Though the Day of Atonement and fourth anniversary of the Million Man March fell on Saturday Oct. 16, in some cities members of the Nation of Islam, local activists and educators held programs to discuss the principles of atonement before the anniversary. Others devoted the Holy Day to atonement to remembrances of the march.

In Atlanta, the Southern Region headquarters of the Nation of Islam activities were focused on atonement, youth and community development.

Kicking off the week, a press conference at a morning forum of the Concerned Black Clergy was held to announce the launch of the Million Family March 2000. Min. Ray Muhammad, southern region assistant minister, delivered information and answered questions from the media and some clergy.

Min. Ray credited a decrease in Black-on-Black crime, increase in activism in civic, political and religious organizations, and an increase in Black voter registration and participation as direct results of the Million Man March.

Some 30 members of the Concerned Black Clergy and the Nation of Islam stood beside Min. Ray during the press conference and pledged their support for the Million Family March.

The following day, a youth forum was held with the Malcolm X Grass Roots Organization, the Nation of the Gods and Earths and the Nation of Islam Student Association (NOISA).

The NOISA national coordinator, Min. Ashahed Muhammad, and others spoke on the need for atonement and increased activism among youth.

The crowd of 200 people enjoyed drill exhibitions from students of the Fundamentals Academy, a local Muslim-run school, a violin concerto, poetry recitals, modern dance and songs.

On a weekly radio program entitled "A New Way of Life" and hosted by Minister Ava Muhammad, southern regional representative of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Min. Ray answered questions from metro Atlanta listeners on the process of atonement, listened to reflections on Million Man March progress and hopes for the Million Family March.

Student minister Asika Muhammad and Wendell Muhammad, southern region protocol director, visited Salem Middle School at the invitation of Principal Horace Dunston and Sister Connie Muhammad, who has two children at the school.

Min. Asika walked the attentive students through atonement by using examples they could relate to. "What happens when you don�t acknowledge the wrong pointed out?" he asked. An eighth grader responded, "The problem gets bigger and bigger." Min. Asika explained that even after apologizing there has to be something more to repair the damage to the relationship.

The highlight of the program was enthusiastic repetition of the 1997 Rapper�s Pledge to unity, peace and progress, made by the students.

In Houston, the Local Organizing Committee of the Million Man March began the Oct. 16 Holy Day of Atonement celebration by gathering at Muhammad Mosque No. 45 for prayer and atonement sessions. Local rappers and former gang members, who were invited to the mosque by Southwest Regional Minister Robert Muhammad, came to settle differences and pledged to work harder for unity and to better the community.

The Houston chapter of the National Black United Front journeyed to a nearby beach to pay homage to ancestors and their commitment to progress and liberation. "It was like a spiritual cleansing for the soul. The water, the sand, and the history lesson told of the slave ancestors in Texas was an enlightening experience," said Natalie McMillan. Helen Muhammad, southwest regional protocol director, led a delegation of Muslims who participated in the ceremony.

Several hundred public school students from the city�s south and west sides of Chicago joined Muhammad University of Islam students Oct. 13 to remember the historic march when "two million Black men stood shoulder with tears flowing down their cheeks because they were united as one family for the first time," said Min. Ishmael Muhammad.

"Black men went not to protest government or beg white people to do for us what we could do for ourselves," Min. Ishmael told students from Corliss, DuSable, Dunbar, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Marshall, Phillips, Roberson, and South Shore High Schools during the event at DuSable Museum of African American History. "We went to give the world a vastly different picture of Black men."

The event, "Atonement, Reconciliation & Responsibility: Remembering the Million Man March 4 Years Later," was sponsored by the Greater Chicago Local Organizing Committee (LOC). Its goal was to encourage young people to accept their responsibility to develop ways to destroy artificial barriers based on schools, street organizations and neighborhood affiliations.

The students watched a special videotape with highlights from the Million Man March and the past three march anniversaries. The youths also listened to brief talks by Mother Tynnetta Muhammad, Million Man March organizer and activist Eddie Reed, and Dr. John West, executive administrator to Chicago Public School CEO Paul Vallas.

"The Million Man March was a turning point for the history of America and leads to our exodus out of a slavemaster mentality," said Mother Tynnetta Muhammad. As a gift, the wife of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad provided public school administrators with a book she researched and authored with a team of women who supported the march.

"(This event) was wonderful," said Dr. West. "We need more of these types of meetings to dialogue and share differences. The whole city will be better, and it will end the myths about Min. Farrakhan. Private and public schools have to make the city a better place."

