As the nation winds down its commemoration of landmark civil rights events from 1963, the Mayor of Tuskegee is working to set a forward-looking agenda that includes family values, healthcare, voting rights, sustainable economics, and education for African Americans and all citizens.
The push for this agenda begins this weekend to coincides with the Nation of Islam’s Day of Atonement and the celebration of the Million Man March’s 18th Anniversary. NOI leader Minister Louis Farrakhan is the featured speaker.
“We have just commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the Birmingham Movement, of the March on Washington for Jobs and Justice, of the bombing deaths of the four girls and the deaths of the two boys in Birmingham. But we’re here to say the struggle is not over,” says Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford.
“I see this important meeting this weekend as another step in our journey for justice, jobs and equality in America,” he says, as a continuation of the process that started at the height of the modern American Civil Rights Movement 50 years ago. “So we’re just delighted that the Minister and the Nation are coming here, and I welcome them with open arms.”
Ford says the weekend event is not “against white people” nor is it for men only. Rather, it’s a meeting of black people and any people who want to promote equality for all citizens regardless of race.
“This is about atonement, reconciliation and a re-dedication to the positive ideals of the Civil Rights Movement, especially as it relates to healthcare rights, now that the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA) is the law of the land,” he says. “And we want our men, in particular, to take advantage of it. Too many black men die too soon, leaving their families unprotected and uncared for.”
Ford is a co-founding member of the National Policy Alliance, formed in 1979 and comprised of key membership organizations representing black elected and appointed officials at every level of government to provide a forum and policy action arm on issues of critical interest in the black community. Among those issues are job creation, environmental concerns and equitable access to quality health care. The NPA’s national groups set policy priorities a and meet with senior White House officials, including two recent face-to-face meetings with President Obama.
“We committed to help the President sign up seven million people for ACA in its first cycle. Our goal is to encourage every American to take advantage of it. That’s what we’ll do this weekend,” Ford says.
Other topics that Ford said are high on the agenda this weekend include stopping black-on-black crime and the drugs in our community. The agenda also includes family values. “We want to teach our men to respect our black women, to encourage our children to stay in school and get a good education, to pool and save our money to build businesses and support them, to fight for voting rights,” he says “These are the kinds of issues that we want to address this weekend.”
The themes reflect the tone and spirit of the original Million Man March on Oct. 16, 1995, at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The original organizers sought to bring about a spiritual renewal that would instill a sense of personal responsibility in African American men to improve conditions for themselves, their families and communities.
Min. Farrakhan, the keynote speaker at the Million Man March 18 years ago, will deliver a keynote address this weekend to talk about building economic strength in the African American community through land ownership and business development.
As part of the event, the Nation of Islam is also hosting one-day conferences for college students and for black farmer’s conference.
Min. Farrakhan, with Ford — who is the CEO of the World Conference of Mayors and the co-founder of the National Policy Alliance — have also called national and state leaders together for a summit this weekend to address voting rights and the other issues facing the African American community.
“We cannot be discouraged because the Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act, and now Alabama has instituted a voter ID law, ” Ford says. “There is still a momentum afoot to limit our people in terms of our voting rights, our dollars and our minds. So I invite not only the Nation of Islam, but the public to join us in our efforts.”
Ford said he hopes that the momentum created at this week’s commemorative events with the Nation of Islam is that there will be another Million Man March in Washington, D.C. next year to send a message during the election season.
He said immigrants and gay rights advocates have used a style of nonviolent protest perfected by African Americans 50 years to successfully lobby for rights of interest to their constituent groups. Blacks need to return to their own model to fight for rights they thought they had already won.
“We need to band together and march to let people know that we’re not going to let a faction in our nation take away our voting rights and our healthcare rights,” Ford said. “The meeting this weekend is to fire people up and to let them know that we’re not giving up.”
