The Million Man March
Galhisi Sowande -- Pelican Bay Support Project
ON OCTOBER 16, 1995, a large contingent of Black men from Los Angeles were
able to attend the historic Million Man March in Washington, D.C.. This
contingent represented a diverse cross-section of Black men: prime movers
of the Community in Support of the Gang Truce, pre-med students from the
Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science, and a coordinator of a
prisoner support project that focuses on control units like the Pelican
Bay Security Housing Unit.
The Million Man March was an historic event for a number of reasons. Today
as Black-Afrikan people, we are faced with a number of life/civilization-threatening
dilemmas. The Million Man March was our acknow-ledgement of our collective
duty and responsibility to claim our today, tomorrow and our destiny with
the blessing of God Almighty. A series of weekend lectures and presentations
were given leading up to the Capitol rally on the 16th of October. The information
shared with us during the workshops and on the day of the March helped us
to clarify and refocus the duty and responsibility of Afrikan men.
The Million Man March brought together Black doctors, brothers off the corner,
Black cops against police brutality, professionals, unemployed, and both
the militant and the moderate. It brought together some of the top Afrikan
minds in search of wisdom and truth, on a hill high enough to reach every
Afrikan ear in America. The voices for unity, the call for a new day among
Afrikan folk, went forth to every ghetto and to every concentration camp
and/or prison in America. In our hearts, stood tall the likes of Malcolm
X, Comrade George Jackson, Assata Shakur and Dr. Mutulu Shakur. This day
forced us to atone and finally appreciate the significance of our "Bunchy"
Apprentice Carter's and Kharti's.
Reginald Sinclair Lewis
T HE MILLION MAN MARCH not only called upon millions of Black men to rededicate
their fractured lives to the preservation of the family and women and community,
but it was a day forever etched in American history, an event so gargantuan
that it looms like tall marble columns in the cool Acropolis of my memory.
Traffic halted as the nation's Capital shut down. The House and Senate suspended
sessions. Newt Gingrich and Jesse Helms were nowhere to be seen, and amid
the hurried hegira of white folks fleeing their deepest apoplectic fears,
even the President left town. In the dark, secret chambers of the Pentagon,
stone-faced men, festooned in gaudy uniforms, huddled conspiratorially.
The FBI crept. A deployment of National Guard troops was put on tactical
alert. In the slatted shadows of my Death Row cell, I sat riveted to my
television, fingers flickering between C-Span and CNN carrying the festive
affair to millions of viewers around the globe. I saw a rapidly burgeoning
sea of blackness, an infinite expanse of African Brothers-more than the
entire world has ever seen in one place, at one time, in any century. I
saw and heard Black dignitaries and luminaries, Christians, Muslims, sons,
daughters, regal queens, prize-winning poets, the proud wives of long-dead
martyrs, and Sista Rosa, the mother of the Civil Rights Revolution. Behind
the gleaming bullet-proof shield stood the rank and file of the Nation of
Islam's F.O.I., resplendent in crisp, sharp-pressed uniforms, donned in
the accoutrements of generals-and my mind flashed back to the old days of
"The First Resurrection," when I wore the same F.O.I. uniform
as Reginald 26X, Squad Leader at Temple Number 12 in Philadephia, PA. The
"pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps" axiom the White conservative
mandarins now espouse as their own is merely the cleverly disguised and
plagiarized "Do-for-Self" philosophy the Muslims taught their
disciples during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, revived by Minister Farrakhan today
and forever.
"We are gathered here today not to bash somebody else," he preached
from the main stage on the west front of the Capital mall. "Freedom
can't come from white folks . . . We are here to make a statement to the
great government-not to beg them." I took from his powerful and poignant
speech a million possibililties and wondered if the prisoners trapped in
the enforced isolation of these Nazi-like gulags, felt that his message
gave hope to a lost generation, to the heirs of an impoverished doom. Farrakhan's
suggestion to every person in the Capital mall to "adopt a prisoner"
has the potential to bring a paternal nurturing to thousands of Black prisoners
abandoned by their families and friends and spouses. Many of my incarcerated
brothers and sisters receive no visits, mail, spiritual, or financial support.
