Week
of
10/31/97:		 What in your opinion is the real message to be learned from the Million Woman March?



Name: ALANE RICHARDSON
Email: A1ANE@YAHOO.COM
Response: YES, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, I FEEL THAT THE MILLOIN WOMAN MARCH WAS A GOOD THING FOR ME I CAME BACK HOME FEELING DIFFERENT ABOUT MY BLACK SISTERS AND BROTHERS (EXCITED)...I DIDN'T REALLY CARE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH OUR PEOPLE...AS LONG AS THEY LEFT ME ALONG (WE ARE A GREAT PEOPLE)...I NO LONGER FEEL THAT WAY...I'M NOW OPENED TO OTHERS ADVICE AND WHAT THEY FEEL ABOUT DIFFERENT THING...I MET MY FUTURE HUSBAND RECENTLY...I FEEL LIKE I WANT TO GET BEHIND HIM AND SUPPORT HIM IN ANY THING THAT HE'S TRYING TO DO (FOR OUR LIFE CAN BE BETTER)...BEFORE I DIDN'T FEEL THAT MY HELP WAS NEEDED OR EVEN IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO HELP OUT...I FEEL OUR BROTHERS NEED SOME HELP AND I'M WILLING TO HELP OUT (MINE) ANY WAY THAT I CAN...I'M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL NOW..TAKING BUSINESS AND COMPUTER COURSES...SO THAT I CAN BE A PART OF OUR BUSINESS LATER ON..I COULDN'T REALLY SEE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL...BUT NOW NOT ONLY DO I SEE THE TUNNEL I CAN ALSO SEE THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL IF WE KEEP OUR HEAD UP AND MOVE FORWARD AND DON'T LOOK BACK...I KNOW WE WILL MAKE IT TO THE END...AND WE MAKE SURE THAT GOD IS ALL IN OUR BUSINESS...WE CAN SEE WHAT THE END IS GONNA BE, PRAISE GOD, LANE AND PATCHIE2


Name: Leonard
Email: leonard@detroitbest.net
Response: The message I got from the MWM was that we still have a long way to go! We still haven't learned that it isn't about "sisterhood" or "brotherhood." The real issue is whether or not we have learned to respect each other as sisters and brothers enough to rebuild FAMILIES!


Name: Scott D. Muschett
Email: sdm5136@sjfc.edu
Response: It seems to me that the media gave far to much positive press coverage to the Million Woman March. Some of the event's headline speakers included Winnie Mandela and Sister Souljah. Let us OBJECTIVELY look at these two individuals. #1) Winnie Mandela precided over and participated in the executions of scores of Black South Africans. The people she had executed (anyone remember little Stompie?) were staunch opponents of the white apartheid regime. #2) Sister Souljah had a hit rap song in 1991 which glorifyingly promoted the "total annialation of the white race." It makes us look like hypocrites and demagogues when we collectively critize white people with a presumtion that they are racist and then exalt people in our own black - communities who proudly proclaim venom for people who look differenly than we do. In order to attain better race relations, white America would be shocked if we, for once stood up to our pied pipers (Farrahkan, Sharpton Jackson etc...) and collectively criticized ALL RACIST BELIEFS!!!! Reguardless of where they come from or who is saying them.


Name: CAD
Email: blkcat411@aol.com
Response: The lesson is very simple and beautiful..And that is that it will take the jointed effort of the 'ENTIRE' black family to save our communities...:)..Peace & Love


Name: Barbara Ivery
Email: bnell@pacbell.net
Response: Peace and enlightenment to my people. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the MWM, however, I was there in spirit. I commend those for preparing and holding such an event. I hope, we can move now to hold a march for brothers and sisters. We must not forget that we have been divided too long. We need each other. An important message that I received through reports of this event is that we must continue to empower ourselves with positive words and action. In closing, may I add that I am sure great effort was put into publicizing this event. Yet, there are some of us who did not get word until a week or two before the march actually took place. Perhaps with the next planned event the word will spread rapidly. Let’s keep empowering one another through Unity Blessings


Name: michelle Greene columbia,MD
Email:
Response: I think the MILLION WOMAN MARCH was very powerful. I am only 15 years old and I attended the march along with my mother, 10 year old cousin, and aunt we all enjoyed it and thought it was very moving. It was so great to see so many sistas, all of are different skin tones, hair textures, and body shapes, everything. This showed me that there are so many different beauties of the world not just blue eyes, blond hair and a size four waist line. coming together and truly seeing that black women are beautiful and the mothers of the world. It was an experience I will never forget. I will be able to tell my daughters about this event and instill in them as my family has, that a black women can do anything and be anything and that they are strong and that we are beautys of the world. THANK YOU


