Million Man March

The Million Man March was an African American march of protest and unity convened by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan in Washington, DC on October 16, 1995. The actual number of participants is disputed by critics. The event included efforts to register African Americans to vote in US Elections and increase black involvement in volunteerism and community activism. Speakers also offered a strong criticism of the conservative offensive of Republicans after the 1994 congressional elections (most notably the Contract with America), characterized as an attack on programs like welfare, Medicaid, housing programs, student aid programs and education programs.

Related Topics:
African American - Nation of Islam - Louis Farrakhan - Washington, DC - October 16 - 1995 - Elections - Activism - Conservative - Congressional - Contract with America - Welfare - Medicaid

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many whites were critical or ambivalent about the march due to some of the more controversial figures associated with it (such as Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam, criticized as racist, sexist and anti-Semitic) and many considered the male-only event sexist. Mumia Abu-Jamal praised the large turnout of blacks but criticized the event's religious overtones and lack of radicalism (along with others on the left).

Related Topics:
Whites - Louis Farrakhan - Nation of Islam - Racist - Sexist - Anti-Semitic - Mumia Abu-Jamal - Religious - Left

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to voter registration statistics, one and a half million Black men registered to vote in the months following the March, leading David Bositis of the Joint Center for Economic Studies to remark, "In reviewing the sharp increase in the black male vote, I might find it highly implausible that there was another factor that rivaled the Million Man March in bringing about this change."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following the 1995 Million Man March, The National Association of Black Social Workers reported a flood of 13,000 applications to adopt Black children.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~