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July 7, 2005

Jeremy Schwab

Ten years ago, an estimated two million people, primarily black men, marched to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to show solidarity and pledge to support their families and communities.

The Million Man March brought together black men from all walks of life to listen to ministers speak of love, responsibility and hope. The event attracted significant media attention and inspired subsequent “millions” marches, including the Million Women March in 1997, Million Youth March in 1998 and Million Families March in 2000.

This fall, the Nation of Islam, which led the organizing efforts for the Million Man and Million Families marches, plans to take a leading role alongside Christian and other groups in organizing a celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Million Man March. The celebration will take the form of another gathering of millions of blacks and others in Washington, D.C.

Boston-area organizers aim to send 100 buses to the event, dubbed the Millions More Movement, from October 14 to the 16.

Like the marches that preceded it, the Millions More celebration will be geared at motivating people to re-commit themselves to God, family and the struggles that many African Americans face, from fighting for better health care to improving schools.

The gathering will include speeches, music and other entertainment on Saturday, followed by an inter-faith service on Sunday.

Organizers envision a movement that will go beyond simply a revival-type event. They are calling for the creation of a national economic development corporation to promote economic self-sufficiency and cooperation. A proposed community development handbook would offer advice on strengthening one’s family, gaining wealth, leading a healthy life and improving educational achievement among children and adults.

“The march is geared to creating a national agenda so all of us can come home and make that agenda work for us at home,” said local organizing committee co-Chairwoman Mukiya Baker-Gomez.

The agenda includes at least one stance that has been controversial – a demand for economic reparations for slavery.

A pamphlet advertising the Millions More Movement also calls for an end to police brutality, inadequate health care, substandard education, racial profiling, excessive imprisonment and “the biological and chemical warfare being perpetrated against our people.”

Despite the emphasis on issues of particular concern to African Americans, organizers and participants who gathered for an information session at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center in Roxbury last week were careful to note that the event is open to people of all races.

“It is not about anything racially biased,” said Otis Holloway, who plans to travel to Washington for the event. “It’s about standing together as a community, men, women, elders, white, black, Puerto Rican, Chinese.”

Nation of Islam Minister Don Muhammad of Muhammad’s Mosque # 11 also emphasized the multi-racial theme and told the crowd of over 50 that people of all religions are welcome as well.

“This is not a Muslim or Nation of Islam march,” he told the overwhelmingly black crowd. “Sixty-eight percent of those at the Million Man March were Baptist. This is about the average American, black and white.”

Native Americans and other non-African Americans have traditionally attended the “millions” marches.

Many of those at last week’s information session had gone to the Million Man March or others of the marches. Some said they planned to attend the Millions More celebration in order to be a part of something positive and rejuvenating.

Roxbury native Joe Fonseca, 59, said he plans to attend in part for the sense of empowerment he felt at the Million Man March.

“It’s good to see families of color come together, especially men,” he said. “The [Million Man March] was unbelievable. I’ve never seen so much love. I was on a pink cloud for five days after.”

Others said they want to go in order to stand together and demand social change.

“We want to say we want to control how our children are taught, control health care,” said Millions More local organizer Leah Randolph. “There should not be one person in the U.S. who goes without housing.”

Still others said they wanted to be a part of history in the making. Roxbury resident Warren Chase said he went to the Million Man March to witness history, and he expects to go to D.C. in October.

“As a young person, I can remember the time Martin Luther King spoke and as a youngster I was not there,” said Chase. “I knew when [Nation of Islam leader Min. Louis] Farrakhan spoke it was going to be history and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Organizers urged attendees at the information session to spread the word in their churches and among friends about the Millions More event. Organizers have been meeting each week beginning in May to strategize how to fill the goal of 100 buses.

Those interested in participating are urged to register for the event, which costs $65 and less for seniors and the disabled. Most people are expected to either stay in hotels or with relatives, or come for just a day.

Organizations are invited to sponsor buses. Those interested in helping organize the event can come to one of the weekly planning meetings Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at the John Shelburne Center on Washington Street near the Malcolm X Park.

For further information, call 617-442-0488 or Brother Ralph at 617-966-0452.

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