Name: TAMMY
Email: lackey.15@osu.edu
Response: I was unable to attend the MWM for lack of funding but I had formed my own opinion about this great event. I feel as though the MWM gave women a chance to get a better understanding of their purpose in the African-American community as well as in general. The MWM gave me a sense of pride and helped me to understand how important my role is a woman, daughter, granddaughter, eventual mother and also as a figure in my community. I now know that I must be able to stand on my own or I will fall for anything.


Name: Skeptical II
Email: bradfo43@ccvax.mmc.edu
Response: This second message is in direct response to Ede, since her message quoted my original. I never said that Black women were already perfect. What I IMPLIED was that we are Divine, which we are, and which Black men are. It is irrelevant to me whether or not a Sister's skirt is too tight, or too high, on any given day, or the other, and even if it was made relevant when it should not be, we did not need a "march" to teach us that. You are right, the message of any march is unity, but um...did not we not learn that when the Brothers marched? I think I made it perfectly clear that I admire and appreciate that so many Sisters DID show up, because it demonstrated that we all agree on a strong desire for unity, and improvement in our community at large. But as I said before, WE ALREADY KNEW THAT, AND DID NOT NEED THE MWM to prove that. We are a very fragile, endangered community, with no time for wastefulness. WhenEVER we pool our intellectual or finanical resources for any cause, it should not be in efforts that are redundant, and unneccessary. Our "heads" already took us in the right direction with their own march. It was our duty to support, be proud, and help them fulfill whatever promises and goals that were the outcomes of their meeting. In terms of we as Black women having and needing our OWN agendas, namely recovering from abusive childhoods or relationships, yes, we need those, but we already have those! It seems to me that YOU, my Sister, live in the "microcosm", if you are not already aware of such efforts. Essence, Heart and Soul, Today's Black Woman, not to mention countless books written by Black Women of yesteryear as well as modern times speak to those very issues. It is up to us as Black women to make the time to read such items, and then begin our healing. Where are such instruction manuals for our Brothers? There ARE NONE, which is why they felt the need to have a Men's Meeting to create one for themselves. Now they have THEIR instructions, and we ALREADY HAD ours. That leaves no room for the excuse of "I wanted to be better, or do something, but I did not know how." Now, let us ALL GET TO WORK. hotep!


Name: T. Ford
Email: tfordcb@bellatlantic.com
Response: The message of strength in numbers is what I got from the MWM. The next time we march, whether man, woman or both, the focus of that strength in numbers has to be clearer. Therefore, I propose for the next next march we do the following; A.) March on Wall Street in New York, for this is the real capitol of America and the economic world. B.) Identify those companies which vigorously pursue our dollars, but refuse to spend a dime with Afro-American businesses. C.) Have every march paticipant pledge not to spend any dollars with those companies. D.) Identify those companies that do support Afro-American businesses and have every paricipant pledge to purchase at least ten or more shares of stock in those companies (Ownership). If we do this the impact will be substantial for us and there will be no questions as to the messages; "Support the economic growth of our community or suffer the "Economic Consequences". To all of my African American brothers and sisters, remember, economics is the source of power for the American way of life. Those who use their economic power wisely prevail, those who don't perish. Would you like to have the names of a few companies that sell to our sisters but refuse to buy from AA companies? OK, here they are: Revlon, REEBOK, McCormick, NIKE, Colgate-Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, LEVER, Nabisco. I could go on and on but suffice it to say that most of these are consumer products companies, they sell a substantial amount of goods to us but purchase little or none of the materials which make these products from us. We must start using our economic clout with these companies and those like them or they will never get the "message". Make your dollars count!!


Name:
Email: Myra2Write@aol.com
Response: I went to the MWM, and I am glad I did. I also supported my husband and other brothers who went to the MMM. I am thankful for both of the Marches. Every culture must have a way to unite in pride. That was just the beginning of ours.


Name: Chris
Email:
Response: Frances, I agree with what you said about the MWM, especially about the comment about the black press. The black press (including "da fro") did a wonderful job in informing African Americans about the MWM. There were black folks complaining about the mainstream media not covering the event or not covering the event enough. I say to them, "So what!" The black press was there and that’s what counted.


