MILLION MAN MARCH ANNIVERSARY

Oct 16, 2008 ezstreet Uncategorized 0

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On October 16, 1995, history was made. Minister Louis Farrakhan hosted the largest demonstration in the history of Washington, DC. He called for one million African-American men for a day of atonement at the National Mall. The idea was something almost unheard of at the time-a million Black men in one spot for the purpose of taking charge of their own lives, not meeting to hear the latest hip-hop jams. Minister Farrakhan wanted this march to tell the world that the image the world has of the Black community is not the image of who and what the Black community really is. He called for African-Americans to register to vote and adopt Black children that were lost in the system. Following the march, one and a half million Black men registered to vote and 13,000 applications were made to by African-Americans to adopt Black children.

Although it was called the Million Man March, it effected Black women as well. Many found the message and purpose of the march just as inspiring as the men that attended did. They were just as motivated after the march to go into their communities and make things better. Not only for their sons, but daughters as well. While I did not attend, I watched it on television at school and was captivated by the speeches and message being delivered by each speaker. I was amazed that everyone in attendance stood there for hours, captivated by the inspiring words being delivered on that stage. I found myself in tears during some of the speeches, so moved by the passion in their voices. You could feel the energy flowing through the crowd even through the television set. That’s how powerful this event was. I know that it forever changed me and the others that found themselves on the National Mall that day or watched it on television.

Many that attended, and that didn’t, found the message more important than the messenger. Many Whites in this country tried to make it more about Farrakhan than about the message itsself. It was a day of peace and personal reflection. It was about us as a people, whether male or female, Christian or Muslim, taking responsibility for themselves and their lives. It was about supporting one another as a community. It was about doing our part to make our lives better and make a difference. I learned that day that I don’t have to be a politician to make change happen in my community. It starts at home.

How did the Million Man March change you?

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