By Stephen Witt
Controversial or not, few would argue that Nation of Islam spiritual leader Louis Farrakhan’s Million Man March on Washington, D.C. was a rousing success. And now, as the 10th anniversary of the October 1995 event approaches, Farrakhan was in Brooklyn last week to promote the Millions More Movement. “The family is coming together because we need to save our people,” Farrakhan told a packed House of the Lord Pentecostal Church at 415 Atlantic Avenue. Farrakhan came at the bequest of Rev. Herbert Daughtry, pastor of the church and a longtime civil rights activist dating back to Dr. Martin Luther King’s Operation Breadbasket, which was the economic arm of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Dr. Ron Daniels, president of the national Institute for the Black World, also co-sponsored the event, which is slated to have national African-American leaders address the church the first Saturday of every month. Daughtry said Dr. Maulana Karenga, founder of the cultural holiday Kwanzaa, will be the guest speaker on June 4 and the church hopes to have Rev. Jesse Jackson in July. In introducing, Farrakhan, Daughtry pointed out how the Nation of Islam in America has carved out for itself a very special role in the civil rights and African-American struggle. The Nation of Islam has always emphasized black pride and doing for self, black business and black unity and in their physical appearance you cannot help but be proud to see them, he said. “If we make an impact on our people, we’ll have done our job forever,” Daughtry said, noting that members of the Nation of Islam carry themselves well even in prison. Farrakhan spoke for about an hour and 45 minutes, mixing humor with serious topics concerning mainly the state of blacks in this country today. Farrakhan said that God is lifting up African-Americans to a position of world leadership, and although the community has suffered tremendously dating back from 300 years of slavery, the African spirit has never been destroyed. Farrakhan also pointed out that blacks of the African Diaspora must all stick together whether they are from Haiti, the first country of blacks to gain independence, the West Indies, America or anywhere else in the world. “Your destiny is to not become leaders of more Negroes, but to lead humanity,” he said. Farrakhan, however, also pointed out that there are those “enemies” who do not want to see blacks rise up and assume that leadership. He also gave social commentary, sounding themes similar to right-wing Christian evangelists who talk about the roles of men and women in the home and society. As for the Millions More Movement, Farrakhan said he has already asked for and received support from other black leadership groups including Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, Coretta Scott King, widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and entertainment and sports figures. The Millions More Movement will come to Washington, D.C. the weekend of October 14-16. On Friday, Oct. 14, a day of absence will be observed where all people who can are being asked to not go to work, school, businesses and sports and entertainment venues for this one day. A mass assembly at the National Mall will be held on the following day, officially opening the Movement at 10 a.m., with pre-event activities as early as 6 a.m. On Sunday, Oct. 16, services of worship throughout the city will be observed, dedicated to spiritual renewal and revitalization. Early Sunday evening, an interfaith, interdenominational service will be held. Daughtry said that while the Million Man March was incredible because so many black males showed up, the Millions More Movement promises to be much bigger, representing men, women and families. “I think we’ll be a bit more focused on objectives [this time] of social, political and economic change,” he said. “I think we’ll have a more specific agenda and demands.”
