My name is Bilal Fareed Sabir.  I was born and raised in Winston-Salem, NC, living with my parents, two brothers and four sisters. I dropped out of school and joined the Marines at the height of the Vietnam War in 1966, at seventeen years of age. I served with the First Marine Divison (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, 2nd Battlion 27th Marine Regiment 1st Platoon 3rd Squad as a small arms specialist (M79 Man). I was wounded in combat on the second day of Operation Allen Brook and subsequently retired due to injuries received in combat. I was awarded the Purple Heart, The Combat Infantry Ribbon, The Presidential Unit Citation for heroism and outstanding performance in combat, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/Device, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal. I graduated from A&T State University with an Associate in Community Mental Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Community Psychology graduating Summa Cum Laude. I have a Master of Arts degree in Business Management from Central Michigan University. I lived two and one half years in Senegal and The Gambia West Africa. I have one son, I have two daughters, two granddaughters, and one grandson.

My name is Faatimah Fareedah Sabir; wife of The Imamaa Bilal Fareed Sabir. I am a native of Columbus, Ohio. I grew up in a middle class predominantly Black neighborhood called Brentnell. Our neighborhood was family oriented and parent’s knew one another; they were the guardians of our community. By age 21 I moved to Atlanta, Georgia and this was an experience I shall never forget. In Atlanta I got to see African Americans living on such a higher scale economically and politically, I lived there 3 ½ years. Being the adventurer that I am, I moved to Los Angeles, CA but then on April 29, 1992, a jury acquitted four Los Angeles Police officers accused in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King; all hell broke loose. I saw another type of Black people stand up and say “it’s going down!” I remember streets burning, sirens, helicopter sounds throughout the day and night and I remember feeling sad and questioning, “Am I really in America or a war zone?” but weathered the storm as we do. I feel like I know my people and what we are capable of doing on a global scale. I need Africans, African Americans and The European to listen, in June of 1996 my husband and I moved to Senegal West Africa. This is where the idea of African Americans returning to our ancestral homeland was born. I stood on fertile soil and saw what could be for my people. Most African Americans will never get the chance to live in Africa and may not be able to imagine a country of their own. Brothers and Sisters I am here to tell you this is doable. Africa is foreign to you but building, developing and business is not. The European men came to America not knowing the land but determined to build their country at all cost. Lives were shattered by this new developer and our ancestors felt the brunt of Columbus exploration. However, if one is to learn from their oppressors it would be to learn determination to rule one’s self and become the greatest nation on earth. We ask the four West African nations to give or donate land to those wanting to resettle on our own land; we will not fight our African brothers and sisters; after all this is how my ancestors ended up in the West, from fighting one another. Furthermore, because of my positive experience in West Africa due to very special women that assisted me every day I lived there, my mission is to build a stronger alliance and sisterhood between West African women and African American women. I know we can do this if our Black men (African & African American) merge together to rebuild West Africa and put slavery and colonization behind us but never forgetting our joint experience. This experience was both educational and enlightening to have lived in the land of my ancestors for 2 ½ years. In addition, I am a graduate of The Ohio State University where I received my Bachelor of Art in Sociology minor in Criminology. I have firsthand experience working with men both black and white within the prison/judicial system. I know how damaging prisons have been for our people. I know how harmful guns, knives, cigarettes, substance abuse and alcoholism are to our communities along with the devastating effect it has on families; I wish to change this outcome. African American wealthy and bright people, business owners, farmers, skilled laborers, construction workers, administrators, economic planners, surveyors, bankers, doctors, nurses and teachers we need your expertise. This movement can only help America economically the same as it did when my ancestors were brought here. This movement is a movement on self determination and only Allah can make it happen and in Him we trust not associating any partners. We must leave on one accord we cannot be divided in any way, especially in The Upright Way - Diin Al-Hanifiyyah.