(‘The Million Man March: Toward a Perfect Union’ con’t)
[Editor’s note: The following is the conclusion of text excerpted from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s address at the 1995 Million Man March on Washington, which drew some two million Black men to the steps of Congress and the National Mall. To order this incredible address in its entirety on CD, DVD or MP3, call 1-866-602-1230 or visit store.finalcall.com.)
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful.
Now, brothers, moral and spiritual renewal is a necessity. Every one of you must go back home and join some church, synagogue, temple or mosque that is teaching spiritual and moral uplift.
I want you, brothers: There’s no men in the church, in the mosque. The men are in the streets and we’ve got to get back to the houses of God. But preachers: We have to revive religion in America.
We have to revive the houses of God, that they are not personal “thiefdoms” of those of us who are their preachers and pastors. But we’ve got to be more like Jesus, more like Muhammad, more like Moses, and become servants of the people and fulfilling their needs.
Brothers, when you go home, we’ve got to register eight million eligible, but unregistered, brothers, sisters. So, you go home and find eight more like yourself. You register and get them to register.
“Well, how should I register? Should I register as a Democrat? Should I register as a Republican? Should I register as an Independent?’ If you’re an Independent, that’s fine. If you’re a Democrat, that’s fine. If you’re a Republican, that’s okay, because in local elections, you have to do that which is in the best interest of your local community.
But what we want is not necessarily a “third party,” but a third force, which means that we’re going to collect Democrats, Republicans and Independents around an agenda that is in the best interest of our people.
And then all of us can stand on that agenda. … And in 1996, whoever the standard bearer is for the Democratic Party, the Republican Party or the Independent Party, should one come into existence, they’ve got to speak to our agenda.
We are no longer going to vote for somebody just because they’re Black. We tried that. We wish we could, but we’ve got to vote for you if you are compatible with our agenda.
Now, many of the people that are in this house right here [motioning back toward the Capitol Building] are put there by the margin of the Black vote. So, in the next election, we want to see who in here do we want to stay, and who in here do we want to go.
And we want to show them that never again will they ever disrespect the Black community. We must make them afraid to do evil to us and think they can get away with it. We must be prepared to help them if they’re with us, or to punish them if they’re against us.
And when they’re against us—I’m not talking about color, I’m talking about an agenda that’s in the best interest of the Black, the poor and the vulnerable in this society.
Proper dialogue to end the pain
Now, “atonement” goes beyond us. I don’t like this squabble with the members of the Jewish community; I don’t like it. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad said in one of his writings that he believed that we would work out some kind of an accord.
Maybe so. Reverend Jackson has talked to the 12 presidents of Jewish organizations, and perhaps in the light of what we see today, maybe it’s time to sit down and talk. Not with any preconditions. You got pain, but we’ve got pain, too. You’re hurt?
We’re hurt, too. The question is, if the dialogue is proper, then we might be able to end the pain. And ending the pain may be good for both, and ultimately good for the nation.
We’re not opposed to sitting down. And I guess, if you could sit down with Arafat, where there are rivers of blood between you, why can’t you sit down with us, and there is no blood between us? You don’t make sense not to dialogue. It doesn’t make sense.
Guidance and instructions
Well, brothers, I hope Father George Clements spoke today… . Do you know Father Clements? He is one of the great pastors. Father Clements, I wanted him to speak today because he has a program (“One Church, One Inmate”) that he wants every one of us.
When we leave here, to go to some jail or prison and adopt one inmate for the rest of his and your life; to make them your personal friend, to help them through their incarceration; to be encouragement for them.
The brothers who are locked down inside the walls need us on the outside, and we need them on the inside. So, if every one of us will pick out one inmate, Father Clements will do the work of guiding this development, because it is his idea—and it is a good idea! And the National African American Leadership Summit adopts that idea! Thank you, Father Clements.
Will you do that, brothers? How many of you will adopt one Black man in prison and make him your pal, your brother for life? Help him through their incarceration?
Well, go to the chaplain of that jail and say you want to adopt one inmate, to start writing to that person, visiting that person, helping that person. And since so many of us have been there already, we know what they suffer. Let’s help our brothers and sisters who are locked down.
Did anybody mention the political prisoners? Brother Conrad Worrill mentioned our political prisoners. Never forget them.
And now, brothers, there are 25,000 Black children in need of adoption. This is our Brother Leonard Dunston, who is the president of the National Association of Black Social Workers. He has 25,000 children in need of adoption. Out of this vast audience, there must be 25,000 men who will take one of these children and take them through life and make life worth living for those children.
