Business and Economic Scholars Agree with The Honorable Elijah Muhammad's Position on Entrepreneurship

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An Economic Blueprint by The Honorable Elijah Muhammad

In the Program and Position: What Do the Muslims Want? chapter of Message to the Black Man in America, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad wrote, "The truth must be recognized by the Black man. He, himself, has assisted greatly in creating this serious problem of unemployment, insecurity, and lack. Before the Black man can begin to gain economic security, he must be awakened from the dead and gain knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, which will enable him to follow my teaching" (Muhammad, 1965).  Also stated on page 174, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad stated the following: "If there are six or eight Muslims with knowledge and experience of the grocery business, pool your knowledge and open a grocery store" (Muhammad,1965).

 The Key to Success: Do For Self

In an article in The Final Call Newspaper, titled, The Key to Success: Do For Self, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan stated the following: "The Honorable Elijah Muhammad lifted up a mighty example of doing for self for the Black man of America. Many said the Muslims operated mom-and-pop stores and made mockery of our humble beginnings. However, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad lifted up a light for all to see. He was not working with the “best minds” in the country, but with those that society labeled as social misfits, the outcasts, and the prisoners" (Farrakhan, 2023).

Many ask if The Honorable Elijah Muhammad and The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan are guiding our people into true economic freedom and also may wonder why The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches his followers and our people to become entrepreneurs. In the remainder of this blog post, I will share an argument from scholars of business and economics who provide a defense of The Honorable Elijah Muhammad's position of our people becoming entrepreneurs. 

Arguments from Business Scholars

Small Businesses Create Jobs

An article by Alsaaty and Makhlouf (2020) mentions how, "according to the World Bank (n.d.), small enterprises are responsible for creating seven out of every ten jobs in emerging economies. Similarly, they are responsible for the creation of most jobs in the advanced economies. Also in the article, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), whose mission is to extend technical and financial benefits to entrepreneurs and the small business sector in general, states that small businesses add about 1.8 million net jobs annually to the U.S. economy and account for 47.3% of private sector jobs in the nation" (Alsaaty & Makhlouf, 2020). 

Major Benefits of Small Businesses to a Nation's Economy

1) Contributing significantly to the GDP and constituting a major part of GDP growth.

2) Expanding the tax base.

3) Satisfying a need in the marketplace, thus improving the quality of life.

4) Filling gaps in the production of needed goods and services that are ignored by large corporations.

5) Adding vigor to economically depressed regions.

6) Raising the social and financial standing of business creators (entrepreneurs).

7) Raising efficiency in the marketplace by increasing competition.

8) Improving and customizing customer service.

9) Increasing exports.

(Alsaaty & Makhlouf , 2020)

To add Message to the Black Man in America by The Honorable Elijah Muhammad to your home library, go to https://store.finalcall.com/product-category/books-by-the-honorable-elijah-muhammad/

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Nadine Muhammad has a Master of Science in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. She is the owner of an online bookstore, Nation's Products, and NLM Economic Development Services. For a consultation with business plan writing or developing an economic development strategic plan for your community, send an email to nlmeconomicdevelopmentservices@gmail.com 

References

Alsaaty, F. M., & Makhlouf, H. H. (2020). The rise and fall of small business enterprises. Open Journal of Business and Management, 8(4), 1908-1916. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=101924

Muhammad, E. (1962). Message to the Black Man in America

Farrakhan, L. (2023). Final Call Newspaper. The Key to Success: Do For Self. https://new.finalcall.com/2023/08/29/the-key-to-success-do-for-self-2/