I submitted this article to The Baltimore Times today

This Movement must Move beyond a March!
by Me

Are you going?

Well, I went ten years ago, but I’m not too sure about the purpose of this year’s march. Will anything be accomplished or will it be a waste of my time?

That’s pretty much how the conversation goes when I speak to close friends and colleagues about their participation in this year’s Millions More Movement. Despite thorough publicity of this “movement” via traditional Black channels, it doesn’t seem as if Black people are as excited about this commemoration as they were ten years ago. I believe much of the lack of excitement is due to unanswered questions which still linger from the Million Man March of 1995. Chief among the questions has to do with the issue of outcomes. The question is, “What concrete, measurable positive outcomes were brought about in the lives of Black Americans as a result of the March of 1995?” While many supporters of that March tout the euphoric feelings of unity and Black pride felt while standing in a sea of African people, when it comes to identifying tangible results, the evidence is subjective at best.

To be sure, the sight of thousands upon thousands of men of African descent gathered together under the umbrella of personal responsibility and community empowerment was inspirational to say the least. However in the days, months, and years since the Million Man March, some in the Black community would argue that the quality of life for Black Americans has gotten worse for the majority of us or at least stayed the same. Is it merely coincidence that four years before the March of 1995, Rodney King was videotaped being repeatedly beaten by members of the Los Angeles Police Department and less than a week before the Movement of 2005, 64-year-old Robert Davis was videotaped being mauled by members of the New Orleans Police Department?

Aren’t some of the issues from the Million Man March of 1995 the same as some of the ones being raised at the Millions More Movement of 2005? What progress have we made on the stated objectives of a decade ago? Despite your religious, political, and community affiliations, these questions demand a hearing. We must hold ourselves accountable to what we said we were going to do and what we did – personally and collectively.

While few can doubt the strength of symbolism, I tend to believe that symbolism without substance is dead. I hear the old mothers of the church of my upbringing saying, “We’re living in the last and evil days” and while some would argue whether these days are the last, there would be little debate that these days are certainly evil. Given the desperate times that Black Americans find themselves in today, if the Movement is to be successful, we need more than fiery rhetoric. We need more than diatribes on the new world order ambitions of the Bush Administration. We need more than Black Men and Women coming to the podium and jostling for their place on the HNIC platform. We need more than Black folks marveling that we can come together and not fight. We need a clearly stated, well thought-out, practical, measurable and sustainable plan for community empowerment that we who attend are prepared to commit to and take ownership of on a collective and personal level. This stated need is certainly not a new thought. In 1933, Dr. Carter G. Woodson wrote the following in his classic book, The Mis-education of the Negro:

If the Negro could abandon the idea of leadership and instead stimulate a larger number of the race to take up definite tasks and sacrifice their time and energy in doing these things efficiently the race might accomplish something. The race needs workers not leaders.

As one that is cautiously optimistic concerning the upcoming Millions More Movement, I have taken ownership of my involvement with the commemoration. When I go down on Saturday, I’ll go to atone, I’ll go to embrace, I’ll go to celebrate, however, I will not go solely relying on The Honorable Louis Farrakhan, Pastor Willie Wilson, or Reverend Al Sharpton to outline a realistic plan of action for me or African people. While I hope that at least an outline of a plan is presented, if this weekend proves to be more of the same, I won’t be totally disappointed because I’ve already committed to strive to walk in the ways of our most honorable Ancestors. I’m already determined to be a man of integrity and a servant of my people until I take my last breath. I’m already making arrangements to start a scholarship fund for my mentee, to take my younger brother, Jonathan, on a tour of Bowie State, and I’ve already applied to volunteer at the PAL Center in my neighborhood. I’m not taking on the world, but East Baltimore better look out!

The old adage comes to mind: “Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.” I pray that we have learned from the successes and the shortcomings of the March of 1995 and that we are prepared to make even greater strides toward accomplishment during the Movement of 2005.

I hope to see you in D.C.