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A Year Later, Remembering the March

For most people, yesterday was hump day, Wednesday, the regular workday that marks the middle of the week. But for Cecil Clark it was a holy day.

The security guard from Takoma Park took the day off—much to the displeasure of his supervisor—and took his children out of school—much to their delight—and together they went to the D.C. Armory to mark the first anniversary of the Million Man March.

Nearly 1,000 others showed up to hear Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, via satellite from New York, and to celebrate the historic march that last year brought hundreds of thousands of black men to the Mall. Unlike last year’s event, yesterday’s ceremonies drew a modest crowd—organizers said they expected 8,000—and included no local dignitaries. The overall mood seemed a bit subdued.

But Clark, 36, said he was starting a family tradition. It was important that his children, Cecil Jr., 9, Ciarra, 8, and Cedric, 2, understood the significance of Oct. 16. Cecil Jr. got the message.

"Our dad said he wasn’t going to work and we weren’t going to school because it’s a holiday for us. .‚.‚. Holidays like Christmas and Easter are holidays that other people made, and we need to start making our own holidays."

Like last year’s participants, many of those at the armory were dressed in African garb or march memorabilia. There was a big TV screen, and the crowd came to its feet when Farrakhan was introduced. There were vendors and a call for donations. There were even lots of reporters.

But plans to have local leaders speak before the broadcast fell through, leaving participants to sit and wait about an hour before the satellite transmission from New York began. A Nation of Islam organizer said Tuesday that many local leaders chose to go to New York.

None of that mattered to Antwion Pullen, 29, of Centreville, who took a day off from work and wore a march hat and shirt. "The first one was real successful. I got a lot from it," he said.

"I already knew my role as a man," Pullen said, referring to the march’s theme of self-reliance and independence. "I can’t go out and help every kid in the world or even in my neighborhood, but I do what I can where I can."

Alicia Saxton, 19, and her boyfriend, Arnell Lindsey, 21, said they went to the armory because the march had had a profound effect on their lives and their relationship. "It made us realize that we need to stay together because we have a daughter," Lindsey said. He also said he had stopped drinking and is considering joining the Nation of Islam.

Saxton said that since last year, her church has done more to organize men. She isn’t considering joining the Nation of Islam but agreed with Lindsey about their relationship.

A group from Fredericksburg, Va., made the journey to Washington again. Last year, there were two busloads; this year, there were only eight men. But they said the spirit of the march was very much alive.

Eric Buckner, 31, said that in the last year, march participants have organized two voter registration drives out of a Fredericksburg barbershop he owns. "Next year, though," he said, "we’re going to make sure that there’s a bigger turnout for the anniversary."