NEWARK, N.J.—The spirit of atonement, reconciliation and responsibility permeated through Newark, New Jersey, on Oct. 16, as community members gathered in the St. James A.M.E. Church to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the historic Million Man March and Holy Day of Atonement.
The legacy of the Million Man March, spearheaded by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan on October 16, 1995, is one of empowerment and improvement marked by nearly two million Black men gathering in Washington, D.C., for a day of unity and peace.
The 30th anniversary commemorative event featured a panel discussion on its legacy and various organizational efforts to uphold the principles of the March and movement.
Panelists included the keynote speaker and Mayor of Newark, Ras J. Baraka. Mayor Baraka addressed the enthusiastic audience—sharing with them his perspective on the importance of commemorating the legacy of the Million Man March and the superb example it left for those seeking freedom, justice and equality.
“I think this is incredible that we are commemorating and thinking at least mentally, spiritually and emotionally about what the Million Man March meant to our community for a long time. It’s important, particularly in a time like we are in now,” Mayor Baraka said, referring to the current political and social state of America.
The mayor elaborated on the key principles he took from the Million Man March that he believes are critical in enhancing the lives of oppressed people in America today. Those principles are the establishment of financial freedom and self-determination. Through the acquisition of both, Mayor Baraka explained that the people could free themselves from the limitations placed on them by their oppressors.
This was seen through the successful demonstration of the Million Man March.
“At that moment, people understood what economic and political empowerment really looked like. We had the ability to organize [the Million Man March] and raise the dollars ourselves and finance it ourselves,” he added.
Before the mayor’s address, audience members also listened to enlightening words from other panelists of varying social, religious, and community organizations: Student Minister Abdul Haqq Muhammad of Mosque No. 25 in Newark; Pastor Roland L. Slaughter of the St. James A.M.E. Church and Chairman Larry Hamm of the Organization for Progress.
The program also featured remarks from moderators, including: co-chair of Women in Support of the Million Man March, Amina Bey, and creator and founder of the All Politics R Local radio talk show, Edward Riley.
Pastor Slaughter opened the program in prayer and set the stage for an evening of fruitful discussion. “It’s time for us to stand. It’s not time for us to be timid. It’s not time for us to be battling one another. We have an enemy that is no longer hiding,” he said. He thanked the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for bringing this same spirit to life 30 years ago in Washington, D.C.
Amina Bey described how the organization, Women in Support of the Million Man March, spearheaded by her mother, Fredrica Bey, worked tirelessly in the Newark community to ensure that their men could make it to Washington for the March.
“We were collecting pennies in the park, we were doing fish fries, we were selling T-shirts, my mother turned her house into a T-shirt shop to make money to pay for buses,” she said.
“This was long before social media. So, all of this was done face-to-face, hand-to-hand, or on the phone, in email, while people were threatening us,” she added. Through their diligent dedication, they assisted over 50,000 men from New Jersey in their travel to Washington, D.C.
Mr. Hamm also shared his first-hand experience with the audience.
Mr. Hamm, working alongside other organizational leaders like Fredrica Bey and Student Minister Abdul Khadir Muhammad of Mosque No. 4 in Washington, D.C., also played a role in the organizing of thousands of men to travel to the Million Man March. At that time, Bro. Abdul Khadir was the student minister of Mosque No. 25 in Newar. Standing before the audience with demonstration banners displayed behind him, Mr. Hamm described the grassroots efforts organizers made as they went around New Jersey spreading the word, raising funds, and organizing buses.
To him, the success of those great efforts served as an unforgettable sign. “The Million Man March is a sign of the great things that we can do when we unify as a people. It is a sign that will forever give us direction and inspire us to do what we need to do to liberate our people. Long live the spirit of the Million Man March!” he said.
Student Min. Abdul Haqq thanked the panelists and audience on behalf of Minister Farrakhan and Mosque No. 25. “We thank God first and foremost, for giving the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan the inspiration to be able to call a million men and two million show up!”
Following the panel’s remarks, the discussion was opened to the audience to share their personal testimonies of the impact of the Million Man March. Men from the audience stood up to bear witness to the great impact it had on their lives, while women voiced the positive changes they observed in the men upon their return.
Similar testimonies were shared with The Final Call from other members of the audience.
“I attended the Million Man March and had the distinct opportunity to be on the podium. So, I was able to look over the masses in attendance at the march. It was a glorious experience to see the brotherhood in that way. Thirty years later, that’s still in my spirit and I will never forget it,” said Robert Jackson, 75.
“I got up real early in the morning, packed his lunch and drove the brother to the bus to go to the march,” Ingrid Hill, 76, told The Final Call, referring to her then partner. “He found the experience of a lifetime. He came back with a very good spirit solidified in him to do what was needed to be done in our community,” she continued.
As the event came to an end, the audience rose from their seats to recite the pledge given by the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan at the Million Man March.
—Yaminah Muhammad, Contributing Writer