Estimated reading time: 13 minute(s)
By Sister Kenetta Muhammad and Sister Karriemmah Muhammad
The Atlanta Local Organizing Committee (L.O.C.) & the 10,000 Fearless Men & Women Headquarters of the South initiatives of the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March, Justice or Else March that was hosted in Washington D.C., establishes the first Economic Development venture in Atlanta called Blue Seas Express & Catering. A casual environment, ‘soul-fully healthy’ Southern cuisine fastly becoming a local favorite.
This new eatery hosted its Grand Opening on Thursday, August 4, 2016 by way of a Coalition of organizations & supporters led by Student Regional Minister Abdul Sharrieff Muhammad (Nation of Islam/10,000 Fearless), Reverend Timothy McDonald (First Iconium Baptist Church). When you walk in the restaurant, all guests are extended a “Welcome to Blue Seas!” greeting, bound to put a smile on any face. The menu complete with classics such as mouth-watering Southern Fried Chicken, Fried Fish, Grilled Salmon, Navy Bean Soup, Philly Fish Subs & The Supreme Bean Pie. One of the crowd favorites is quickly becoming the One Dollar ($1) Steam Table, that includes steamed vegetables, Mac-n-Cheese and your choice of meat.
All Photos by: Damon L. Thomas
This venture ties right into one of the initiatives that followed the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March which was “Buy Black”. The command was to boycott Christmas and support our own businesses and develop businesses by pooling resources. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan said at the March, “Our Unity is more powerful than a nuclear bomb.” All those that attended the March went home with the zeal to support their own, meaning Black Businesses. The key to the success in the black community is economic withdrawal, taking our dollars for example, and putting them in black owned banks. After the March the 10,000 Fearless Men & Women formed as an extension to the Atlanta L.O.C., with the mission to “Make our Community a Decent Place to Live,” an instruction given by Minister Farrakhan. In order to bring that into reality, we would have to find ways to create jobs, programs and patrol our own community to bring love & unity deeper into the black community.
The Final Call Newspaper recently reported “Black buying power continues to increase. It is currently $1 Trillion but is forecast to increase up to $1.3 Trillion by 2017.” The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been urging the black community to pool our resources as he was taught by The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Minister Farrakhan stated, “We really need to sit down together as brothers and sisters and plan an effective economic strategy to pull our people up out of this poverty and want that is rooted in ignorance.” This economic strategy will come from the leaders in the community, we have to stop begging people to do for us what we can do for our self.
At the grand opening ceremony Reverend Timothy McDonald said, “The Atlanta L.O.C., we never stopped meeting after 10.10.15, we are a model and we want to share what we are doing with the world. We left our egos at the door, Muslims and Christians, we are one people and there is one God. We are in one of the most violent areas in the country, Student Minister Sharrieff and I have come together in spite of the opposition but when God gives you a task you can not listen to the opposition. We have to build up this community economically and feed our people. We have God on our side, and Allah is nowhere through with what he has planned for us.”
Student Minister Sharrieff and Reverend McDonald are making history and they plan to help every city around the country duplicate the same strategy. One of the guest that joined and ate at the Grand Opening was Faye Coffield, County Commissioner of Dekalb County, she said “That was some of the best fish I have ever tasted and vegetables were beyond belief, it was all good and I will definitely be back.” This was the sentiment of all of the customers that came in that day and the restaurant has been very busy since then.”
The grand opening ceremony was attended by many community leaders such as Bishop Greg Fann, Reverend Gerard Durley, Pastor Derrick Rice, Reverend Albert Love, LaMarcus Cook, Betty Maddox, Tammy Parrish, Student Minister Darryl Muhammad, Student Minister Tremon Muhammad, Student Minister Shaun Muhammad, Brother Terry Muhammad, Student Minister Arzo Muhammad, Brother Captain Craig Muhammad, Brother Christopher Muhammad and Brother Khallid Muhammad.
Student Minister Sharrieff stated, “We thank Allah for the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s divine instructions and commands. We look forward to working together with our Christian family, so we can show the entire world that we can work together and make progress.”
If you would like to Support Blue Seas Express & Catering visit them at 890 Joseph E. Boone Blvd Atlanta, GA 30314, call at 404-330-8818 or visit online at www.blueseasexpress.com.
