By Kimetha Hill
Contributing Writer
The economic downtrend has left the African American community in a lesser state than prior to the recession. And the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan continues to impress upon the nation the importance of economic self-sustainability. At the Savior’s Day Convention on Savior’s Day 2013, Farrakhan launched Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint, an economic program that emphasizes the importance of going back to agricultural roots and living off of the land.
“Coming out of slavery we had millions of acres of land, and we have all but lost it,” said Student Minister Hugh Muhammad of Mosque #8 in San Diego. “He [Minister Farrakhan] said that farming is the engine of our natural life.” Minister Hugh discussed of what is currently happening on farms across America; with genetically modified crops, steroid-injected animals and the lack of wholesome food. However Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint intends to completely change that.
Minister Hugh broke down the different pieces of farming, explaining that farming is not just growing food, but that it encompasses animal husbandry, factories, groceries and other industries associated with production and transportation of farming. “Not only are you using the farm for food,” he said, “You’re also using the farm to produce your shoes, clothing because the cow will give us the hide the same way as giving the other farmer. If you have shoes then you need a shoe cobbler, and a shoe factory. Farming is much bigger than what we fully understand it to be.”
But the idea of farming goes back to reforming a mindset. Breaking old ideologies and adopting new ways of thinking.
“We have to have commitment,” said Minister Hugh. He spoke on the lasting detriment of slavery and the mental bondage it has kept African Americans in for centuries. With unemployment figures remaining high for the African American community, there absolutely has to be a mental change.
“Booker T. Washington, and George Washington Carver saw the value in farming. But we have moved away from the land, we have left the South and come into the urban areas. Once there are no more jobs for us, we’re lingering in the streets of America unemployed and in many cases, because the educational system has failed us. In this society we have become unemployable because we don’t qualify for the jobs that are there.
He continued, “So we have to re-educate and re-train our people. We’re not going to sit around and blame the Caucasian for what he did. That’s history. We’re feeling the effects of slavery and its aftermath to this very day. But we’re not going to sit around and wait for him to bring us out of that condition.”
Hence the importance that Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint on self-sustainability.
Student Minister Muhammad spoke on the multiple farm bills that have been passed, and how there is virtually no support for the black farmer. But Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint promotes self-sustainability and no longer will the farmers need to rely on government. This economic empowerment would lead to the eradication of multiple businesses – notably the pharmaceutical entity.
“You’re going to have a movement against what we’re doing, what Minister Farrakhan is doing because we’re messing with their economy. When we start to eat properly we’re going to affect one of the biggest industries in the world – the pharmaceutical companies.”
Bringing this concept together is the power of the penny. Minister Hugh breaks down the financial aspect of Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint. “We realize that going back to the farm is a basic principle of any nation’s survival,” he shared. He explained that with each person giving 5 cents a day the yearly total would be $18.20 per person. But with 16 million wage earners, that number swells to $291,200,000. From these funds, land can be purchased and farming can begin.
“The truth is, our Mexican brothers and sisters are not taking our jobs,” shared Minister Hugh. “Farming is not just about picking. We must remember that the slave master became rich off of the farm because it was cotton that drove the textile industry here in America and back in Europe. So farming becomes a critical aspect. The Minister looked at how we can unite our pennies.”
All proceeds are poured directly into Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint, and Student Minister Muhammad explains that the land surveying and buying process is already underway. “We’re going to look all over the place. We may buy farmland in the San Joaquin Valley in California. We know it feeds half or three-fourths of California. It feeds a tremendous part of America and there is a good amount of black farmers right here, right outside of Fresno.” He added wherever there is good land available, will be surveyed for purchase.
Once the land is purchased, it won’t be a free for all of throwing seeds into the ground. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has intricately arranged trainings and meetings to teach people how to farm. Individuals will learn everything from how to rotate crops, to how to produce the best soil, to the ins and outs of agribusiness, animal husbandry and hydroponics. “We’re making sure everything that comes off these farms is in line with what God set up. It’s about tilling the soil and doing it with the purpose of prolonging life. The food should help you, the food should preserve you.”
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan will give periodic updates on the funds and what will be done with it, and Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint is not limited to the Black community. Student Minister Muhammad spoke of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s high integrity, and how he stands on principles of justice, equality and working together with all communities. He also shares that it is the working together that will lend to the success of this movement.
Minister Hugh Muhammad welcomes the San Diego community to Mosque #8 located at 6601 Imperial Ave. as well as visit www.economicblueprint.org for more information on Mohammad’s Economic Blueprint. This movement is valuable to the sustainability of the Black community as well as America.
