One In A Million

Twelve years ago today I was in Washington, DC. So were an estimated 1 million other black men. It was a summer-hot October day. We had left by bus late night on Sunday and arrived in DC at about five in the morning. The rest of the day I'll never forget. I dug out a short piece reflecting on that historic day.


I searched the faces of men who were strangers, yet I knew them. Why had we come to the nation’s capitol? For many of us, the march represented a collective journey to reclaim fragments of ourselves lost in the struggle to become men. At the same time, we recognized that survival of black communities depended on the partnership of black men and black women pulling together. The March was a moment in time for black men to pause and reflect on what we had become, our successes and our shortcomings.
Helicopters hovered over nearby buildings. Government workers peeped from windows.
I felt the warmth of brotherhood and peace-—black men embracing one another, some with tears in their eyes. The day had placed us in a different light before the world, if only for a moment. Things had changed in the city that day. The March had done something for those who journeyed to the nation’s capitol. We stood on sacred ground. The march had also been about connecting with black women and our communities. But it would take more than our bodies spread across the Mall on a bright sunny day. The real challenge would be returning home to strengthen our families and dedicate our lives to building stronger communities.

Two weeks ago I watched Get on the Bus, Spike Lee's screenplay about a bus journey from Los Angeles to the Million Man March. The movie made me think about the journey that many of us are on---not by ourselves, but with the women and families who make up our communities. As many said twelve years ago, it is not a struggle for black men only. Yes, we are portrayed negatively and targeted relentlessly in every way, but we shall prevail in the collective. How much has changed since that day? I know that many men came back to communities and joined organizations; many made commitments to do better by themselves and their families. Accepting responsibility was a major theme of the march. Progress, though, is not visible in the collective. We have to be concerned about where young black men are heading. Another march is not needed, but I do have faith that we shall prevail.

Why We Can't Wait

One of my first blog entries was a collection of quotes from Dr. King and Malcolm X. Since then, I've posted on a range of topics---most attempting to critique the persisting color line in America. Both Malcolm's and King's words remind us that the struggle continues. Here is a quote from King, followed by a link from a different speech. We don't have to wait until January 16th.


Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The yearning for freedom eventually manifests itself, and that is what has happened to the American Negro. Something within has reminded him of his birthright of freedom, and something without has reminded him that it can be gained. Consciously or unconsciously, he has been caught up by the Zeitgeist, and with his black brothers of Africa and his brown and yellow brothers of Asia, South America and the Caribbean, the United States Negro is moving with a sense of great urgency toward the promised land of racial justice. If one recognizes this vital urge that has engulfed the Negro community, one should readily understand why public demonstrations are taking place. The Negro has many pent-up resentments and latent frustrations, and he must release them. So let him march; let him make prayer pilgrimages to the city hall; let him go on freedom rides-and try to understand why he must do so. If his repressed emotions are not released in nonviolent ways, they will seek expression through violence; this is not a threat but a fact of history. So I have not said to my people: "Get rid of your discontent." Rather, I have tried to say that this normal and healthy discontent can be channeled into the creative outlet of nonviolent direct action. And now this approach is being termed extremist.

Letter From the Birmingham Jail, 1963

King on Vietnam

King speaking in opposition to the Vietnam War---April 4,1967 at Riverside Church in NYC