“Say: Obey Allah and obey the Messenger. … And the Messenger’s duty is only to deliver (the message) plainly.”—Holy Qur’an, Surah 24, Verse 25 If a picture is worth a thousand words.
Then any photo from the 1995 Million Man March will reflect the beauty and peace of that day when nearly two million Black men convened on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., under the theme of “Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility” and received instructions from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to first atone with God.
Our challenge today is to revisit his instructions and the pledges we made and work to make the change. What were those directives, what was our pledge? Under the theme “Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility,” Minister Farrakhan put the burden on us to come out of our condition rather than calling on others to solve our problems.
Atonement means making amends and correcting wrongs. Reconciliation means restoring relationships damaged by those wrongs. Responsibility means becoming accountable for the work required to sustain that restoration. If applied, these principles allow us to move from acknowledgment to repair to continued action.
He invited leaders of major Black institutions, nationalists, integrationists, women and youth to say a word to the masses. Minister Farrakhan shared the platform to let our community and the world know that the message was not exclusive to the Nation of Islam, but inclusive of the breadth of Black thought. He delivered a clear message.
Minister Farrakhan called for a cessation of violence, respect for family and our women, building a Black economy and personal development. He called for every man to join a faith-based group and an organization that is doing work to improve the community, register to vote and build independent Black political power, increase the Black adoption rate, and eliminate crime, among other objectives.
He created the Eight Steps of Atonement that, if followed, would help resolve every area of conflict without confrontation or violence. (See page 32) Men stood on that mall—some for 10 hours or more in one place—and took the pledge to strive to love my brother as I love myself;
Never to use the “B word” to describe any female; never engage in the abuse of children for sexual gratification; to build businesses, houses, hospitals, factories and enter into international trade, and more.
How have we done?
Every day we lament violence in our neighborhood, much of it involving Black young men. Television news shows young mothers or grandmothers shedding tears over senseless loss of life, either at the hands of our own community or at the hands of ruthless law enforcement. It is evidence that we have not yet collectively heeded Minister Farrakhan’s call.
We rarely examine the forces and agendas that help keep our communities in this condition. We might ask but never answer why calls for Black liberation are repeatedly resisted by the oppressor. Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Kwame Ture and others spoke in uncompromising terms about liberation; their messages sought not to attack others, but to unite Black people.
Minister Farrakhan has said the idea for a Million Man March was not his—it was inspired by Allah (God) when he spoke it during a speech. Once he realized what he said, he went to work to make it a reality. He launched a year-long tour—“Let Us Make Man!”— speaking to men only.
The unseen hand of the enemy immediately went to work, inviting others through media narratives to join the condemnation: Why only men? Why can’t women attend?
Thankfully, most of our community saw through the subterfuge. Many women brought their husband and sons to these meetings while they stood outside cheering them on.
Organized efforts toward Black unity have repeatedly faced opposition from government agencies, media institutions and outside organizations. The enemy’s propaganda led some of our leaders and organizations to publicly work against Mr. Garvey’s call.
The Black Panthers did miraculous work in the community. Some of their programs were even reproduced by the U.S. Government. Yet, the F.B.I. moved to neutralize them. They infiltrated Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s movement. The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s self-help platform was called “hate teaching.”
Opposition to the Million Man March was, at that time, a culmination of efforts by leaders in White America to derail Minister Farrakhan’s attempts to unite Black people.
Throughout our history in the U.S., when Black America takes two steps forward, eventually we’re forced to take a step backwards. Reconstruction bred Jim Crow. Forty acres and a mule was never realized. Progress experienced under one political party, Republican or Democrat, results in regression under the next administration.
From “Emancipation” in 1863 to 2026, vital statistics of the Black community show that despite progress, we have serious disparities in health, wealth, life expectancy, infant mortality, unemployment, and the list goes on.
The Million Man March created an opportunity for Black men to demonstrate a drastic change in personal conduct, family responsibility, community safety, economic development and political engagement.
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan has been a faithful warner to America and the world and a true lover of Black people. He has sacrificed 71 years of his life to the Teachings of his teacher, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Eternal Leader of the Nation of Islam. He has survived, by Allah’s (God’s) grace, attempts to take his life.
He gave us instructions on October 16, 1995. As Black men, we now must rededicate ourselves to those demands and make our communities safe and decent places to live.
It’s not too late to make that change. And better yet, our women and children will celebrate it.
