Today we’d like to introduce you to Nasiru Whiteside.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nasiru. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In 2016 I received my license to carry, and decided I needed to actually train. Prior to that, I was doing security at the request of some brothers I knew at a few Fort Worth mosques. They knew I was familiar with firearms, but I wasn’t officially licensed. Moving toward, in 2017 I had joined a newly formed Black gun association. Being new, they didn’t have any chapters established and didn’t really have a timeline for when they would. After rescinding my membership, I came across the National African American Gun Association aka NAAGA. Their chapter directory had shown to have the Black Roots Gun Club in Fort Worth, where I live. It was at their inaugural Guns ‘n Bbq outing that I met Club Prez, Darryl Simmons, and firearms instructor, Junior “O” Oliver of Body By O Tactical. It was a great day and a great experience to fellowship and train with like minded men and women of the Black community. That training led to another, and another, so on and so forth.
Within a couple months O would become the national co-trainer of NAAGA along side Marchelle Davis of, at the time, Trigger Happy Firearms Instruction. Her company is now My Sister’s Keeper Defense. Anyway, Darryl and I would become some of the Range Safety Officers within the organization. Darryl also received the first Chapter President of the Year recognition in NAAGA. Training with and observing those men and women pushed me to become a certified firearms instructor when I originally found solace in simply being a member. Today I’m an NRA certified firearms instructor, and a Level IV certified personal protection officer. I’m currently awaiting application approval to become a licensing LTC (Licensed To Carry) Instructor so I can further help the Black Roots prosper whilst serving my community and those whom want to train and those whom may be on the fence. Personally, I’m not a gun nut by any means, but I am a staunch advocate for self defense because it’s everyone’s personal responsibility. Plus, love the sport of marksmanship, pushing myself through training, and training others. I understand that guns may not be for everyone, but I feel everyone owes it to themselves to find out.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The process in becoming an instructor is challenging in that training is time consuming and costly. One will have to travel get receive instruction that may not be in your area. I personally love to soak up knowledge from various instructors as no two are the same. The biggest challenge, I’d say, is getting my community to train. Many clamors for it but don’t seize the opportunity when available. That could be for various reasons beyond their control and we get that. We just don’t want our community to wait until there’s a problem to have a solution.
Black Roots Gun Club – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Black Roots Gun Club/Training Academy is about giving firearms application, safety, and maintenance to whomever wants. Whomever means just that. We’re not exclusive to the Black community although that is our primary focus. We’re working to combat the prevalent negative stigma firearms have in our communities. If one assumed the Black community was all in on self-defense, they’d be sorely mistaken. So, we’re working hard to put a positive image and destroy the negative attitudes and misinformation many have about firearms.
My position in Black Roots Gun Club is firearm instructor and Chief Range Safety Officer. I specifically teach introduction to firearms and basics. Currently I’m awaiting application approval to become a licensed LTC (License To Carry) Instructor. As Chief RSO, it’s my job the make sure all students know and abide by our safety standards and regulations. I want everything to have a fun, safe environment for training, and leave a whole lot safer in the handling of firearms.
My proudest moment would be the Club’s bookbag drive and supply support for women’s shelters in DFW. Firearm training is but one pillar of BRGC. Community service and giving back is extremely important as well as a membership requirement. What sets us apart is the we’re Black instructors from the community. We have an intimate understanding of our community where those outside of may not. Look, representation matters, and folk love to see themselves reflected in all aspects in life, and haven’t any qualms about that. We help one another break down those walls we may not have realized we had. I’ve had some great examples in the aforementioned Marchelle, Darryl, and O.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
When we see our students casting off that fear and apprehension towards firearms, we know we’re getting through. When they’re following the safety rules and having fun whilst training, we can’t help but be elated. Even better is when students return for additional training, and receive new students from word of mouth. We’ll continuously plant those seeds in our community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackrootstrainingacademy.com
- Instagram: black_roots_training_academy
- Facebook: Black Roots Gun Club / Black Roots LTC Training Academy
Image Credit:
Darryl Simmons, Marchelle Davis, Junior Oliver, Eric Wiley, Trill Toya, Chris Hoodneck, Tiqoor Nigist, Christopher King Thomas, Tactical Karl, Justin Wayne, Thomas Carlyle
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