Why I am attending the Million Man March 2015
Tonight, me and few friends are traveling to Washington D.C for the 2015 Million Man March, 20 years after the first event in 1995. This event looks to gather 1 million plus men, not just African American men, but men who have desire to see better for our people.
The purpose of the march in 1995 was for Black men to take responsibility for their own actions and to help develop their own communities, and to atone for their lack of responsibility. Many of the men assembled took the pledge given that day seriously and have been actively involved in making their word bond ever since.
I myself thought long and hard about whether I would attend the march. Not because I am against the core purpose I stated above, as I am 100% for it. But I must say that the leader and organizer of the march, Minister Louis Farrakhan, is man that I have taken great issue with over the years. While I agree that he said and done many great things to empower the Black race, he has also said and repeatedly said many things that oppose my values and beliefs.
Minister Farrakhan is a polarizing figure, and his rhetoric many times detracts from the good that could be done from his movement. I will not and change my mind on disagreeing with his views on other races, women, and my Christian beliefs. I will not use blanket statements nor get into all the specifics, but you can look that up for yourselves. As this is not about him and I have decided not to let my issues with one man's rhetoric, detract from the overarching purpose.
I decided to attend the march for the following reasons:
The purpose of the march in 1995 was for Black men to take responsibility for their own actions and to help develop their own communities, and to atone for their lack of responsibility. Many of the men assembled took the pledge given that day seriously and have been actively involved in making their word bond ever since.
I myself thought long and hard about whether I would attend the march. Not because I am against the core purpose I stated above, as I am 100% for it. But I must say that the leader and organizer of the march, Minister Louis Farrakhan, is man that I have taken great issue with over the years. While I agree that he said and done many great things to empower the Black race, he has also said and repeatedly said many things that oppose my values and beliefs.
Minister Farrakhan is a polarizing figure, and his rhetoric many times detracts from the good that could be done from his movement. I will not and change my mind on disagreeing with his views on other races, women, and my Christian beliefs. I will not use blanket statements nor get into all the specifics, but you can look that up for yourselves. As this is not about him and I have decided not to let my issues with one man's rhetoric, detract from the overarching purpose.
I decided to attend the march for the following reasons:
Trayvon Martin was shot in 2012 by neighborhood watch volulnteer George Zimmerman.
April 30, 2014, Dontre Hamilton, 31, was fatally shot 14 times by a police officer in a Milwaukee park. The officer was responding to a call from employees at a nearby Starbucks alleging that Hamilton, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, was disturbing the peace.
The officers who arrived first determined that Hamilton wasn’t doing anything illegal. Officer Christopher Manney showed up later and, after trying to pat Hamilton down, engaged in a struggle with him that led to the shooting. Manney was not charged.
July 17, 2014: Eric Garner 43, was killed after he was put in an illegal chokehold for 15 seconds by a white police officer — allegedly for selling loose cigarettes. Garner said “I can’t breathe” 11 times as he was held down by several officers on a sidewalk.
The officer who put Garner in the chokehold, Daniel Pantaleo, was not charged.
Aug. 9, 2014: Michael Brown Jr., 18, was shot and killed by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.
In November, a grand jury declined to charge Wilson in the fatal shooting. Brown’s death and the lack of charges against Wilson sparked protests, some of them violent, in Ferguson and across the nation.
April 19, 2015: Freddie Gray, 25, died of a spinal cord injury a week after he was arrested by Baltimore police.
It’s still unclear how Gray sustained the injury. Officials say he was stopped after fleeing “unprovoked upon noticing police presence” and arrested for allegedly possessing a switchblade.
He was put in a police van, which is where police say he suffered a medical emergency. The officers involved in his arrest were placed on leave, and on Friday, the state’s attorney announced that they had been criminally charged in connection with Gray’s homicide.
Gray’s death sparked protests in Baltimore and other cities across the nation. On Monday, protesters and police clashed, prompting hundreds of arrests and Maryland’s governor to declare a state of emergency.
So yea, this is why I am going. It's not about listening to one man's rhetoric, its about standing up and uniting in hope to cause a change. I could not live with myself if I passed on an opportunity to unit with my brothers and let the world know that we see the problems and we want better. We are not asking for it any longer, we are demanding it.
And not from "the man", but from ourselves. Again, the core purpose of the march in 1995 was "for Black men to take responsibility for their own actions and to help develop their own communities, and to atone for their lack of responsibility." We are not asking to get gunned down, choked out and slain in the street by the police. But we must empower our young men to be wise and know how to handle themselves in various situations. We must learn to unite to fight injustices, for their is strength in numbers.
I can't sit back and watch it on TV. Can't do it. I will be there. And its only the beginning. God has blessed me with this great platform that is Causioncreations.com, where I reach thousands of people each day. I will continue to use it to entertain with the sports and TV reports, but there will be more. I promise you that. Each of us must use our voice.
See you Saturday.
And not from "the man", but from ourselves. Again, the core purpose of the march in 1995 was "for Black men to take responsibility for their own actions and to help develop their own communities, and to atone for their lack of responsibility." We are not asking to get gunned down, choked out and slain in the street by the police. But we must empower our young men to be wise and know how to handle themselves in various situations. We must learn to unite to fight injustices, for their is strength in numbers.
I can't sit back and watch it on TV. Can't do it. I will be there. And its only the beginning. God has blessed me with this great platform that is Causioncreations.com, where I reach thousands of people each day. I will continue to use it to entertain with the sports and TV reports, but there will be more. I promise you that. Each of us must use our voice.
See you Saturday.
