The only traffic in Atlanta was Peachtree on a Saturday night. It was Khaatim’s 2nd year at Morehouse. He didn’t go home for Thanksgiving and fate would have it that he would meet Rashad, an ATLien from Decatur and recent graduate of Auburn. Their first date to IHop turned into a week of Blockbuster videos, long before Netflix. Rashad preferred Outkast to Khaatim’s DJ Clue. But soon they found an artist to share: Erykah Badu. Cupid’s bee sting lasted only a short time.
But over the years, they would find each other. It was like no time had passed between them. IHop turned into Flying Biscuit on Piedmont. Dinner turned into Red Lobster on Candler. CDs turned into their first concert at the Fox to see Badu in 2003. They were maturing, and so was their love.
Fast forward to 2006, Khaatim had been elected as the youngest member in history to the Atlanta Board of Education. Rashad had started his career in real estate. Fate brought brought them back together when Khaatim purchased his first home in the SWATS. Turned out that the house was one of Rashad’s rehabs.
From there, they stayed in touch. Rashad moved to Charlotte to work for Wachovia. Khaatim would call on his drives to NJ. They would reminisce with Jill Scott in the background.
In 2014, Khaatim was back in Newark, Rashad was in town for a visit to NYC. He called and they connected and planned to visit New Orleans together for the first time. It was on that trip they decided to give love another try. This time, Cupid’s arrow hit them hard.
Back in New Orleans in 2018, on a visit to Studio B, Khaatim’s heart was racing, he was sweating and hyperventilating. The place was filled with spiders. But there was Rashad, as he had always been, brushing Khaatim off and reassuring him that he killed all of them in one fell swoop. In that moment, Khaatim said: “Ask me to marry you.” Rashad asked: “Will you say yes?” Khaatim replied, “Ask and find out.”
Fast forward to October 12, 2019. Family and friends gathered at New Jersey Performing Arts Center to witness the wedding that would join Rashad David and Khaatim Sherrer El. Officiated by Mayor Ras J. Baraka, the couple were made husband and husband with the mayor’s words, “If anyone can show just cause why this couple cannot lawfully be joined together in matrimony, let them speak now and we can have you escorted out.”
Guests joined the couple for dinner and a concert of Newark talent and danced the night away.