"Students from all over the city came together sitting very disciplined," Dr. West noted. "Everyone was mannerable which proves that when we have something to offer, they gravitate to it. There was a twinkle in their eyes and mine. Great leaders such as Min. Ishmael and (Mother) Tynnetta; Muslims and public schools working together in partnerships because we want the best for our children."

"I loved (this event)," said Jamil Marshall, a senior at Paul Roberson High School. "The Million Man March gave different types of Black people an opportunity to come together as a whole. That�s good, and I plan to be at the Million Family March."

Mothers focus on atonement

A special program, sponsored by the Council of Mothers, was held Oct. 16, at Washington Park near Chicago�s DuSable Museum. The focus of the gathering was the need for women to understand the important role they play in the atonement process.

"It is so important that Black women participate in this movement. The march brought all mothers together and reminded us what our role and responsibility is as mothers of our own children and mothers of an entire nation. There is a great need and desire for women who take this movement seriously to enlighten other sisters of our role in society," said Felicia Muhammad, a 31-year-old chemistry teacher and mother of one, who traveled from Ohio to attend the Mothers Millennium March.

"I understand the concepts and principles of atonement and when I come in contact with those that are not living up to that standard, I will make sure to help educate them. As Black women, we need to atone. Our children are wayward and they�re wayward for a reason. If we are the teachers, then we are teaching them to be wayward. If we have wayward children, we are wayward mothers. We are so caught up in our own personal problems, that we have forgotten about our children," she said.

Vera Prairie, a 41-year-old mother of four, was encouraged by a family member to attend the gathering. "I feel that I�ve been a good mother, but as a result of the march, I have realized that there are some areas in my life that I will work on. God is the center of my life, and I must pass that sense of God and family on to my children and grandchildren," she said.

The Council of Mothers has begun to mobilize families to take part in the Million Family March.

What started out as eight bus loads of men on their way to the Million Man March, quickly turned to 10. Men who were members of the Park Manor Christian Church in Chicago were pleased to be joined by other men in the community. On the way home from the March, the men planned their first meeting to help change their community. They met the very next week after the march and have met every other week since.

Now, approximately 20 men, one has passed away, have continued to recommit themselves by atoning, becoming more responsible and reconciling with their immediate families.

They are involved with 20 local schools, have provided food and clothing to homeless families, have their own prison ministry, have become advocates in the juvenile court system, monitoring court trials and speaking out on how cases involving young Black men are being handled. The men have also provided scholarships, participated in voter registration and education, and made financial contributions to those who need emergency financial support.

The first two years after the march, the group held three-day celebrations. Group members and others shared their thoughts about the march during an Oct. 16 program.

"The consistency and the commitment to actually do what we vowed to do, causes us to gather strength from within. There were days that we didn�t feel like going to a particular meeting, but when you get there, you find that the spirit of the Million Man March is still alive, and that rejuvenates your own spirit. By gathering with these men twice a month, it continues to refurbish and replenish things that were taken away through every day life, said Carl McDonald, 46, a construction project manager who was recently inducted into the Chicago Public League High School Hall of Fame.

Sherman Randle, 66, the group�s chairman, told The Final Call that before attending the actual Million Man March and becoming involved afterwards, he spent his free time gambling and in local taverns.

"I am proud to tell how the Million Man March has enriched my life. My gratitude to God and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan is tremendous. Now, my goal is to encourage people to live better lives," Mr. Randle said.

Marc "FX" Hart, a 29-year-old writer and videographer, said the march encouraged him to him to reconcile with Black women. "We have violated the woman, and now we must began to heal the wounds. Once we atone, that will set a foundation for proper familyhood," he said.

Fernwood United Methodist Church and its pastor, the Rev. Al Sampson, worked hard to get men to the Million Man March. Four years later, many of these same men have met on a regular basis and have become active in their community.

The Million Man March Metropolitan Area Planning Corporation (MAPCO), a non-profit organization, was formed after the march and publishes The Black Express News, which comes out during election season to provide information about candidates and issues important to Blacks. MAPCO has also supported several high profile cases of abuse of Black men and with the help of lawyers, worked on two pieces of legislation. In coordination with State Representative Connie Howard and the African American Family Commission they are sponsoring "Operation Clean Slate," a bill to help both men and women get their records expunged.

The group has also proposed "The African-American Child Welfare Act." "The legislation says that the minute a Black baby is born, the mother should have full rights. A similar law has been passed for children of Native American descent and a similar decree for Hispanic children. Black women should have the same right," said Rev. Sampson. The group also helps support Black farmers in Illinois and has joined demonstrations against police brutality.