Name: Nnamdi Nzingha
Email:
Response: UNITY= STRENGTH I get several messages from the March. One, if we can put this together on such a large scale, we can do other things of this magnitude. We should have regular meetings (in the cities we live in) for men only, women only, men and women only, men and boys, women and girls, men and girls , women and boys, children only and the entire family. I believe we could accomplish a lot from these type of meetings.


Name: Randall
Email: B1More1@aol.com
Response: Morgan State Radio, WEAA, had a discussion the day after the MWM that I listened to. Various women who attended the March talked about meeting people from all over the country, meeting people on the bus, seeing all types of women some in wheel chairs, using canes, some youth, some elderly. Without being there and also being a Black Man. The message to me is that Black women want it known that they will get together if called to do so. Black women will make a stand and show of unity regardless of the negative perceptions of some. From the tone of many of the responses below a half full glass is definitely half empty, and they will espouse the emptiness and not see the fullness. My Grandmother always warned me of the Crabs-In-A-Basket-Mentality. A crab will pull another crab down trying himself to get out of the basket hence no crab gets out, Thus the term crabby or saying "stop acting crabby". My Grandmother insisted that her grandchildren learned to help people and understand that may mean to do or saying nothing. Then she would say, sometimes it is better to say nothing if you have nothing good to say. Oddly, the post Million Women March criticism is the same as the pre-Million Man March criticism, March for what? What message do those who quickly espouse negativity about an event that exceeded its' expectation say about themselves? My grandmother would say "Crabby be quiet" !!!


Name: Ede
Email: etaylor@artlover.com
Response: The real message behind the idea of any march is unity. Again, that was the idea behind this march. When critics (especially sisters and brothers - since we are our worst critics) make comments such as a "the march is absurd," "there was no message behind the march," or "women never needed a march because women are already perfect" makes me wonder what microcosm of a closet have you all been hiding in? These comments alone justify the need for unity. That's if, of course, you need further justification than seeing your sisters prostitiute themselves for a "quick fix", accept lower standards of living because they have low self esteem, or women who think they are destined to a life of abuse because their fathers raped them. Before you think it, "No, I don't fall into either category. But I understand the plight of my brothers and sisters and know that the time is long overdue for us to overcome pettiness. What is pettiness, you ask? Pettiness is "the women are just doing because the men did it." Pettiness is "I never thought about going, it's whatever." I have a few positive little secrets to hopefully cleanse those negative minds. What the devil intends for evil, God will make good. No matter why you think the march was called, support your culture because we're losing it to genocide, support your sisters because they're your sisters. There is room for improvement in our lives. No matter where you think you are or what atonement you don't think you need, you need. Black women and Black men must respect themselves and edify one another, you know build each other up, say a word of encouragement, get rid of the jealous genes, don't criticize your sister because you think her skirt is too tight or she wears white shoes in the winter. Don't laugh behind her back because her children don't have toys or she can't pay her rent. Help your sister. Support your people. That's the message I received from the march. May God continue to bless us, in spite of us, and peace be unto you.


Name: Sherard Graham
Email: sgraham@jhucccp.org
Response: Peace and Blessings to all who are reading! There are many lessons to be learned from the Million Woman March. As I look at the family unit it is quite fragmented and unbalanced. Within the family unit the combination of Man + Woman = Child. In this unit the man is the head while the woman is the heart. For too long the Black woman has been holding the family unit together with her loving, caring, and nurturing heart. The time has come for the family to be put back together because the heart can only go so far without the direction of the head and the head can only go so far without the loving, caring and nurturing heart. What I see is the heart following the direction of the head and completing the family unit. Just as the ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people, the restoration of a nation begins in the homes of its people also. The Million Man March and the Million Woman March have planted seeds for the rebirth of the Black Family, a sort of family reunion if you will, to get things back to where they used to be. As we submit to do the will of God, he will bring the harvest. Love, Peace, and Happiness!