Brother Minister Farrakhan spoke of the creation of a national Black economic
development fund which could financially devastate the covetous profiteers
of the prison industry and even halt the prison recidivism rate. No longer
would prisoners be extricated from prison into the crime-filled, war-torn
decadence of the ghetto, but back to bustling communities flourishing with
Black businesses and job opportunities. Instead of using that pejorative
word for Black folks, the Whites will say, "Look at them, they are
marvelous," Farrakhan said. Possibilities abound. In spite of his most
vociferous detractors-who unsuccessfully attempted to margin-alize this
historic event-Brother Farrakhan sent a clarion call to a million Black
men, and they were there. -Reginald Sinclair Lewis #AY2902, 1040 East Roy
Furman Highway, Waynesburg, PA 15370-8090
La Cin Achim Rodgers
T HOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T BLACK have no idea what it is like to live and
die in a country where, despite one's growth, one's extraordinary accomplishments
and exceptional achievements, one will never reach "parity" and
will always be treated as a minority. On this Black man's Holy Day of Atonement,
the day of the Million Man March, the rules into which the black-man was
born and under which he is obligated to live were suspended. For one day,
in that Black sea, racism and discrimination as we know it was suspended.
While every fibre of my being screamed to be with my brothers, watching
these events on TV from prison was more miraculous than spectacular-a phenomenal
event.
For me as a former Black nationalist, civil rights activist, and now human
rights advocate, this Black man's Holy Day Observance signalled a coming
of age-an event by Black men for Black men. Most heartrending of all was
to see the beautiful black faces of young Blacks who were too young to participate
in the struggle for civil rights during the civil rights era-now able to
participate in the Afro-American Black man's first declared Holy Day of
Atonement, an event they will carry with them all the days of their lives.
An assemblage of a million men signified an inescapable truism-the solution
to the problem lies within the problem. The solution to the maladies plaguing
the Black man lies within the Black man's own power and abilities to resolve.
Even the victim is responsible for how he or she responds to that victimization.
Fault may belong to the other, but responsibility belongs to the individual.
Now cometh the Black man's Declaration of Empowerment: THE NEW BLACK MAN.
La Cin Achim Rodgers, 49983, Founder of the Congress of Afro-American Reeducation
and Treatment Braintrust, P.O. Box 4000-R Box 703, Fort Grant, AZ 85644-4000
Abdul Olugbala Shakur
T HE MILION MAN MARCH was a reaffirma- tion of hope and Black resiliency,
one million pledges for justice reverberating at the throng of humanity.
Though not there physically, my spirit roamed among the million, embracing,
conversing, planning, bonding and reveling in the ocean of brotherly love.
This day, free of the signatures of congressional fraud or presidential
hypocrisy, marked my individual emancipation. The air of liberation was
genuine, refreshing the sense of hope at the center of my being. My fellow
New Afrikan Brothas, the force of the Million Man March has empowered us
to rise above our petty differences and unite for a common cause in the
name of humanity. We owe it to ourselves, but more so to our families, loved
ones, community, and future generations.
The Million Man March has inscribed upon the surface of our masculinity
the true definition of what it means to be a man (the New Afrikan Man):
responsibility, integrity, honesty, compassion, and the courage to face
the real enemy of the people. It doesn't take that much courage to fight
or kill one another. The real test of our manhood lies in our ability to
unite as one and accept one another's differences. Our success will inflict
damage on our keepers; it is their goal to keep us unorganized, divided,
and hostile. Minister Farrakhan was speaking to us; we must rise to this
historical occasion and pledge our unbending loyalty to the development
of self in the service of our community. -Abdul Olugbala Shakur, S/N James
Harvey, C48884, P.O. Box 7500, D8-213, Crescent City, CA 95532
Lorenzo Stone-Bey
T HE MILLION MAN MARCH was very inspir- ing, especially if we can produce
positive results, not by looking to the U.S. Government but by reaching
within ourselves to bring about the social, economic and political changes
needed within the Afrikan Communities. I would like to have seen the Million
Man organizers make it clear that politicians will be held l00% accountable
for our votes. Every Black politician who verbally attacked the March and
spoke out against it should have been called out by name and exposed. Being
an African man myself, I was gravely disappointed by the negativity I heard
on the radio from both Blacks and Whites who attacked it instead of praying
for something good and positive to come out of it for all races and peoples.
