Video & Multimedia
Related: About this forumRemembering the Million Man March for Black History Month (pic heavy!)
I had been listening to all of the reports about who was leading the Million Man March and all about the controversies raised surrounding the folks sponsoring the event and the exclusivity of the public invitation and I had decided I wouldn't attend. The reporter in me, though, caught me by the tail and I decided in an instant that I couldn't miss photographing the gathering. Before I knew it, I was off on the subway to D.C.. As you can imagine, the subway was packed with folks heading down there. Everyone seemed subdued and reflective on the train. I was a bundle of nerves, hyped out of my mind and exhausted from working all night. A few of the kids on the train broke out in a heated discussion of what to expect after a stranger heading nowhere in particular said something or the other that was quite offensive to the youngsters and they started in on him. Almost as quickly as the confrontation had started, though, cooler heads prevailed and someone reminded the group just what the day was all about. I relaxed immediately and felt, at once, like this trip did indeed have some purpose and meaning.
I arrived onto the mall directly from the subway elevator and it was like nothing I had ever seen in my life. I don't believe I had seen so many African American men together at once. The field leading up to the Capitol was packed, nearly all the way back to the Washington monument, yet, it was unusually quiet; with the majority of those gathered either listening intently to the speakers on stage projected on the huge viewing screens or speaking quietly among themselves. It wasn't a party atmosphere, rather it had the feel of a pilgrimage. You could see folks looking around at each other with awe and pride. It wasn't as if we'd never seen ourselves in such variety and elegance, it was just unusual, at that point and time, to have our community so splendidly represented in our civility and the appropriateness of our attire in such overwhelming numbers. It was a brilliant day for the time of year. A bit chilly, but the sun shined down so spectacularly that it provided the perfect backdrop to such a radiant crowd.
I probably don't need to describe any of the photos. I wasn't anywhere near the stage, so I opted, instead to record what I could of the folks attending in our magnificent array of colors and expressions. Something happened during the Million Man March for the black Americans who attended, and for those looking on, as well. We moved forward together that day. The atmosphere -- not particularly the speechifying on stage (except for Maya Angelou and a few others) -- the atmosphere was absolutely transformative.
I picked out a bunch of pics for folks here to see and I hope they convey the magic I felt that day; what I experienced in spite of the hype and the grousing from the media and others that had nearly kept me away.
monmouth
(21,078 posts)bigtree
(85,915 posts)memory to last a lifetime - - a milestone for me.
JTFrog
(14,274 posts)Thank you for the superb post and photos.
bigtree
(85,915 posts)just wish I could share the images out in a more accessible way . . . I really want to be there again!
JTFrog
(14,274 posts)That's one of the reasons your posts touch me. They "take me there".
that makes my day then. I've had these buried for years now. There wasn't an internet connection for me when I took them, so I've been content in pulling them out now and again as a reminder. It was everything I describe and show in the photos . . . and much more!
So cool that you could get a glimpse in from my perspective.