About The 17th Year Anniversary of the Million Man March: The Holy Day of Atonement
Inspired and
led by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, more than a million Black
men gathered in Washington, D.C. to declare their right to justice to
atone for their failure as men and to accept responsibility as the
family head.
On that day, Monday, October 16, 1995 there was a sea of Black men, many
who stood for 10 hours or more sharing, learning, listening, fasting,
hugging, crying, laughing, and praying. The day produced a spirit of
brotherhood, love, and unity like never before experienced among Black
men in America. All creeds and classes were present: Christians,
Muslims, Hebrews, Agnostics, nationalists, pan-Africanists, civil rights
organizations, fraternal organizations, rich, poor, celebrities and
people from nearly every organization, profession and walk of life were
present. It was a day of atonement, reconciliation and responsibility.
"The
Million Man March was one of the most historic organizing and mobilizing
events in the history of Black people in the United States," said
Chicago-based Dr. Conrad Worrill, who was a main organizer of the March
and the current president emeritus of the National United Black Front.
Congress shut down that day and President William Clinton was "out of
town." Mainstream media in American and media outlets from around the
world were watching. The world did not see thieves, criminals and
savages as usually portrayed through mainstream music, movies and other
forms of media; on that day, the world saw a vastly different picture of
the Black man in America. The world saw Black men demonstrating the
willingness to shoulder the responsibility of improving themselves and
the community. There was neither one fight nor one arrest that day.
There was no smoking or drinking. The Washington Mall, where the March
was held, was left as clean as it was found. Two of the best
descriptions of the Million Man March include the word "miracle" and the
phrase "a glimpse of heaven."
Along with those who attended, many men, women and children spent the
day at home watching the event on television and participating in the
day of fasting and absence. Workers did not go to work that day,
children did not go to school that day and no one engaged in sport or
play.
During Min. Farrakhan's message to the millions gathered in the mall and
those watching on television around the world that day, he explained to
the world the need for atonement and he laid out the eight steps of
atonement. Thus, for the past 15 years, people gather, reflect and
observe the Holy Day of Atonement.
So many marches and campaigns were sparked by the Million Man March. In
1997 there was the Million Woman March, launched and organized in
Philadelphia by Phile Chionesu, a grassroots activist and human rights
advocate, also known as Empress Chi.
"The Million Woman March came as a result of the Million Man March. I
had not seen our community buzz like that in years. The life of the
community was gone, but in 1995, because of the Million Man March, the
streets starting buzzing again with life. My sons were going and so was
I. The energy going down to the March and being there was just…I cannot
describe it. This is the feeling that drew me to The Movement. There was
a feeling there that had been missing for so long," said Empress Chi.
Accompanying the Man and Woman marches, there have been the Youth,
Family, Millions More, and Million Reparations marches. In addition,
there were several offshoots tapping into the theme popularized by Min.
Farrakhan such as the Million Mom March (gun control), the Million
Worker March (labor), and Million Father March (education).
At the conclusion of the March, the millions of men repeated a pledge
given by Minister Farrakhan that focused on a personal commitment to be
responsible and active in improving the Black community. The purpose was
for Black men to take responsibility for their own actions and to help
develop their own communities, and to atone for their lack of
responsibility. Many of the men assembled took the pledge given that day
seriously and have been actively involved in making their word bond ever
since.
"The March changed my life and my perspective of life in so many ways. I
(gained) a tremendous commitment to the betterment of my culture, and a
heightened capacity to care and to love. I am now trying to live by the
code of honor and the right conditions set forth in the pledge that I
took," said Glenn Towery, owner of Fairy God Brother Productions and
Film Company, LLC that produced the DVD, Long Live the Spirit, a
documentary about the Million Man March.
"I have formed my own company and am striving to create culturally
enriching productions for African Americans and the world. Thank you
Minister Farrakhan for being a conduit to God that allowed such a
magnificent idea as the Million Man March to come through your person
into fruition. Thank you Benjamin Chavis and all of the organizers,
planners and conveners of the Million Man March."
Immediately following the March, roughly 1.7 million Black men
registered to vote and organizational memberships skyrocketed—the NAACP,
churches and mosques reported huge increases and the National
Association of Black Social Workers reported a flood of 13,000
applications to adopt Black children.
The spirit of the March continues to this day.
"Since the Million Man March, October has become a special month for
me," said Dr. Ayo Maat, Organizer in Green and Disability Issues.
"During the first march, I kept my children out of school and they
stayed up all night and watched the event the entire day without
complaint or fatigue. Since then, I have been working to instill the
spirit of atonement and uplift of the race."
"The spirit, energy, and the ideas that were articulated on that day
still resonate among the activists and organizers and thinkers and the
masses of Black men who participated in 1995," said Dr. Worrill.
"Although it may not appear that the energy and spirit and impact of
that day is still with us; it has manifested itself with us today as
Black men are engaged in numerous projects inspired by the Million Man
March that can be documented."
In another public display of accountability, the Million Man March was
the first ever public march to provide an independent Financial Audit of
its operations. (http://www.millionsmoremovement.com)
Over the years, the commemoration which also serves as the Nation of
Islam's Holy Day of Atonement, has been held in different cities. This year's event
will be held in Charlotte, NC., with the keynote address on October 14
by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan.
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