While some White people responded positively and supported the March, White
America's response, on the whole, was sad and sickening, widening racial
divisions and tensions by attacking the organizers and those who participated
to help their people and communities. People try to deny it, but Minister
Farrakhan has more respect and influence in the lower economic Black communities
than Rev. Jesse Jackson, especially among the youth and my generation. A
lot of Gangbangers weren't listening until Minister Farrakhan organized
the very first gang truce in Chicago. The youth and those my age will listen
to and embrace him before any other Black leader in this country. People
still seem to want to see my people dependent and enslaved, but those days
are over. -Lorenzo L. Stone-Bey, 10006, P.O. Box 41, Michigan City, IN 4636
Robin "Zakia" Elliot
T HE MILLION MAN MARCH showed White America that Black men are a force to
be reckoned with. The largest Black audience ever assembled in America came
together peacefully, with courtesy, no drunkenness (only one arrest). Their
unity was awesome; we have not surrendered totally to the forces of evil,
hostility, hate, and hurt that tears at our lives.
Dialogue and communication opened up. Men committed to improve their lives,
to implement voter registration, food banks and tutoring programs. Many
talked of reconciliation with their wives. Opposing gangs hugged each other.
Revolution of the mind and spirit does not lend itself to talk shows or
cameras, so this revolution will not be televised. Its true success will
be measured in the aftermath of self-help through Black capitalism, eradication
of drugs and of other problems that plague our communities. The plan for
the African-American summit is a necessity with the U.S. geared up to confront
its imperialist competitors in this new world dis-order, with trade wars,
wars on our living standards, and Democrats united with the right-wing Republicans
to slash minimal social entitlements, close our schools, and cut health
care.
Yes, sometimes it's necessary to separate the "messenger" from
"the message." Most of the participants in this massive outpouring
of Black men were present not because they agreed with Farrakhan's tirade
against Jews, but because the Nation of Islam has taught them pride, self-respect,
and history. Farrakhan is at present the only validated, strong, Black leader
capable of galvanizing the Black community into effecting "cooperative
effort. If Farrakhan can change the course of the divided leadership once
nurtured by the church-based Civil Rights movement, then the March was a
success.
As for the accusation that Farrakhan was involved in the death of Malcolm
X, Farrakhan has stated that he was not directly involved but may have created
the climate that allowed Malcolm to be killed. You must search your own
soul for forgiveness on this issue.
In recent months, the mainstream media have been criticizing the Nation
of Islam. Focusing on N.O.I spokesperson Khallid Abdul Muhammad, the House
of Representatives voted to condemn his comments; the New Jersey State Assembly
went into special session to denounce him. Senator Jesse Helms denounced
Affirmative Action for Black people as sucking blood of the Whites; Senator
Al D'amato referred to poor people of New York City as "animals."
Make no mistake, I do not condone anti-semitic poisons which add to the
climate of bigotry and reactions fueled by the Rush Limbaughs and other
right wing zealots. But neither do I stand by and watch the blatant hypocritical
attack by America's racist rulers on the Nation of Islam. I do have my own
criticism-but we live in very extreme times calling for extreme measures
and extreme leadership. As with any leader, the people should be forever
vigilant to see that words and deeds coincide in order to establish truth.
I believe the emotional heart of the March was not atonement but affirmation.
It is the White man who needs to atone for his sins. The Black man is the
victim, not the perpetrator. The March was neither an endorsement of racial
separation nor an endorsement of integration. America is changing but not
into the land which the people have dreamed of-the land of plenty and liberty
for all-not while the crack of the master's whip continues to break the
silence of the night. -Robin "Zakia" Elliot, 24941 , P.O. Box
665 /NCI E1-206, Somers, CT 06071
Ayice Lasana
I DIDN'T GET TO WATCH the Million Man March, but I participated with all
my heart/spirit by an all-day fast, studying, reading and writing to better
"self" by discipline, dedication and determination. I have nothing
to say for or against Mr. Farrakhan. Although many disagree with him, the
theme is Black Unity-a march for betterment-not whether or not Mr. Farrakhan
is a sound leader for us. We must become our own leaders and demand betterment
from all. Meanwhile, I'm pleased that Mr. Farrakhan and others formulated
a call for unity, a call to us Black Men to get up off our perches and engage
ourselves fully in this battle for our future as Afrikan descendants. Until
we have a progressive, positive presence in the households of the Afrikan
Descendants, our future is in jeopardy.
The dramatic call for Black unity was sweet to feel, but the big question
is how long shall the moral uplift last, what and how much can we establish
while it's alive? If we are not working now toward betterment, we are merely
lip-serving and grandstanding. I say to all: "Keep the struggle alive!"
UHURU/SASA ! -Ayice Lasana, S/N Christopher Lee, 902540, P.O. Box 1111,
Wabash Valley C.I., Carlisle, IN 47838