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| Black Muslim business owners and entrepreneurs joined Sister Sajdah Wendy Muhammad, center in black, at the Honorable Elijah Muhammad House Museum in Chicago on Feb. 21 for the event “Celebrating Our Nation’s Business.” Photos: Nabil Muhammad |
A gathering of Black Muslim entrepreneurs took place at the historic Honorable Elijah Muhammad House Museum (Sajdah House) in Chicago on February 21, as business leaders came together for the Black Muslim Business Reception during the Nation of Islam’s Saviours’ Day weekend.
The event, themed “Celebrating Our Nation’s Businesses,” served as both a networking opportunity and a rallying cry for economic self-sufficiency, a principle championed, taught and exemplified by the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
Held at 4847 S. Woodlawn Avenue, the former home of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Mother Clara Muhammad, the reception connected business owners, industry leaders, and visionaries working to strengthen Black economic foundations.
More than just a reception, the evening’s discussions expressed the need to establish a National Business Chamber, reinforcing the “do for self” message of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad that has guided generations of Black Muslims.
“The Honorable Elijah Muhammad already gave us a model, a blueprint that we can see,” said Brother Arthur Muhammad of Coleman’s Barbershop, referencing “Accomplishments of the Muslims,” a historical record of Nation of Islam enterprises and businesses that would be featured in Muhammad Speaks newspaper.
“What they did, we can now do with modern technology. How fast can we get up and go to work, unite with one another, pool our resources, and build something for our families, our cities, and our nation?”
Student Minister Jamil Muhammad emphasized the power of Black Muslim businesses, noting that their potential extends beyond small enterprises. “Black Muslim business is a wording that is deceptively simple but an overwhelmingly powerful concept,” he said.
“Because we are not just mom-and-pop shops. The aim of (Black American Muslims) is not just a few parlors, a few barbershops, a few beauty salons—nothing wrong with that—but beyond that, we have to go and build the institutional change that will make a difference.”
The significance of the moment was not lost on Bro. Mandene Muhammad, program director for the Coalition for the Remembrance of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (C.R.O.E.), who reflected on how past generations built thriving businesses rooted in the Nation’s teachings.
“Throughout Muhammad Speaks and Theology of Time lecture series, you see and hear the Nation of Islam acknowledging Muslim businesses, many of them coming from Chicago and Detroit. So, to see this now, it’s a beautiful thing. We have to support these businesses.”
Imam Tariq El-Amin and his wife Sister Aisha El-Amin from the community of Imam W. Deen Mohammed were also in attendance expressing the need for a unified Black Muslim business community.
The evening’s discussions of unity and “doing for self” were further solidified by the viewing of the Cracked Atom statue, a striking new installation designed by Chicago artist Maxwell Emcays and unveiled in October 2024.
The sculpture, commissioned by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad House Museum founder, Sister Sajdah Wendy Muhammad, symbolizes the power unlocked when Black men and women unite in purpose and economic strength.
The statue, which stands in the Friendship Garden of the museum, features seven figures from the African Diaspora holding briefcases inscribed with the Mind of an Entrepreneur brand—an intentional nod to economic independence.
At its core, the statue reflects the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, emphasizing the necessity of self-reliance and cooperative economics in the Black community.
Explaining the deeper meaning behind the design, Sister Sajdah Wendy Muhammad shared “This cracking of an atom, or breaking open of the mind of the Black man and woman, unleashes a power which, when combined with unity, is more powerful than a (hydrogen) bomb.”
Inspired by the Fruit of Islam (F.O.I.), the men of the Nation of Islam, the statue’s design channels energy through an F.O.I. figure, signifying their role in uplifting the Black community.
“He [Emcays] gave the F.O.I. on the statue a powerful feature by running the electricity for the cracked atom through the F.O.I. figure. The design channels the energy that illuminates the atom, signifying the F.O.I.’s vital role,” she explained.
The Cracked Atom concept, rooted in the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, echoes Mother Tynnetta Muhammad’s Unveiling the Number 19 series, which explores Supreme Wisdom Lessons. Sajdah Wendy Muhammad referenced those Teachings:
“In the problem book of the Supreme Wisdom, we read that Mr. Muhammad cracked one atom into ten million parts. The student is asked, ‘How much does one-third of a cracked atom weigh?’” She emphasized that this metaphor connects to the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s role in continuing the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s work.
Artist Maxwell Emcays, who immersed himself in research and prayer while creating the sculpture, ensured the design reflected the timeless strength of the Black diaspora. Each figure embodies a distinct Original man and woman heritage through hairstyles, jewelry, and attire, reinforcing the interconnectedness of Black people globally.
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