A Day that Changed My Life: The Million Man March

I was never the same after I gathered with two million Black men at the Million Man March on October 16, 1995 in Washington, D.C.

According to the National Park Service, 400,000 men were at the National Mall. Some media counted 800,000 to 1.5 million. They were wrong. The Nation of Islam counted every Black man, on the minute and hour. At the end of the day, 2 million were counted.

Prior to the March — on a wintry evening in Harlem, in 1994 — more than 10,000 Black men gathered in the Harlem armory, with 7,000 standing outside. They’d answered a rallying call, “For Black Men Only,” by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam. These men rallied for enjoyed a night of peace, handshakes, and bear hugs. They promised to remove weapons from their homes and respect their women.

In early 1995 Minister Farrakhan, the Rev. Benjamin Chavis, Dr. Cornel West, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and others traveled across the country meeting with Black ministers, community leaders, national and local organizations, urging Black men to join them for a day of atonement in the nation’s capitol on October 16.

The March was to be a priority call for Black men to atone, stand up, assume a new and expanded sense of responsibility to strengthen the resourcefulness of the family; galvanize and mobilize a process to raise consciousness; cultivate commitment; and lay the groundwork for increased positive, social, political and economical activity in the Black community.

All Blacks were encouraged to stay home from their usual school, work and social engagements, in favor of attending teach-ins and worship services focusing on the struggle for a healthy and self-sufficient Black community.

The Day of Absence occurred on the same date. Organized by female leaders in conjunction with the March leadership, it was intended to engage the large population of Blacks who would not be able to attend the March.

Early on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 15, I woke up, prayed, and asked God for a safe trip to Washington and back home. Then I departed for the march on one of two charterd buses with members of the Nation of Islam’s Study Groups from Monroe, Rayville, and Shreveport, LA., and other men from Monroe and Dallas, TX. Our spirits were high as we entered Washington. We encountered other buses across the country. We exchanged waves with them, while the bus drivers blew their horns at each other.

Afterwards, as we marched toward the National Mall on foot, carloads of Black women drove by us, blowing their horns and yelling, “Go get ’em, BROTHERS!” “Thank You Sisters … WE WILL!” we responded. That experience brought home to me my LOVE and RESPECT for black women, and the BOND I’ll have with them for the rest of my life, I was PROUD to be a Black Man!

We stood for more than 10 hours at the National Mall. Never in my lifetime had I witnessed so many Black men laughing and crying, praying, fasting, shaking hands, hugging each other and saying, “I love you brother,” along with the young and old helping each other.

The March produced a spirit of brotherhood, love, and unity like I’ve never experienced before among Black men in America. They represented all walks of life: Christians, Muslims, Hebrews, Buddhists, nationalists, Pan Africanists, rich, poor, gay, celebrities, members of civil rights and  fraternal organizations, and even gang members.

GOD WAS THERE WITH US ON THAT GLORIOUS AND HOLY DAY!

Before attending the March, I was a full-time columnist/reporter for the Monroe Free Press, one of two Black weekly newspapers in Monroe, Louisiana; a part-time caseworker for two juvenile diversion programs under the Ouachita Parish District Attorney’s Office; a media advocate/lobbyist for African, African diasporan, national grassroots and children’s organizations; member of the DA’s Office Big Brother/Big Sister program; community advocate/big brother; and homeless advocate/volunteer reporter for the Downtown Prayer Band.

Once I returned from the March, I increased my involvement in these activities. Two years later, I started The Umoja Network (TUN, www.theumojanetwork.com), a business through which I did freelance writing, ghostwring, speech writing, other long- and short- term writing projects, proofreading/editing, public speaking, consultanting and public relations. I also created a printed newsletter (now online), The Empowerment Initiative, a publication under the TUN umbrella.

I relocated TUN to Little Rock on Sept. 2004. I continued my involvement in media advocacy/lobbying, advocating for the homeless, and became a communications/public relations director for the African Women’s Health Project International (AWHPI, founder and president Princess Deun Ogunlana). In 2006, we went to Lagos, Nigeria for a medical mission, where we provided health screenings and over-the-counter medicines for over 2,000 people.

Unfortunately some critics, including Blacks, said the Million Man March represented a “rare” moment of solidarity among Black men. Even though many Black men joined church, became part of organizations like the NAACP and Urban League and registered to vote afterward, detractors of the March concluded that it did not have an agenda and didn’t accomplish anything major.

This is wrong of course. We had an agenda, which was addressed: The Black Family and Community Development; Affirmative Action and Voting Support; and Corporative American Reinvestment in the Black Community. There was the priority call I mentioned earlier, as well as agendas we set ourselves. And the The Million Man March, Inc. National Headquarters was created at 145 Kennedy Street, N.W.,  in Washington to serve as a support system for those who wanted to carry out the agenda.

As a result of the march, Black contractors in St. Louis, MO and Columbia, SC built free homes for those who could not afford housing. Some Black men, including myself created businesses, and some of these businesses hired Blacks who’d suffered long-term unemployment. Malik Shabazz, of the New Marcus Garvey Movement, closed 1,500 houses of illegal activity in Detriot, MI.

But much of Black America thought we would eliminate overnight all the problems that existed among Black people, and when that didn’t happen they were disillusioned. Local Organizing Committes (LOCs) where formed across the country, but most Blacks did not get involved. In Monroe, I was co-founder of a grassroots organization with a local minister, but people who’d initially shown interest in involvement abandoned us. A minister from Dallas, by the way of Monroe, started a 100 Men March Against Violence and Summit in Monroe …but only five people showed up: the minister, his son, another man, a  reporter from another newspaper, and me.

