Million Women March: Black women seek unity

By Monica Moorehead, Workers World, 6 November 1997

Philadelphia -- It was one of the biggest gatherings of women in U.S. history. As far as the eye could see, Benjamin Parkway was a sea of humanity for over 12 hours Oct. 25 as women of African descent from all over the country and around the world descended on Philadelphia for the Million Woman March.

Organizers announced that 1.5 million women were in attendance, while the police claimed 300,000. The march attracted women from a broad spectrum of political and social consciousness and experience. It was overwhelmingly young.

They came by bus, train, car and plane. Many traveled for days. It did not matter that it was rainy and chilly.

They were motivated to come out by a call for unity and solidarity within the Black community.

The massive outpouring was even more extraordinary in that it was not called by traditional national civil-rights organizations like the NAACP or Southern Christian Leadership Conference, or by the big unions; it was for the most part a grassroots effort initiated last spring by two Philadelphia Black women--Phile Chionesu and Asia Coney.

GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS

Chionesu and Coney wanted to give Black women the opportunity to come together and break the isolation many feel under the capitalist system, so as to feel empowered to change conditions within their various communities. The MWM's 12-point program includes establishing independent Black schools; pressuring the government to stop CIA drug running; self-help programs for women ex-prisoners and addicts; and ending homelessness.

As with the Million Man March two years ago, there was a conspicuous absence of demands targeting the U.S. government or the capitalist class it represents to correct the multitude of social problems faced by the Black community. The one exception was the role of the CIA in the drug epidemic.

But, unlike the Million Man March, there was no call for "atonement" by Black women. If anything, the MWM was an opportunity for Black women to come together as nationally oppressed people and as women to share the bond of common oppressions and a common strength to resist and fight back.

Workers World spoke to a number of women about what the march meant to them.

Lauren Arrington, a 19-year-old student at Brown University in Providence, R.I., told WW: "I came to Philadelphia to be with my sisters and to feel positive. The brothers on campus cooked dinner for us before we boarded the buses to show support for us. This day is so special; this is our day."

Estelle Pearson, a teacher from Montclair, N.J., remarked, "I am in Philadelphia because I am concerned about the lack of education and equality for Black, Latino and poor white youth."

Janice Jones representing Citizens Against Police Brutality in Chicago told WW, "The mainstream press did not do anything to build this march. This march was built by word of mouth. As we go into the next millennium, the MWM has brought us together as one to help strengthen the family and to strengthen ourselves politically. The fact that Black women have come here from all over the world is awesome."

A woman in a 31-member delegation from the University of Oklahoma commented, "We have to come together on issues dealing with the fact that we live under a system that does not want us here. We came to Philadelphia because we want to help raise political consciousness among others."

Throughout the day, there were speeches and cultural presentations. The speakers included Rep. Maxine Waters from California and Winnie Mandela of South Africa. Pam Africa of the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu- Jamal announced a Dec. 6 International People's Tribunal in Philadelphia to expose the conspiracy to execute the Black revolutionary journalist.

Rap artist Sister Soulja spoke eloquently on the need of Black women not to look upon themselves as sexual objects but as intelligent beings. She encouraged Black women to continue to build self-esteem.

The organizers of this march are to be strongly commended for calling out Black women to actively participate in the struggle for social and political equality. It was another indication that organized labor and the traditional women's movement still have a long way to go if they are to reach out to women of color. That requires addressing the special problems and concerns that affect their daily lives.

The sheer numbers of this march, and of the Million Man March, answer those who say that the masses are not ready to be mobilized. They are.