Even though we focus on prominent women in many roles, we do see some aspects of African-American women common to most, if not all. Dr. Ruth W. Hayre was a very prominent educator who was the first African-American District Superintendent in Philadelphia. Dr. Ruth Simmons is the first African-American woman to become president of one of the sister colleges, Smith College. Then we present Ms. Oseola McCarty, a very proud 86 year-old woman who finished the 6th grade, but who has inspired millions. All are, or have been, nurturers, people focused on the education of African Americans. When you read about them, focus on what they have in common, and you will see that each is herself a million woman. Notice that Dr. Ruth Simmons, herself a Fulbright scholar, ends her article in this issue writing about her mother, who inspired her to excel. Ms. McCarty, should you visit her, will tell you about her mother. See if these women aren't doing for millions of African Americans what their mothers did for them. So we present the Million Woman March as the beginning of a new focus for us, and we hope for you. 

At the heart of any grassroots movement, whether it be China or Africa, students have a serious role to play, if it is to be a success, observed Million Woman March organizer Phile Chionesu. On October 25, 1997, in Philadelphia on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as over a million women gathered for a day of repentance, resurrection and restoration, Black students from across the country and the world were on hand in mass to participate in the largest gathering of women ever. They came from historically Black universities, and majority white colleges as well. Gins McCauley who attends the University of Oklahoma and traveled with thirty-two fellow students for the event asserted. I came to be a part of something great and something awesome.  

Great and awesome it was that March organizers were able to pull the event off at all. Phile Chionesu and Asia Coney, two steadfast community organizers who were responsible for planning the event just months ago, only had a vision supported by faith. As the proverbial phoenix bird who rose from the ashes they cut a swath through the city bureaucratic red tape while their vision became infectious. It fired like lightning, igniting the imagination and spirit of Black women nationwide. Working off a shoe string budget the two social activists wrote themselves into the history books. The day began at 6:00 am with a pouring rain, but the marchers began with prayer service at Penn's Landing attended by several hundred women. An hour later at the Liberty Bell, the crowd swelled to approximately 10,000 and the March was on. 

The cold rain proved to be no deterrent as the women headed west up Market Street to City Hall chanting to the beat of many drummers who led the procession. The large contingent of college students was evident as they proudly carried signs identifying there school.  Many also wore the colors of Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and Zeta Phi Beta sororities. 

I think the fact that we are all here together in spite of the conditions says it all, reasoned Marlene Shafif from the University of Massachusetts, as she marched in step with her sisters. A distinct voice in the crowd could be heard to say, This ain't rain; these are the tears of our ancestors.  

As the marched reached its destination on the Parkway, a huge crowd gathered in front of the main stage and the day's program at Eakins Oval, where slaves were once sold, began in earnest. 

By 10:00am the rain ended and the Parkway was a Nile river of Black faces. Under cloudy skies, women of every religion, class, aspiration and hue, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, grandmothers, aunts and sisters became one. It seemed as if time stood still and life reversed as we once exemplified it bringing the March mission statement to life: Great Grandmother taught Grandmother, Grandmother taught Mother, Mother taught me and I will teach You. 

Keeping to a tight schedule, that included national and international speakers, the event opened with prayer. March coordinators Chionesu and Coney challenged the women with their opening remarks. Coney asked three things of the crowd: speak to your sisters on the street, declare war on abandoned properties by demanding that they either be boarded up or torn down and nurture your children. Ms. Chionesu urged the women to embrace their divine nature and seek unity. We will not be divided, We should be divine, she said. 

South African leader Winnie Mandela, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif) and Nation of Islam Minister and Attorney Ava Muhammad were the main speakers. 

Mother Kbadijah Farrakhan, First Lady of the Nation of Islam and Mother Tynnetta Muhammad, wife of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad spoke. Actress Jada Pinkett; rapper-activist Sister Souljah; National Council of Negro Women President Dorothy Height; Rep. John Conyers: and activist Ramona Africa were also on the program. 

We are only one part of the solution, said Mother Khadijah, wife of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, as she took the microphone. We must focus on women, but we must not lose sight of the fact that we must raise a nation, we must strive to be whole, she said. Mother Khadijah was warmly received by the audience as she offered greetings from her husband and reminded the massive crowd that a nation can rise no higher than its women. 

Minister Ava electrified the audience with her speech. Without the Million Man March and its author Minister Farrakhan, there never could have been a Million Woman March she noted. 

Women are the source and measure of life. We are the problem and the solution. Black women do not only carry babies, we carry vision. Minister Ava said. The only thing worse than a dope fiend is a hope fiend, Black women must be more focused on liberation, she said. 

Rep. Waters, noted for her call to investigate the CIA for alleged ties to the crack cocaine epidemic in the Black community, shared how some told her not to attend the March. But Ms. Waters said she had to come. Go back to your cities and fight racism, and marginalization, she admonished. We know who we are and we understand our collective power.  

As the crowd shouted Winnie! Winnie! Winnie! Ms. Mandela spoke. You are the daughters of two continents, Africa and America. I embrace you, I celebrate you. You do not stand alone, she said. Comparing South Africa apartheid and American slavery, Ms. Mandela said, I was as enslaved as you because I was banished within my own land. Our Story, like yours, is one of survival, she said. 

If the first woman God created was able to turn the world upside down now we can turn it right side up again said the popular leader, who shouted Amandla! the South African freedom struggles slogan demanding power. 

March organizers presented a twelve point platform that included supporting Rep. Water's efforts to investigate the CIA-crack connection, creating more support programs for women behind bars and coming home, working for independent schools, working with youth and elders, creating more health facilities and examining human rights violations that Blacks have suffered. 

For the students who attended the March the reasons were as diverse as their individual experiences. Howard University brought five bus loads of students, including a group from the law school. The contingent of students from Oklahoma cited a break down in the Black community on campus and hoped the March would infuse a new spirit. For Kerry-Ann Elliot, a senior at Albany State University and one of 44 members of the Black Alliance, sisterhood, peace and unity were the reasons she came. We want to take it back to the campus and start the healing, she said. 

I'm supposed to be here. This is a March for Women of color, for all women of color. It doesn't matter if you are Black, Asian, whatever. This is for us, intoned Dolly Fernandes, a graduate student from Cape Verde, an island nation off the West Africa Coast. 

Perhaps Joy Belle, a sophomore from Albany State University, captured the essence and history of the moment when she stated, Every generation has a movement, its march. This is ours.