Super proud to have been part of the 20th Anniversary Million Man March on 10.10.15. The theme this year was Justice or Else, a warning against the overwhelming incidents of discrimination, poverty, police brutality, etc. It was ah-may-zing, although the only march was from the hotel to the Capitol (Am I the only one who expected otherwise?). Woke up early Sunday morning with particular moments on my mind. Here they are:
1. Know why you’re involved.
For all movements you represent. I was interviewed at least four times while there, and one of the main questions asked was “Why are you here?” When I first read about the Million Man March, I knew I had to be there. But why? What made me feel that sense of urgency? For me, it was a few things: I wanted to see how many would show up, swim in all that melanin, and stand in solidarity with my people. Also peep who’s standing with you (i.e. the famous folk we support with our coins and viewings).
2. Don’t feel bad for not knowing certain things about history.
Even if it’s major. You can’t possibly know everything. I was tempted to a few times, but dismissed it. I actually learned this a few years ago after becoming conscious of my status as a black woman in America. So many books, movies and names were tossed around as if I should already be up on game, but I wasn’t. I remember staying up late into the night trying to catch up, but ain’t no such thang. When you know, you’ll know.
3. Ask questions.
Is there a such thing as a stupid question? Shrugs. I can say that I’ve never been afraid of sounding stupid. For instance, I’ve heard “As-Salaam-Alaikum” plenty of times over the years, but never thought to ask exactly what it meant. I just accepted it as an empowering greeting, but got curious at the march, so I asked. Also spotted flags and other symbols that I asked about throughout the day.
4. Pay attention to how questions are answered.
Here was the minister’s response to a few questions that I walked in with. How does the Nation feel about the LGBTQ movement? They’d never down talk them because basically no one is without sin and it wasn’t their place to judge. Did Elijah Muhammad have anything to do with Malcolm being killed? He turned it around and asked us if we thought it was true given how deep Elijah’s foot is in the white man’s back, then dared the FBI to release their records. What was up with Elijah laying his hat all over the place? The minister brought Elijah’s children on stage and referred to their mothers as scholars and as Elijah’s wives. What was the plan on action after the march? I’ll be honest and say that I’m still not clear on this part, which (to me) is a problem. He mentioned that he wanted 10,000 fearless men to make our communities safe, told us to be doers and not just hearers, and invited the scholars in attendance to meet him the next day to discuss the next move.
5. You can super dig someone and not agree with everything they say.
Particularly, I didn’t agree with the minister’s view of how women present themselves in public. He used the women in the Nation as examples of how women should dress. Everything should be covered up and curves should be saved for her husband’s viewings. Otherwise, she runs the risk of a man falling in love with her body and not her mind. So you mean to telll me, I gotta limit my self-expression because he can’t use discretion? Child, bye.
Dr. Umar Johnson, Black psychologist and Hidden Colors interviewee, has expressed his dissent of feminism because he believes it’s a white woman’s movement that ultimately leads to black women hating black men. I strongly disagree. I love both of these brothers. I just don’t agree with everything they believe. Because you agree with most of what someone says, don’t allow that to make you question your beliefs that conflict with theirs. Regardless who it is.
6. Mind yo’ money.
Our biggest muscle in the black community is our purchasing power. Our money. But we know that already. As the minister pointed out, Christmas is the time when capitalism collects most of its coins. If we wanna hit ’em where it hurts, let’s take our dollars back. That takes discipline though. What yo’ muscles looking like? I’ll admit that I’m working on strengthening mine myself.
7. Make yo’ money.
Before leaving the house, Darrien suggested that I bring some books. I agreed. When we got out there, he nudged me to promote ’em. I was shy. I didn’t wanna come off as the one who came out there to hustle. But all around me, the marketplace was bumping. From the time we came in the gates to being in the gates, and I LOVED seeing all those black folks supporting black folks. It’s time that I redefine what I originally referred to as hustling. I wrote Women Who Ain’t Afraid for those women to support them in spiritual liberation. Why wouldn’t I share it with them?
8. Mind what you put in your body.
The minister talked about starting our own gardens and feeding our bodies with more clean food. I absolutely agree. That’s the most revolutionary act that one can make. You can’t be pro-black and pro-woman if you’re not pro-self. In addition to minding what we feed our minds with, we gotta do the same with our bodies. Food in America is a trip. It’s a mind game that I’m still working on breaking free from. Sick of it. So this served as confirmation for my recent decision to forego all chemically processed foods for the remainder of October. With me?
9. Rewrite the narrative.
They say black folk don’t show up to nothing positive. That we can’t put on something of that magnitude and nothing goes down. That black fathers are absent. That the Muslims dislike Christians. And blah blah blah. Not everyone will show, that’s true. Sometimes shit goes down, true. Every black person didn’t grow up with a daddy and some Muslims and Christians are for real at odds. But that’s not the whole story, and we know that. What’s your platform of painting the truth? Tell it.
Near the end of the event, there was a woman in front of me that I felt a deep urging to hug. I don’t know why, but when the minister suggested that we hug our neighbors and tell them we love them, I was ecstatic (though I planned to do so anyway). And seeing all those black men hug and salute each other watered down my gangsta. Jerked a few tears, nah I mean? I plan to do more of that on a regular basis.
Were you there? Watched it on TV? What were your thoughts?