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Over 300,000 African American women from all parts of the country met in Philadelphia and held the first Million Woman March on October 25, 1997. The purpose of the demonstration was to strengthen the bond between African American women from all elements of society and to bring about positive change. The women came to show solidarity and to address various issues confronting them, such as women in prison, independent schools for African Americans, hiring practices for African American women, crime, teen pregnancy, and the need to increase the number of black women in business and politics. Some were concerned that there were issues that many women’s groups ignore, such as human rights abuses against blacks; they were also worried about what they felt was CIA involvement in the crack trade in black communities.

The event was modeled after the Million Man March held in 1995; women from all walks of life organized it. The daylong activities addressed the theme “Repentance, Resurrection, and Restoration” and began at the Liberty Bell with a prayer service; inspirational speeches and music followed. Some women had staked out their positions by 5:00 A.M. Speaking at the occasion were Congresswoman Maxine Waters; Winnie Mandela, former wife of South African activist Nelson Mandela; and rapper Sister Soulja. During the breaks, the marchers chanted several phrases or messages, such as “MWM, MWM,” for “Million Woman March.” March cofounder and grass-roots activist and local entrepreneur Phile Chionesu told the crowd, “We are taking back our neighborhoods.” Chionesu, a retired Chicago police officer, and Cheryl Thomas-Porter wanted the march to counteract the negative images of African American women so prominent in the media and popular culture. They called black women the epitome of strength in America and said that they “want to prepare our women, no matter what their status in life, to look at how we can begin to invest as black women and how we can begin to vote in blocs as black women.”

Asia Coney, the first to recognize the need for a march, was cofounder of the event with Chionesu. She said in “Million Woman March Seen as Step Toward Unity” that, from the beginning of life for black women in this country, “We’ve taken care of white women, white men, white children … our own men, our own children. And now it’s time that we take care of ourselves.” The march ended at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Estimates are that 2. 1 million people lined the march route along Benjamin Franklin Parkway by early afternoon, and law enforcement officers estimate that the crowd ranged in size from 300,000 to 1 million. The march officials estimated 2. 5 million people participated in the various activities and generated about $25 million in business for Philadelphia over a three-day period. The belief was that the march demonstrated the “capability and brilliance of African-centered self-determination and creativity.”

On October 26 through 28, 2007, the Million Woman March Organization sponsored a reunion to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Million Woman March. Called “From March to Movement: The Resurrection,” this celebration was also held in Philadelphia.

Jessie Carney Smith