I attended the Million Youth March (held here in Harlem, New York this past September) with a great deal of misgivings. The march's head organizer was Khallid Abdul Muhammad. I had previously heard some of Mr. K. Muhammad's lectures and other public talks. After listening to each of his speeches or interviews I was generally left disgruntled. Mr. K. Muhammad often makes statements that sound to me like; 'We have suffered more than anyone else on the face of the earth. We have the right to do harm to anyone who is not down with our cause. All whites are devils. All Jews are your enemies. Blacks who do not support me are Uncle Toms.'
Mr. K Muhammad's rhetoric is familiar to me. His words remind me of former South African President P. W. Botha's similar words justifying the restrictions and brutalities of Apartheid. His words remind me of former Governor of Alabama George Wallace's similar words justifying the denial of black students entry into a school with white students. His words remind me of Papa Doc and Baby Doc's similar words justifying the atrocities against their own citizens. These men's words though abhorrent to me, have inspired others to advocate their beliefs. What is urine for one is apparently water for another.
I am also reminded of writers and activists who have been killed, tortured, or incarcerated for the words they chose to use. I remember Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni in Nigeria who spoke out against the ecological destruction by Shell Oil and were executed. I remember student organizer and anti-Apartheid activist Steven Biko of South Africa who was tortured and killed in the 70's for his words which helped define the struggle against Apartheid. I remember journalist and writer Mumia Abu-Jamal targeted by the CIA (Counter Intelligence Agency) for his Black Panther affiliations and investigative writings, who has been languishing on death row for over 15 years. Mumias' words are still considered threatening by some. So much so that a planned interview (to be broadcast from a prison phone) was recently yanked from syndication by Temple University. I remember the words of the pro-democracy students at Tianamen Square.
I told myself and some friends that I was not going to go to any event that was organized by an avowed racist, divisionist, or sexist. But there were other issues beyond my opinion of Khallids' racist taunts and separatist tactics, that were weighing more heavily upon me. Mr K. Muhammad often uses language in an attempt to incite an angry response, but that does not justify the Mayor of New York's attempts to stop or relocate this march. The Mayor trampled on the rights of people to hold public assemblies, rights of people to organize events in their community, rights of young people and all people to express their views and opinions in a public forum. I support the rights of people to speak and write their opinions in the public arena even if I do not support their beliefs.
Mr. K. Muhammad's supposed motivation for organizing this march was to give Latino and Black young people a forum to address their struggles and needs. It was their voices and their words that I had hoped to hear at this march. Unfortunately I could count on one hand the number of young people that spoke from the stage. Luckily, I with mic in hand, was able to hear those voices in interviews I conducted. Their words were insightful. Many of the young people I interviewed were not there in any way to support Mr. K. Muhammad's beliefs. Some were not even aware of his views. They were there in support of Black and Latino youth organizing themselves to confront and resolve issues in their communities and among their peers. There were also parents, grandparents, and other family members in the crowd who accompanied their young people to the march.
The American press has made much of the altercations that occurred at the end of the Million Youth March. I was glad to be there to witness the composure of the crowds as helicopters hovered low above us, with police stationed on rooftops, and us forced into corral-like lanes which encumbered movement. We were blocked from entering or leaving by police and metal barriers. We were surrounded by police who were riot gear ready. Mr. K Muhammad's words did not incite the crowds. They were there, like me, to hear words that would give youth positive direction. Not to be props for Mr. K. Muhammad, Mayor Guiliani, or anyone but themselves and their community.
There is more to come for this article! Check it here in the next two weeks and you can hear some of the interviews I did during the Million Youth March and see photographs taken during the event by photographer Karni Dorell.
Give it a listen and a look. Let us know what you think.
