Monday, October 12, 2015

Million Man March 20th Anniversary

Above: Million Man March,, 1995
Below: Million Man March, 2015
 This Year's Million Man March Transcended The Nation Of Islam’s Involvement
"Fifty years ago we were marching in Selma, and there's no change. We want justice. We want accountability," march participant Cleo Jeffryes states. "This is our generation. This is our movement. This is not our mom's or our granddaddy's." Jeffryes highlights a key generational difference in the march that was called by Louis Farrakhan in 1995. 
Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, has been criticized for being homophobic, transphobic, and sexist. Many, including him, do not believe in attaining equality through peaceful and civil means. Despite the prevalence of what some see as a "regressive" view, others are more optimistic, and see a shift towards more equality among people. "When you talk about 'Justice or Else,' it's not just impacting men, it's impacting our entire country," says Zephia Bryant, who participated in both the 1995 and the 2015 marches.
How do you feel about the progressive beliefs that have arisen in not only the march, but in the movement in general towards equality? How might a disunified body of activists, with varying beliefs, impact the overall progress towards equality?

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