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

Posted byBy Ricky Riley | Published on: CommentsComments (1)
Thousands of participants in the "Million Man March" gather on the Mall October 16. The Washington Monument is in the background. The rally is intended as a day for black men to unite and pledge self-reliance and reaffirm their commitment to their families - RTXFOIQ

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.

07justicemarchA1444512550 (1) imageCauses 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.

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