By Joe Walker
“If a million men marched and you weren’t there to see, did it really happen?”
I heard a conversation the other day that made me think of The Million Man March. A young White girl was talking to her friend about her ex. She said, “He hardly ever comes to see his kids, and the last time he came by he tried to fight me.” She said she had to call the police. She also said she was done with men, and didn’t believe “good ones” existed.
If I remember correctly, The March was a call for all Black men to take responsibility for their lives, actions, families, careers and communities. Listening to the girl speak on her ex I envisioned a bigger picture. I thought about how ones’ actions can influence the actions of others. And since there are Black people who continue to insist Whites steal countless ideas, trends and behaviors from Blacks, those ideas set by The Million Man March should have been no different, right?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched with, probably, a million Black men; and a million Black women, White men and women too. He marched with people of all races for a greater positive influence of all.
For years people as a whole have experienced problems dealing with one another. Neanderthals fought over fur and fire, ethnic groups and immigrants fought for equal social rights. At the head of these conflicts were men, males in positions to lead, influence. In the case of the young girl, her ex marched directionless into her home. He wasn’t there to take responsibility for lives, actions, family, careers or community. He was just there. His presence led to problems.
Too many men today – from our President to our teachers, parents and peers – are just there.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was there: His dream today, and his place as a role model to all men, marches on.
New Resolution #26: Talk the talk, walk the walk, and bring everybody with you.