In this vast audience, is there any 1, 2, 10, 25, 100, 1,000—25,000—who would be willing to adopt a Black brother or sister, bring them into your home and rear them properly? How many of you think you would like to do that? Would you just raise your hand?
Let me take a look. Raise them high! That’s a wonderful expression. What should they do? Who should they see? “Booth 26 North” is where you should go, it is to my right, your left; or you should call 1-800-419-1999.
Now, brothers, the last thing we want to say: We want to develop an economic development fund. Suppose the nearly two million here, and 10 million more back home that support us, gave $10 a month to a National Economic Development Fund. Inside of one month, we would have over $100 million.
And in one year, we would have $1,200,000,000. What would we do with that? I would love for the leadership up here to form a board, and call in Myrlie Evers Williams, and ask her: “What is the budget for the NAACP for this year?” “It’s $13 million”/“It’s $15 million.” Write a check.
Now next year, you have to become accountable to the board, and the members of the NAACP will be on the board, too! Which means that no Black organization will be accountable to anybody outside of us, but accountable to us—then we would free the NAACP, the Urban League and all Black organizations to work in the best interest of our people.
How many of you would like to see all our Black organizations free?
Now look, brothers, an economic development fund for $10 a month is not a big price to ask to begin to build an economic infrastructure to nurture businesses within the Black community. Soon, the leadership is going to meet and work out the details of an “Exodus Economic Fund,” and we’re going to get back to you.
This is not a one-day thing. A task force will be formed right out of this leadership to make sure that the things that we say today will be implemented, so that next year on the Day of Atonement, which this will take each and every year from now on until God says, “Well done.”
Now, you saw the money that was taken up today, didn’t you? How many of you gave some money today? I see some hands that wanted to give, but didn’t get that box to them. Well, let me tell you something, brothers:
We want an outside accounting firm to come in and scrutinize every dollar that was raised from your pockets to make The Million Man March a success. And if there is any overage, it will not be spent; we will come back to this board of leadership, and we will account for every nickel, every dime, every dollar.
Do you know why? We want Willie Lynch to die a natural death. And the only way we can kill the idea of Willie Lynch: We have to build trust in each other. And the only way we can build trust is to open up the coat and show that you don’t have a hidden agenda.
All of us will be looking at the same thing for the same purpose, and then we will come back to you and make a full accounting for every nickel, every dime and every dollar, so that you can trust!
I put my life on this! To rob you is a sin! To use you and abuse you is a sin! To make mockery of your love and your trust is a sin! And we repent of all sin, and we refuse to do sin anymore.
Is that agreeable, Black man?
The Pledge
Now brothers, in closing, I want you to take the pledge. When I say “I,” I want you to say “I,” and I’ll say, “Your name.” I know that there’s so many names, but I want you to shout your name out so that the ancestors can hear it. Take this pledge with me. Say with me, please:
I, (say your name), pledge that from this day forward, I will strive to love my brother as I love myself.
I, (say your name), from this day forward, will strive to improve myself spiritually, morally, mentally, socially, politically, and economically for the benefit of myself, my family, and my people.
I, (say your name), pledge that I will strive to build business, build houses, build hospitals, build factories, and enter into international trade for the good of myself, my family and my people.
I, (say your name), pledge that from this day forward, I will never raise my hand with a knife or a gun to beat, cut or shoot any member of my family or any human being except in self-defense.
I, (say your name), pledge from this day forward, I will never abuse my wife, by striking her, disrespecting her, for she is the mother of my children and the producer of my future.
I, (say your name), pledge that from this day forward, I will never engage in the abuse of children—little boys or little girls—for sexual gratification. But I will let them grow in peace to be strong men and women for the future of our people.
I, (say your name), will never again use the “b-word” to describe any female, but particularly, my own Black sister.
I, (say your name), pledge from this day forward that I will not poison my body with drugs, or that which is destructive to my health and my wellbeing.
I, (say your name), pledge from this day forward, I will support Black newspapers, Black radio, Black television. I will support Black artists who clean up their acts to show respect for themselves and respect for their people, and respect for the ears of the human family.
I, (say your name), will do all of this so help me God.
The Prayer (‘To God Be The Glory’)
Well, I think we all should hold hands now, and I want somebody to sing “To God Be The Glory.” And the reason I want this song sung is because I don’t want anybody to take the credit for a day like this.
I didn’t do it. Reverend Chavis didn’t do it. Reverend Jackson didn’t do it. Reverend Sharpton didn’t do it. Conrad Worrill and Maulana Karenga didn’t do it. Dr. Cornel West didn’t do it.
