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Jump-Starting a Movement

By Salim Muwakkil

Many participants returned from the Millions More Movement event in Washington D.C. convinced that the October 15 rally was a useful step in community mobilization and political organizing. Some enthusiasts even mark the event, which officially commemorated the 10th anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March, as a seminal step on the way to a new civil rights movement. Others… return to article

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    Beginning with the first march ten years it seems that these gatherings are an attempt by leaders to stay in the news. When A.Philip Randolph threatened to march on the capitol he got results.Today despite the claim of militancy our leaders are demanding nothing. Instead of confronting problems we are being urged to look within!! As a student of freedom fighters and activists all over the world our current efforts seem to me to be worthy of a B.T. BARNUM.

    Mexico Posted by wallace on Nov 19, 2005 at 9:15 AM

    Mr. Muwakkil, I agree that “De-emphasizing the event’s racial focus failed to attract non-blacks but also seemed to dampen the black attendance.” and that Minister Farrakhans’ “separatist prescriptions”, “make many progressives wince.” Obviously Blacks (Black men in particular) and progressives have completely different agendas.  Blacks want autonomous dominion within America.  I’m not sure exactly what the progressive vision is but I can’t imagine it looks much different than the status quo as far as Blacks Americans are concerned.  If Farrakhan continues to move away from promoting “separatist prescriptions” he won’t be able to fill a storefront church for the 10th anniversary of the Millions More Movement.

    United States Posted by theloneous on Nov 19, 2005 at 9:12 PM

    C’mon! When did journalism equal politeness?

    1. Farrakhan’s church is STILL listed as hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and I agree with that. It ain’t because they just haven’t happened to update that list in a while. “Traces” of racism?

    2. Black leadership for the most part is incredibly sexist towards black women and no white woman is going to give up hard earned rights, regard, deference to “join” that. They can’t be a part of spomething that gives them shoes smaller than the ones they are walking in now. I will stand by Black feminists to help give them the courage to stop asking for their place among black leadership, and start TAKING power. But I won’t go to Farrakhan’s stinking parties. 

    3. related to this, black “leadership” isn;t much leadership on several fronts, not least of which is its proclivity for openly and, in terms of my sensibilities, brutally oppressing black women.

    4. The event would be more rcially inclusive if Julian Bond took over. He has at least twice all of farrakhan’s few positive traits and none of his negative ones, which are formidable. I would vote for Bond for president right now and wish he would run.

    Don’t walk out here on the pages of In These Times and expect us to eat some regurgitated glace over real divisive issues that aren’t going to go away jsut because you wear Birkenstocks, or talk like you do. I don’t care what you are the editor of.

    United States Posted by marge on Nov 29, 2005 at 5:34 PM

    I just finished reading your bio blurb at the end of your article. You also are a fellow of Soro’s Open Society groups. Well heck, that organization’s journalism fellowships are all about sponsoring journalism that makes a real difference and if you think your polite stroll through political minefields is some substitute for indepth, objective hard hitting journalism, you are a sorry example. Luckily Soros has a ton of cash and can afford dozens, hundreds of misses. Keep looking Gerogie.

    United States Posted by marge on Nov 29, 2005 at 5:45 PM
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