Black Unity: No drama. No fights. No riots. No looting. No coverage. #MillionManMarch #JusticeOrElse #DC pic.twitter.com/0fX0q9xFlB
— D (@Delo_Taylor) October 10, 2015
Crowds at the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March in Washington DC yesterday chanted Kendrick Lamar‘s track Alright as they marched for racial justice and equality. The song’s chorus was previously sung during the summer when a crowd was pepper-sprayed by police outside of a Black Lives Matter conference in Cleveland. Crowds can also be heard singing, “Say it loud! I’m black and I’m proud!,” by James Brown and “Say her name! Sandra Bland“.
Police violence in America was one of the main themes of the march, and as a topic that has featured heavily in hip hop tracks and video, it was fitting that so many famous names joined the march, including Ty Dolla $ign, J. Cole, Dave Chappelle, Puff Daddy, Yaz, Common, Jay Electronica and Jeezy, who released a new EP, titled Politically Correct, to commemorate the 1995 march.
We have to let the government know we’ve had enough. We’re prepared for the ‘OR ELSE’ part! #JusticeOrElse pic.twitter.com/sgakDnB5uo
— MINISTER FARRAKHAN (@LouisFarrakhan) July 25, 2015
The anniversary march was organised by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who gave a two hour speech touching on a wide range of topics including the Black Lives Matter movement, the assassination of Malcolm X and women’s rights, about which he told attendees, “Don’t you ever call your woman a bitch”. Many who attended have posted their own images of the event on social media, protesting the lack of coverage the march has had in the mainstream media.