But all of us worked together to do the best that we could, but it’s bigger than all of us. So, since we can’t take the praise, then we have to give all the glory, all the honor, all the praise to Him, to Whom it rightfully belongs.
So, in closing, we want to thank Mayor Barry and Mrs. Barry for opening this great city to us. And out of every dollar that was collected, 10 percent of it we’re going to leave here in Washington, that Mayor Barry may aid some institution, some good cause in the city. We want to set a good example.
This was a beautiful and a peaceful meeting! Probably one of the best that ever was held in Washington—held by Black men who want to atone to God and clear our slate. Beautiful Black brothers; beautiful brothers:
I’m going to say a prayer. And I want to thank Phi Beta Sigma and its wonderful, wonderful president, and all the Greek letter organizations. But Phi Beta Sigma, especially because they opened their doors to the Million Man March and made it possible.
I want to thank the Reverend Dr. Benjamin Chavis, who did a wonderful, wonderful job. I thank his wife for her sacrifice, and my wife for hers. I thank Dorothy Height and the National Council of Negro Women.
I thank Dr. Betty Shabazz, who came in the name of her husband, and I thank God for allowing a negative thing to be turned into a positive, that she and I might start a process of reconciling 30-year-old differences.
Lord knows if we could do it, with blood between us, God knows that Bloods and Crips have done it. And whatever we have done to one another, don’t let the sun set before saying to your brother, “I love you and I am sorry.” And after the prayer is said and the song is sung, I want you all to just embrace each other and say to each other:
“I love you, my brother, and thank you for making this Holy Day of Atonement real in my life.” Don’t do it now, wait until after prayer and the song. Will you bow your heads, please?
Oh, before we say that prayer, the brother of my leader and teacher, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, is here with me and with us. He’s like my father in the absence of my father; he knows this history of the Nation of Islam better than any man in America.
And I thank God that he lived long enough to see the day that he suffered and worked for, for now 65 years—the brother of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, Brother John Muhammad.
Brother John Muhammad: As-Salaam Alaikum!
Wa-Alaikum Salaam. He looks just like my daddy! And oh, Reverend Jackson, where is that great man? He had to go. Didn’t he preach today? And now, with your heads bowed…
[The Honorable Minister Farrakhan recites the Al-Fatiha in Arabic and English, and offers the following prayer]
“In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, The Beneficent, The Merciful, Master of the Day of Requital. Thee do we worship, Thine aid we seek. Guide us on the right path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favors, not the path of those upon whom wrath is brought down, nor those who go astray.
“O Allah! We thank you for this Holy Day of Atonement and Reconciliation. We thank You for putting Your spirit and Your calm in Washington, D.C., and over the heads of this nearly two million of Your servants. We thank You for letting us set a new example, not only for our people, but for America and the world.
“We thank You, O Allah, for bringing us safely over the highways, and we beg You to bring us safely back to our wives, and our children and our loved ones who saw us off earlier or a few days ago. And as we leave this place, let us be resolved to go home to work out this atonement, and make our communities a decent, whole, and safe place to live.
And O Allah, we beg Your blessings on all who participated; all who came that presented their bodies as a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable as their reasonable service.
“Now, let us not be conformed to this world, but let us go home transformed by the renewing of our minds. And let the idea of atonement ring throughout America, that America may see that the slave has come up with power. The slave is being restored, delivered and redeemed, and now call this nation to repentance; to acknowledge her wrongs.
To confess not in secret documents called ‘classified,’ but to come before the world and the American people, as the Japanese prime minister did, and confess her faults before the world because her sins have affected the whole world.
And perhaps she may do some act of atonement, that You may forgive, and those ill-affected may forgive; that reconciliation and restoration may lead us to the perfect union with Thee and with each other.
“We ask all of this in Your Holy and Righteous Name. Ameen.”
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: Allahu Akbar!
The Men: Allahu Akbar!
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: Allahu Akbar!
The Men: Allahu Akbar!
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: Allahu Akbar!
The Men: Allahu Akbar!
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: Allahu Akbar!
The Men: Allahu Akbar!
The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan: That means “God is Great.” And now, Gregory Hopkins to sing “To God Be The Glory.” Keep holding each other’s hands, brothers, and after the song is sung, let us embrace each other. …
[After the song is sung] Everybody turn to your brother, and hug your brother, and tell your brother you love him. And let’s carry this love all the way back to our cities and towns. And never let it die, brothers. Never let it die.