Triplett, Charles Mujidad

Archive

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St. Joseph Museums

Name/Title

Triplett, Charles Mujidad

Entry/Object ID

9999.BHF.303

Scope and Content

Triplett, Charles Mujidad St. Joseph News-Press February 6, 2011: Charles Mujidad Triplett is senior adviser for the Muslim community of Greater St. Joseph vice president of the Bartlett Center board and local NAACP board president. When he introduces himself, he adds "I'm on parole. He never hides the fact that he spent most of his 68 years behind bars for various offenses. Now he serves the community. He believes that a person that's been incarcerated should come back in society to be productive, and to turn our young people from committing crime. He credits his fiancee, Marguerite Spencer and his grandfather Allen Dismuke, for being influential in his life. St. Joseph News-Press December 10, 2009 Has an article about how Charles Triplett is a man who lives through his faith. His life of crime became a life of service. St. Joseph News-Press June 26, 2011 has an article about InterServe the award Community Investment and Partnership. There is a photocopy picture of Mr. Triplett receiving his award. Mr. Triplett received a letter and certificate from the University of Missouri for meritorious contributions to patient-centered care the seventh day of April, two thousand and eleven. Julie Watkins-Torry wrote his Charles story. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio Jan 12, 1943. His father was a full-blooded Sioux Indian. At age 3 or 4 his mother could no longer care for him so his father took him to live on the Sioux reservation. Later he was adopted into his own family and moved to St. Louis. His mother was a civil rights activist. He played professional football in Canada. Poverty, environmental and peer influences led him to an unlawful existence. It was an armed robbery that landed him in jail. His initial sentence was life in prison without parole. In his early twenties his rheumatoid arthritis became noticeable. At some point during his confinement his sense of purpose changed to discovering through prayer and ritual Islam's Allah. In prison he became an active member of the NAACP advocating for racial equality. While in prison he fell in love withy Molly, the prison librarian, who is now his fiance. With his positive contribution to the prison community and good behavior his appeal for parole was granted. He was paroled in 2007. He has been president of the local NAACP, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of the Bartlett Center, Senior Advisor of the Board of the Islamic Center of St. Joseph, volunteers at the cold weather shelter with Catholic Charities, volunteers at the Missouri Career Center and the EmpowerU with the Homeless, and Youth Program. He was appointed by Rep. Wildberger to the Buchanan and Andrew County board for the Missouri Re-entry Program of Probation and Parole. He transports Veterans to medical and rehab appointments as well as advocating for their care and treatment, he also volunteers at Heartland Regional Medical center as a chaplain for Muslim patients. He also has an award from the David G. Berger Community Service Inter InterServe. Today he is a youth advocate, works with the homeless, and participates in local politics. He does all this with the debilitating autoimmune disease that is rheumatoid arthritis. He finds himself living with chronic severe pain and fatigue. After his release from prison, he had a hard time obtaining a government issued-identification card so that he could apply for disability and receive government aid. He is a fascinating man who lives every day to give back to society. His life teaches that chronic disease is challenging and effects nearly every aspect of one's life but that purpose, faith, and service to others provide relief. Charles was a guest at the Sixth Annual Legacy Teachers Luncheon April 7, 2011 at the University of Missouri. The letter from Ed Wildberger Missouri House of Representative is in the folder. Mr. Triplett has written Mr. Wildberger to ask him to speak at the Catholic Charities. There is also a letter from Christopher S. Bond United States Senate. Mr Triplett had written to him about the importance of protecting the sanctity of human life. St. Joseph News-Press February 2, 2011 Alonzo wrote an article Our history begins next door. He says to recognize the black icons in the community today. They are here with us just like they were back in the day. History, black or otherwise, never, stops. And heroes are made everyday in every community. Ramadan and Helen Washington, Rev. Bill and Loes Hedge, Rev. Louis and Connie Monroe, Martin and Lavell Rucker, Charles Triplett, the Rev. James and Cozetta Foster, Tay Triggs, Hamilton Henderson, the Rev. Earnestine and Charles Blakley, Leo Blakley, Dwayne Blakley, Mike Rucker, Martin. T. Rlucker, Leechia Jones, Drew Brown, Carter Drake, Merlynne Hughes, the Rev. Mary and Charles McDonald, Saundra Words, Kenzie and Sheila Gilbert, these are only just a few. May 27, 2015: St. Joseph News Press "Former inmate contributes to community by educating students about racism." describes Triplett' activities in schools and at mosque.

Collection

Black Archives

Lexicon

Search Terms

Black Prisoners, Black History, Black Churches, Muslims in St. Joseph

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

File, Folder

Condition

Overall Condition

Good

Maintenance

Maintenance History

Date

Jan 14, 2014

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

David G. Berger

Person or Organization

Charles Blakley

Person or Organization

Dwayne Blakley

Person or Organization

Rev. Earnestine Blakley

Person or Organization

Leo Blakley

Person or Organization

Christopher Bond

Person or Organization

Brown, Drew

Person or Organization

Allen Dismuke

Person or Organization

Carter Drake

Person or Organization

Cozetta Foster

Person or Organization

Rev. James Foster

Person or Organization

Kenzie Gilbert

Person or Organization

Sheila Gilbert

Person or Organization

Rev. Bill Hedge

Person or Organization

Loes Hedge

Person or Organization

Hamilton Henderson

Person or Organization

Merlynne Hughes

Person or Organization

Leechia Jones

Person or Organization

Charles McDonald

Person or Organization

Rev. Mary McDonald

Person or Organization

Connie Monroe

Person or Organization

Monroe, Louis Rev.

Person or Organization

Lavell Rucker

Person or Organization

Martin Rucker

Person or Organization

Rucker, Martin, T.

Person or Organization

Mike Rucker

Person or Organization

Marquerite Spencer

Person or Organization

Julie Torry-Watkins

Person or Organization

Tay Triggs

Person or Organization

Charles Majidad Triplett

Person or Organization

Washington, Helen

Person or Organization

Washington, Ramadhan

Person or Organization

Wildberger, Ed

Person or Organization

Words, Saundra