Article: 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March

On Oct. 10, thousands poured into Washington, D.C., for the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March. There was no actual march but by train, plane, foot, and automobile participants came expecting to be informed and mobilized. Men in Fruit of Islam garb and women cloaked in head-to-toe brown vestments lined the city streets, welcoming attendees with the customary Islamic salutation of “As-salaam alaikum,” which translated to English simply means “Peace be unto you.” Vendors hawking commemorative souvenirs, food, oils and books beckoned potential patrons with similarly phrased greetings of happiness and well wishes.

This year’s gathering differed from its predecessor for a number of reasons. Although official numbers have not been released, there have already been varying reports on just how many people were in attendance, with many estimating the turnout to be much lower than what it was two decades ago. Some have also spoken out in anger about the lack of mainstream media coverage and have taken to social media to start a viewership boycott of several networks including BET. This year’s event didn’t boast any big name speakers, although several celebrities (namely hip-hop artists P. Diddy, Young Jeezy, Common, Snoop Dogg and J. Cole, as well as comedian Dave Chappelle and entrepreneur Russell Simmons) were spotted in the audience. It instead had a grassroots focus as members of the Latino community, chiefs of indigenous tribal nations, activists from Ferguson, Missouri, representatives of the Black Lives Matter movement, and several other organizations took the podium, priming the audience for the highly-anticipated appearance of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.

Each group of speakers were targeted in their aim, but the underlying message of equity remained at the forefront, garnering impassioned reactions from listeners as they each waxed poetic on the economic, social and cultural disenfranchisement bequeathed upon their respective communities by nature of the troubled history of this nation.

Melvin Williams — a native of Kansas City, Missouri, who rode on an overnight bus with a group of church members from North Carolina to attend the rally — said he was impacted by the stories he heard.

“It was just so beautiful how all of us can come together Black, Brown whoever. When (Chief Ernie Longwalker) was talking about how his people had their land taken away from them, it reminded me of how (African-Americans) are living in the ghetto and big corporations come in and move us out and then come in and build up the inner city.”

Pastor Jamal Bryant, co-convener of the event, took a moment to welcome the sister of slain activist Sandra Bland to the stage, as several other family members of those killed in police-action shootings stood directly in front wearing T-shirts and holding signs bearing the names and faces of their loved ones.

“Let us remember the words of Ida B. Wells. The ones who do the murders write the reports,” said Tamika Mallory, co-chair of the NYC Justice League. “We can’t breathe, brothers and sisters … when we say ‘Justice or Else,’ we mean just that. Go back and tell your brothers and sisters that the time for games is over.”

The zealously militant declarations weaved on throughout the duration of Saturday’s program, the apex being an address from the man many consider to be both a polarizing figure as well as the only person that could galvanize a movement of this magnitude.

“I am honored beyond words... I thank almighty God Allah for every one of you,” said Farrakhan upon taking his place behind the glass encased rostrum.

A lot could be said of Farrakhan’s two-hour speech, and much already has. The myriad of responses range from energetic praise to snide critiques.  

One Washington Post writer described the message as “dizzying” and “the oratorical equivalent of a bulk-size can of mixed nuts.”

Farrakhan’s list of topics ranged from slavery to educational empowerment, and several places in between. He spoke tolerantly of the LGBTQ community addressing them as his “family,” and unearthed points of controversy such as the much-discussed infidelity of NOI founder the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, and the yet-unsolved murder of Malcolm X.  

Hamid Saahir, an educator and founder of advocacy group Be Bilal, said he felt the variety in subject matter was a necessary approach. “With African-American people, we are very diverse, so you could also say that at the same time he spoke to multiple segments of the community. Every part of the marching orders were not for everybody.”

The orders included a call to boycott Christmas spending and to instead use resources to buy land for agricultural purposes and invest in financial institutions owned and operated by Blacks — an idea Saahir believes isn’t immediately possible, but can be in time.

“We have Black banks; they’re weak right now but they can be stronger if Black people were to put money into these banks. But at the same time, they have to make sure their customer service is stellar, better than the competition.”

Saahir shared he felt the audience seemed to be quite receptive and open to what they were hearing. “It was a big loving family, everybody was there in good spirits. It felt good to be down there.”

Those good vibes stretched thousands of miles away, to Texas, for Derrick Garrett, a marketing professional who attended the event in 1995 but watched online this year.

“In ’95 the whole trip was enlightening for me. I got to talk to some older cats on the way there, I left with an agenda,” he said. “(This year) there was a spirit and an energy there, and I could see it as much as you can feel or see an energy through video and pictures… I caught that vibe.”

Although he recognizes unity and peace as positive by-products of this year’s rally, Garrett believes the demonstration may have been unnecessary. “I’m kind of disillusioned with that kind of stuff; I questioned what could really come out of another march on Washington … not because it happened in 1995, but because of how much I’ve learned since then ... I don’t think marching and protests actually solve the actual problems at home,” he said, adding that he doesn’t fault those who see some benefit in events of this sort. “If people march in 2015 and they come away with something tangible, something they can grow with — like a message or lesson — then I welcome that.”