The March’s agenda was restated during Oct. 16, 2005, during the Millions More Movement, which celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the event. After the 18th anniversary last year, the focus was on Muhammad’s Economic Blueprint.

The Blueprint calls on 16 million Black wage earners to give 35 cents a week to a national treasury. In one year the fund would amass $291 million to be invested first in farmland and then in other industries and projects. (Visit economicblueprint.org for more information.)

But political and community leaders refused to get involved, and the historic March has pretty much been forgotten.

I will never forget it nor will my Monroe friends Rick Saulsberry, James Muhammad (a member of the Nation of Islam’s Monroe Study Group, who rode on the bus with me to D.C.), and Christopher Handy who also share their recollections with TheVillage.

Rick Saulsberry

October 16,1995 was one of my most memorable days. Seven of us journeyed in two vehicles. Before we left Monroe Louisiana we held hands and prayed that the Almighty would provide traveling grace and safety. As we arrived in the nation’s capital it was a beautiful site seeing black men from all over, embracing, hugging, and shouting black power to each other. As we left the National Mall headed to our hotel, we lost our three cohorts whom had trailed us there. This was before everyone had a cell phone.

I can remember getting up that morning, arriving in front of the capital building , probably 30 yards from the speaking platform, and standing for at least 11 hours listening to these motivating speakers. Although I had to use the restroom, I knew that if I left my spot I would never get back.

Probably my most memorable moment was as we were headed back to Louisiana that night, we were probably 4 hours out and I passed our friends on the interstate whom we hadn’t seen since we arrived. They hit their lights and we stopped at the next exit. These brothers informed us that they had no money to get back. All they brought was money to get to Washington, they slept in the car, and were driving home on prayer. Well, God answered them and we loaned them some money to get back home.

After returning home one of the guys and I opened a black art and Greek store (http://www.afrocentrics.com/).

I have worked for years as a coach, mentor, big brother and community activist. I am also a junior high school teacher and sit on several boards in the community. The million man march inspired me to take an active role in improving the conditions for African Americans and working with youth to insure they have a chance for a successful life.

James Muhammad

My experience at the Million Man March was powerful. The bus ride was fun. I never had that much fun with Black men in my life.

I never in my life seen so many Black men in one place; and there was no violence.

I was struck by the spirit of the day. Minister Farrakhan’s message was so powerful. I am glad I was apart of it.

Minister Farrakhan has put before us the Economic Blueprint to help out of the condition we are in as a people.

I think that the Million Man March is proof that the Black man can and will rise. But it’s going take the intervention of Allah to stand him up and force him to do something for self.

What concerns me the most [today] is how far we have fallen from that time.

Christopher D. Handy

I have not forgotten, nor will I the spirit of the Million Man March, ever leave me because it has changed my life for the better.

Since the Million Man March in 1995, I have continued to live up to the call to go back to my community and give back and help others.

I have formed several companies (private security and private investigation company, janitorial service, and a brokerage firm) and programs geared towards helping our youths find their way.

I have formed I.C.A.N. (Innovative Community Action Network). It is a community based program which consists of several programs, including a mentoring program for at-risk youths, a drug education program for the community, a program for families to reconnect, and D.O.T. = Dads On Top– this program is designed to reconnect children with their dads. Many dads father their children, but are not in their lives. I saw a lot of that, and developed this program to reunite the family unit.

I have gone on and earned my Ph.D. and formed a Bible College to prepare ministers for the field ahead and service to the community. I have written over 52 books on a variety of subjects from racism to finding the perfect mate. All of this came about from the motivation I got from attending the Million Man March.

This is why I continue to do what I can to help change our community and our world around us. I still believe that we have the power to change our destiny, but it’s up to us to make that decision and want to change.

My Profiles (Highlights) of the Million Man March you requested. (Vickie, this is separate from the article. You can insert it in a sidebar)

Before I left for Washington I called my mother, Audrey Faye Williams of Lafayette, LA, and my old and only brother, Darren Keith Williams of Houston, TX, to let them know I was on my way. What they said touched my life forever:

“You are my youngest son,” my mother told me. “I am so proud of you because you will be among those representing the BEST OF OUR BLACK MEN at the Million Man March! I LOVE YOU! I’ll pray for your safety, and please be careful.”

“Andre,” Darren said, “you represent US, the ‘WILLIAMS BROTHERS’ from the Sonya Quarters (aka South Alexandria, where we grew up in Alexandria, La) … I am very proud of you, boy!”

During that glorious day I was overjoyed to see my “homegirl” and “shero” from Alexandria — attorney Faye Williams, Washington, D.C. Coordinator of the Million Man March — speaking before us.

I saw Rosa Parks being escorted up the U.S. Capitol steps. When she walked out to the podium, we yelled out: “Rosa! Rosa! Rosa!” for 1-3 minutes. She touched our spirits with her simple greeting: “Hello, my Brothers!”

A powerful speech given by Ayinde Jean-Baptiste, a 14-year-old student at Whitney Young High School in Chicago, still sends chills up my spine. “You must change today so that tomorrow may dare to be different,” Jean-Baptiste said. Today, Jean-Baptiste is a community organizer and motivational speaker.

What almost brought tears to my eyes was the sight of the man beside me, his young son perched on his shoulders to see the speakers of the March.

After Minister Farrakhan delivered his speech, he asked us to recite The Million Man March Pledge. The way Farrakhan asked us to recite it — “Say, ‘I, state your name … ,” — will be a touching memory for the rest of my life. I’ve fulfilled the majority of those pledges, especially the one to strive to improve myself spiritually, morally, mentally, socially, politically, and economically for the benefit of my family and my people.