8 Facts About the First Million Man March in 1995 You May Not Know

The Beginning On Oct. 16, 1995, approximately 1 million Black men came together in Washington D.C. in response to a call by the Nation of Islam's leader minister Louis Farrakhan. The stated objective was to atone and address the problems particular to the Black community. Guest Speakers Even though the Million Man March focused primarily on Black men, there were many speakers and honorable guests of both genders. The wife of Malcolm X, Dr. Betty Shabazz, civil rights activists Martin Luther King, III, Rosa Parks, Dorothy I. Height, Rev. Joseph Lowery, philosopher and historian Dr. Cornel West and activist and comedian, Dick Gregory, were among the attendees. In addition to the activists, Stevie Wonder entertained the gathering, while Maya Angelou read poetry. Other famous guests included activists Benjamin Chavis, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton. The rally is intended as a day for black men to unite and pledge self-reliance and reaffirm their commitment to their families - RTXFOIQ Causes for the 1995 March According to census data, in 1995 the unemployment rate for Black people hovered around 11 to 13 percent, which was almost twice that of whites. At the time, the Republican party took control of congress. Mass incarceration, gun violence in Black communities, and educational cut backs that targeted Black youth were prevalent issues. The election of Bill Clinton proved to be ineffective in solving Black issues. "The image of the Black community is horrendous in the world. The image of black men in particular is that of a bestial, maniacal and savage group of persons. The image you have of black men is not the image of who and what we really are," Farrakhan said in a speech at the march. Causes for the 2015 March While the 20th anniversary of the 1995 march had the same tone and many of the same causes as the first, it focused heavily on the killings of unarmed Black people at the hand of police. This march was more reflective of the Black Lives Matter movement, which swept the nation after the killing of unarmed teen, Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri. According to the Guardian's The Counted project, 908 people have been killed by cops in the United States this year. That number is still climbing at an alarming rate. Sadly, the high unemployment rate, extreme policing in Black and brown communities and educational cut backs are still unresolved issues. Controversy Farrakhan managed to bring nearly 900,000 Black people together for the first march in the nation's capital but there were many who just still disapproved. Republican congressman Gary Franks of Connecticut was at odds with Farrakhan. "The Ku Klux Klan hates Blacks, Jews and Catholics. The Nation of Islam hates whites, Jews and Catholics. Both should be despised for these warped beliefs," he said. Comparing the KKK and the Nation of Islam is simply outrageous. The KKK were responsible for many lynchings in the 20th century, church bombings, and consistent terror aimed at civil rights activists in the 1950s and 60s. The two are polar opposites. More Controversy Minister Farrakhan has been labeled an enemy of the Jewish community. "A march in which the stated purpose is atonement, whose avowed purpose is to stand against racism is a hollow message if it's led by someone who's unwilling to rid himself of racism, bigotry and anti-Semitism," said ADL National Director, Abraham Foxman, in 1995. In addition, the march also alienated some women in the civil rights movement. Activist Myrlie Evers-Williams, president of the NAACP in 1995 said, "I encourage Black men to stand up and take care of their families. But in all honesty, to eliminate women completely from this march does bother me a great deal." With the Capitol in the background, and a jumbo video screen featuring Nation of Islam leader minister Louis Farrakhan speaking to the right, the Million Man March takes place on the Mall in Washington Oct. 16, 1995. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) The Message In the 199os, America was plagued by racial tensions that were unfavorable for the progress of Black people. The Rodney King case, the Los Angeles riots and the O.J Simpson case dominated the headlines. Minister Farrakhan wanted to change that. He demanded that Black people be treated equally, with the same access to resources and opportunities as whites. In addition, march attendees pledged to protect their families and end matricide. They also pledged to invest in Black businesses and their communities. The Aftermath The Million Man March proved that Black people could unite on a common goal. Approximately 1 million Black men came together to form the largest group of people to ever gather at the national mall, trumping the previous record held by the gathering at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. In 20 years, this nation has elected its first Black president, as well as it's first Black attorney general (both male and female). However, white supremacy and systemic racism across all platforms continues to plague the nation, illuminating the necessity of the most recent march, even 20 years later.

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