10/25/2021
Timeline photos
#OnThisDay in 1997, over a half million African American women gathered to march on the Ben Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia for the Million Woman March, which sought to inspire African American women across the nation to work for their own improvement as well as that of their communities.
The day-long march and program of prayer, music, and inspirational speeches sought to address pressing interests for African American women, including the economic deterioration of African American communities, the importance of nurturing young children in a positive environment, finding a collective voice in politics and the civil rights movement, and strengthening Black families.
The organizers, led by grassroots Philadelphia activists Phile Chionesu and Asia Coney, took a grassroots approach, choosing to bypass organizations such as the NAACP and the Nation of Islam, both of which were influential in organizing the Million Man March in 1995. No major media, Hollywood, or TV personalities were invited. California Congresswoman Maxine Waters and South African activist and politician Winnie Madikezela-Mandela were the two main speakers to address attendees.
The mission statement of the rally on the Internet was as follows: “The Million Woman March is being implemented by Black Women who interact on grassroots and global levels. Black Women who understand the necessity of rebuilding our foundation as a people, and that we must in many respects begin at the origin (the root) upward…” #APeoplesJourney