Ibn Ali Miller
Ibn Ali Miller
Ibn Ali Miller is a 26 year-old man from Atlantic City, New Jersey who is a notable figure in his neighborhood and the rest of the country after he broke up a fight between two teenagers. [1]
Background
Ibn with his kids.
Photo of Ibn with a friend.
Miller was born in the state of New Jersey, and raised in the Atlantic city. He states that he grew up in the projects.
Whenever he misbehaved, his mother would punish him by reading books and then after would have to write a poem or write a short story.
He grew up with Muslim parents who also instructed their child about the religion.
He played high school American football while growing up.
he has lived in Atlantic city for most of his life.
Personal
A father of six, Miller he is also a devoted Muslim.
He is a self-employed contractor.
He is currently taking college courses.
Street Fight
The moment when Ibn stops the fight.
On March 20th, 2017, as Jamar Mobley walked to his house from school, another high schooler, Sheldon Ward, began to antagonize him after some friends shamed them both into fighting. Sheldon decided to attack Duval in the middle of the street - punches were thrown and limbs were flying everywhere. Friends of Sheldon, along with other people who are close with Duval, began to video record the fight. At a moment when the two separated for a few seconds to square up again and continue the fight, a man who was nearby and over heard the commotion, intercepted the two fighters and initiated an intervention.
The man was of course, Ibn Miller.
Miller was running some errands for his mother when he saw the teens fighting in the middle of the street.
With much elucidation, he explained how the other teenagers, and bystanders, don't really care for the fighters, and are just there for the entertainment - they will not defend them if they get into deep trouble with the law.
Miller says the following to the boys:
“You all got parents...
Don’t make your parents look like this.
Anybody who can laugh at you while you’re upset ain’t your friend...
Look around.
Who ill advised you?
You’re almost men, 14, 15, 16.
Start acting like it.
I know where you from.
Your parents worked hard to get where they’re at.”
Miller, in the end, managed to get the two boys to shake hands.
Duval has stated that he doesn't even know how he ended up getting into a scuffle with the other teenage boy.
He says the one thing that got through to him during Miller's explanation was how he realized that the people he thought were his friends were just there to watch the spectacle.
The video of Miller's persuasion to get the teens to end the fight has received more than 30 Million views.
High-profile Black men such as Snoop Dog, LeBron James & Torrey Smith have celebrated Miller for his efforts to teach the boys a lesson about responsibilities and growing up.
According to an interview with NBC 10, Mobley disclosed that they were fighting over a girl. [10]
City Council Honoring
Ibn during the press conference.
Ibn with Jamar Mobley and Sheldon Ward.
Ibn Ali Miller, now heralded in the neighborhood as a respectable soul for reasoning with the two teenagers about the consequences of fighting, was honored by the council members of Atlantic city for his mentorship in the neighborhood and stopping the fight between the two teenagers.
Miller said the following:
“I’m crying because this whole situation deeply saddens me.
The fact that it’s unbelievable — this should be very believable, this should be a norm, this should be regular...
Not only did they decide not to fight, but they decided to shake hands and display unity...
Not only do I want to thank my mom but I want to thank the people who raised these men as well, because they raised them to be young men of reason, which seems to be a very, very rare trait in today’s youth.”
Council Member, Marty Small, had dinner with the young men and Ibn after.
The young men have since been interviewed by several publications, including Good Day Philadelphia. [10]