In this photograph is a real Buddhist story. The picture on the left was taken at our Taisekiji Buddhist Temple in Japan in 1997. We were so proud and honored by Nichiren Shoshu Priest that my then wife and I prayed to have a son who would grow up to become a Nichiren Shoshu Priest. When I learned that Nichiren Shoshu was opening the 1st Temple in Africa in Ghana we prayed that we would have a son and our son would one day be the Chief at the temple in Africa. I traveled to Ghana in February of 1998 for the temple opening and I volunteered to become the official video photographer of the opening. I wanted my future son to know that his father was at the temple in Africa in 1998.
This is a 1997 picture of Zuri Imani Elmore and Anthony "Amp" Elmore at the Nichiren Shoshu Head temple in Japan. Zuri had made friends with Buddhist members from Sri Lanka and as a gesture of friendship a Sri Lanka woman gave Zuri the outfit she is wearing. Zuri is from the Country of Kenya. She and Anthony are no longer married. Zuri no longer practice Buddhism. Little Anthony is being taught the path of Buddhism by his father.
This is a photograph of Little Anthony "Amp" Elmore born 1998 after my visit to Accra, Ghana in West Africa. The Nichiren Shoshu religion has no "Cultural Pathway" for a Black person to become a Nichiren Shoshu Priest. Not only is there not a "Cultural Pathway for a Black person to become a Priest Nichiren Shoshu does not have a "Cultural Pathway" that encourages the growth and development of Black people to practice Buddhism in America.
Little Anthony pose outside of Myogyoji Temple in Chicago. Anthony was Gojakaied or sworn into Buddhism in Japan in 1999. Most Americans recieve this ceremony in America. Elmore had to fight to get this service proformed. Zuri Elmore told Rev. Takano in Los Angeles that if her son was not allowed to be Gojakaied in Japan she would go public to the SGI to report this Japanese discrimination. and cultural nonsense. Imagine it took a threat to get a Gojakai ceremony for my child. Imagine if one had to fight to get this service done, it would be almost impossible for a Black man to be a Nichiren Shoshu Priest. The reality and facts are certain Nichiren Shoshu must change.
