Did the Million Man March Make a Difference in the Black Community?
Exactly 17 years ago yesterday, a million black men gathered in Washington DC, swearing to be better than they were before. Pledges were made to uplift the black community and to strengthen black families. Since that day, times have been tough for African Americans: The prison population has skyrocketed, economic despair has increased, and gangster rap music has glorified both violence and ignorance within the ranks of African American men.
At the same time, more and more and more black men are going to college, and we have our first black president. Does the good outweigh the bad? Has the increase in single motherhood since the mid-1990s been a product of declining outcomes for African American men? Here’s a thought: A black boy born on the day of the Million Man March is 17-years old today. In many cities, he is a product of a failed school system, is facing a teen unemployment rate of over 40 percent, is most likely coming out of a single parent home, and is faced with hand gun violence as his number one cause of death. Is his life better than it would have been before 1995? If not, then who is responsible for these dismal outcomes?
We asked this question on our Facebook page, and here are some of the responses below. Feel free to respond to the question yourself: The Million Man March took place 17 years ago yesterday. Where were you when the march took place? Do you feel that it has made a difference?
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Benji Cote Has it? Are they better off now?
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British Toni No… no difference whatsoever! -
Cheryl Glover No wheres the men at? -
Taneshia Lawrence i was 7 yrs old at the time, living in Memphis,Tn and yes i think the march made a huge difference -
Gregory Brigman It was BS. No change has been made since then. More Black on black crime. More young black people calling themselves n****s and b*****s. More money went into NOI instead of the black community. -
John-Wesley Ωψφ Walker Jr ….backstage -
Sheila El Hilaly
we need to do it AGAIN -
M DeXter Poullard I was there….. -
Kassiem Elliott The Million Man March was to inspire Black men to become better men. The NOI has always advocated self reliance. It’s time to stop looking for someone or some organization to make things better for ppl within the Black community & its time for the Black immunity to make things better for themselves. It is the individual that chooses to forego an eduction, it is the individual that chooses to join gangs or engage in illegal activity stop blaming others and waiting for others to make the change u should make yourself. -
Angelique Holliman Willis This would have been a great year to do it. Election year. -
Iam Sam h**l NO!!!!! -
Rajeein McFarland I was 16 yrs old & I was @ my aunt’s house. Helping her put the finishing touches on the food for my grandma’s appreciation dinner…. Waiting on my great aunt’s & the rest of the family to arrive…. Some men it helped!!!!!! The a$$holes who cut my lil bro life short they’re father’s should have taken them!!!!!! -
Shellie Scott Well I was only nine months n a couple of days but I think it made a big difference -
Antoine Tony Mcgill I was there! Right in the mixof things and it was wonderful. -
Kedrick DylanPoet Eason I was there, smack dab in the middle….an experience I’ll never forget…It changed me in profound ways! -
Robin Scott I was there! -
Gregory Brigman This is what I think about the million man march. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPfM5Fz5Vd8&feature=share
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No Named Persons I was 11, 3 weeks into my 11th bday. I stayed home from school that day, my mom ws cool with it. I watched TV on it all day. I worked for then, but now we need something stronger than that now. We need to make it count and we need to make them pay attention. -
Ronald Lennon I was n da 8th grade and wanted to b apart of dat even though i didnr fully understand wht was goin on -
D.r. White d**n 17 years wow.. I was still in high school . -
Michael Johnson @ Cheryl, I know plenty of men (including myself) that are at home taking care of their families. -
Beverly Simms for some that took,that era serious it meant,together,brother hood,i was working mother of 2, but i stayed home from work it was a sight, to see you had to see it to know the rush, honor of that era. -
Sharon Abrams Not At All! They should have one every Five years. Then maybe we can see a difference. -
Tara IslandGirl Gordon My husband and son went to the march and both of them had a wonderful experience that lasted. -
Marche Ceasar-John No diffrence, one March will not solve deep rooted issues. We need long term solutions and we need to start when our babies are fresh out the wound. -
Bill Owens Standing on the Mall, and yes it changed ME for the better . -
Otis Bell @ Gregory Brigman: that Is so true. I thank it should been very year thing. Young men need to pull it up , Nobody like to see the underwear!!. -
Jimmy Williams FOR ME YES…! -
Darlene Glanton No change!!!!..but they had a good workout!-IJS
Personally, I dont think it made no difference at all and never will make a difference because we have to understand why we are a cursed people to begin with.
We broke the commandments of the most high and the father said that if wr did not obey His commands all these curses will come apon us.
Deuteronomy 28:68- The trans-atlantic slave trade bought into slavery in ships.
Deuteronomy 28:59-61- A sick and disease stricken people.
Leviticus 26:37- 38 / Deuteronomy 28:25- Not being able to stand against our enemies.
Ezekiel 16:24-25 Having many places to worship and we are not suppose to be in those high places.
Isaiah 3:12 teenage gangs, none effective leaders
Isaiah 42:22 – high prison population.
If we turn from our sins and come back to the father YAH in spirit and truth he shall turn back our captivity.
Man cannot free us from our bondage only YAH through His messiYah Yahoshua.
http://www.hebrewisraelites.org
Peace and glad I went overall it made a vast diffence.What I notice those black’s who claim it did not either did not show up or was dividing their self based on some phony religous arguing and debating.
That march had plenty of women too, who came regardless of the hype.I remember it was a vast % of black women all in a uproar because they were told to stay home.
Their lips were all poked out and they were all emotionally upset.
I met some fine sister’s from the DC who told me they came to get a black man to be father to their babies and they were serious too.
What I notice a vast % of black’s who did not show up might be dead,homeless, addicted to drugs or locked up in some slave updated slave plantation.
If not still sitting on thei sidelines talking and waiting on some phony relligous stuff to save them from the current state of the new world order(disorder).
Well; it showed that we can come together to make a difference. We fell short on the follow through. The Local Organizing Committees were great initially, but fizzled-out when the locally collected money began to be sent to the NOI. I fell for it (hook, line, and sinker) and still believe organizing locally will yield great results.