity and self-determination that Assata so powerfully embodied.

We honor her legacy by building communities where we can live fully, lead boldly, and dream without limits.

May we continue fighting for a future where all of us are free. ✊🏾♥️

We have nothing to lose but our chains…

RIP