Business & Money

Christians, Muslims unite on economic venture in Atlanta

By Kenetta Muhammad And Karriemmah Muhammad | Last updated: Aug 26, 2016 - 1:41:38 PM

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Rev. Timothy McDonald (second from left) and Student Minister Sharrieff Muhammad (second from right) prepare for ribbon cutting at Blue Seas Express & Catering in Atlanta, a joint economic partnership between Muslims and Christians.

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Blue Seas Express & Catering is located in Atlanta.

ATLANTA—The Atlanta Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and 10,000 Fearless Men and Women Headquarters of the South established a combined economic development venture in Atlanta called Blue Seas Express & Catering.  The casual environment, “soul-fully healthy” Southern cuisine served at the eatery is quickly becoming a local favorite. 

This new eatery hosted its grand opening on Aug. 4 by way of a coalition of organizations and supporters led by Student Southern Region Minister Abdul Sharrieff Muhammad of the Nation of Islam and interim National Director of the 10,000 Fearless Movement  and Reverend Timothy McDonald of First Iconium Baptist Church in Atlanta.

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Patron places an order.
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 is complete with classics such as mouth-watering Southern fried chicken, fried fish, grilled Salmon, navy bean soup, Philly Fish Subs and  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.

This venture ties right into one of the initiatives that followed Justice Or Else, the 20th Anniversary gathering of the Million Man March held last year which was “Buy Black”. The command was to boycott Christmas, 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.” Many returned home after the gathering in Washington, D.C. in 2015 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 of the South formed as an extension of the Atlanta L.O.C., with the mission to “Make our Community a Safe and 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 and unity deeper into the Black community.

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The eatery serves a variety of delicious, mouth-watering cuisine.

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.” Minister 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 Rev. 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.” He added: “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 cannot 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 Muhammad and Rev. McDonald are making history and they plan to help every city around the country duplicate the same strategy.

One of the guests that joined and ate at the grand opening was Faye Coffield, county commissioner of Dekalb County.   “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,” said the commissioner. This was the sentiment of all of the customers that came in that day and the restaurant has been very busy since then.

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Community leaders and local residents gathered for a grand opening and dedication of Blue Seas Express & Catering.

The grand opening ceremony was attended by many community leaders such as Bishop Greg Fann, Rev. Gerard Durley, Pastor Derrick Rice, Rev. Albert Love, LaMarcus Cook, Betty Maddox, Tammy Parrish, Student Minister Darryl Muhammad, Student Minister Tremon Muhammad, Student Minister Shaun Muhammad, Bro.Terry Muhammad, Student Minister Arzo Muhammad, Bro. Student Captain Craig Muhammad, Bro. Christopher Muhammad and Bro. Khallid Muhammad.

Student Minister Sharrieff Muhammad 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.”

For more information, visit Blue Seas Express & Catering at 890 Joseph E. Boone Blvd Atlanta, Georgia, 30314, call at 404-330-8818 or visit online  www.blueseasexpress.com.