Name: Skeptical
Email: bradfo43@ccvax.mmc.edu
Response: Blackfolk are so STARVED for unity, and cohesiveness, like we seemed to have from the 50's-70's, that we will show up to ANYTHING that gives the slightest hope of getting back to that vibe. Black women are the stalwarts of our fragile community, and for us to need a day of atonement, or re-commitment, was absurd in my opinion, which is why I never made any attempt, nor showed any interest in going to the event. Atonement for what? Re-commitment for what? when have we as Black women EVER left our posts as the watcher-overs of the children, wayward husbands, brothers, uncles, and what-have-you's in our community? When have we EVER stopped praying, stopped giving of ourselves, and being totally committed to holding our families together the best way we can, and uplifting ourselves and our community in any way we can? to me, the Million Woman March was something that so-called Black feminists thought up because they felt jealous and left out of the Million MAN March, when we needed to be, and still need to be, proud, supportive, and understanding of the need for our men to have a Men's Meeting, just like they do in church. Please do not misunderstand me, I am pleased and proud that 2 million Sisters showed up, or however many it was who went, because that shows that en mass, we all want change, improvement, and unity in the Black Community At Large. I appreciate that. We did not need a Million Woman March to demonstrate that though. We knew that about Black Women already. The title Black Woman speaks volumes in and of itself, and requires no explanation, nor proof. It was the Brothahs who had some things they needed to, and allegedly are working on, and we as women should allow them to do what they need to do to get to the point where they can honestly and respectfully stand proud as our Mates, and not be jealous or competitive when they finally decide to make a positive effort on behalf of the betterment of us all in the long run.


Name: M. Gabrielle Wood
Email: monicaw@afroam.org
Response: The real message from the MWM to me is there was none. I didn't attend the march because of work obligations but, I had no intention in going regardless. The message of why sisters were going to Philadelphia was not well defined before the day of march. Unlike the MMM where you knew why brothers were coming together and what they wanted to accomplish, regardless if they have or not, you never really knew why we were coming together. There were conflicting messages coming from whomever you heard speaking. But, to be perfectly honest there was one message I did receive, and that is, "Well since we weren't invited to the MMM lets have our own." I maybe wrong, but that is how I feel. I hope those who went came back ready to spread the message to the rest of us. I am waiting to hear it. Peace and Blessings.


Name:
Email: syndic@webtv.net
Response: Your question carries a hint of dubiety. I, being a brother and having no familiarity of the MWM, conducted a brief research into the matter. my findings are as follows: On October 10, 1997, sister Phile' Chiones--founder and co-chair of the million woman march--provided the following updates and information (in brief). A press conference will be held in Philadelphia on November10, 1997, to discuss the march, the outcome of the march, and plans for the future. Sisters are being asked to start million woman march chapters in cities and towms where none exist today. All of the chapters will become a part of a sisterhood network that will focus on economic development, support systems, health services, anti-drug efforts, community town meetings to discuss and deal with issues in their own communities. A regular journal or newspaper will be started and distributed worldwide. An international chat session will be conducted after the press conference. There will be a million wman march reunion in the year 2000; Also, a million family march planned for the same year (and one not to conflict with the other). IMHO, YOU GO GIRL!!!!! (Sisters!)


Name: Solomon Landers, Memra Institute
Email: Solomon@memrain.org
Response: Being of the male persuasion, I have had to rely on friends to answer this question. I did attend the MMM, and it appears that the all-pervading spirit there of brotherhood, joy, love, and self-affirmation was not present to the same degree at the MWM. Several of the ladies I spoke with, from the Maryland and DC area, said they experienced a feeling of let-down, that "sisterhood" did not appear to resonate as joyfully as "brotherhood" did two years ago. But I think the fact the March was held at all, and had a huge attendance, was a great victory. As black men, we have known all along that our Sistahs are beautiful, competent, compelling, and capable. Yes, we need to express this more. Thank you black women, for being the world and more for us!


Name: Tyree Amala
Email: TyreeA@Hotmail.com
Response: Some of the lessons learned are: (1). Unity (2). Strength (3). Women can do anything we put our minds to. (4). Self-Respect as Black Women (5). Self-Love as Black Women (6). Spirituality and many more! Peace!


Name: Frances Murphy
Email: FrankieLou@aol.com
Response: The Million Woman March sent many messages: 1) That Black women can come together for the common good 2) That we know how to select and follow our own leaders 3) That the Black media can carry the message to our people, and 4) We love and respect ourselves. AND this is just the beginning. The MWM was wonderful.


Name:
Email: beryhart@sprynet.com
Response: My daughter, who was there and who had looked forward to being there, said the real message was, " You should wear a hat when you're standing out in the rain."