IT WAS the biggest all-black mobilisation in the US since the 1950s: a march which brought hundreds of thousands into activity for the first time -led by a conservative leadership unable to politically challenge that oppression. Revolutionaries in the US took a range of stances. These edited selections put forward the main views. Socialist Workers' Party THE SWP was once the fraternal section of the Fourth International in the US. In the 19%0s. it broke with Trotskism and now' aligns itself with the Cuban Communist Party. Writing in the 9 October issue of The Militant, the weekly paper reflectine the views of the SWP. Sam Manuel and Greg Rosenberg comment that "a host of capital. ist politicians along with leaders of national civil rights organisations. businessmen's groups and other middle-class organisations endorsed the October 16 march.
"Not a single demand is placed on Washagainst cop brutality, for a jobs programme, or any other measures to protect the working ,class in general, or black workers in particu. lar, from the ravages of economic denres. sion and the employers" offensive.
"The march emphasises the themes of re. inforcing faith, family and country in an effort to 'uplift" Black men.
"While the march initiators" central purpose was — and is — to build the Nation of Islam financially and politically, a raft of political groups and individuals moving to the right found cause to associate with the action." Socialist Action SOCIALIST ACTION was founded by swe members expelleo for delendins the SWP's Trotskyist continuity. It has fraternal links to the Fourth International, the worldwide socialist organisation which Socialist Outlook also supports. Writing in the October issue of Socialist Action Jim Harris explained that the march "does signify that a section of the Black community has tired of being taken for granted by the Democratic Party.
"The overwhelming majority of African Americans are working class. there is no Black component of the ruling class in America — no Black Rockefellers or Perots. Ingfact, no other sector of American society has less of a social or financial base lor the blooming of capitalism: on the contrary, any mass mobilisation of the Black community tends to trigger an anti-capitalist dynamic. this important national event. of the Black movement." Solidarity X explained many years ago.
"Socialist Action encourages its readers and all fighters for social justice to support 'Only coming events can answer the This call." question of the future role of the Nation of Islam. In the meantime, we are optimistic and remain ready to reach out in friendship and solidarity to this important component SOLIDARITY WAS founded in 1986 by a number of political currents, including organised Fourth Internationalists and some comrades outside the Trotskyist tradition. who "promote the vision of socialism from magazine Independent Politics argues in the 25 October Green Left Weekly that the march was one of the most important rallies in the history of the black struggle.
"Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of IsBlack family sentiment among black people that we have to get our act together, something Malcolm 'The majority of people who participated went beyond Farrakhan and the Nation of Is- tionary views. lam. They went to stand up. not just for black men. but gainst racism in the US. sect. Its programme includes sexist attitudes owsls wonen. see nka os Hno many anti-semitic and anti-gay statements. But Farrakhan is not the leader of the black community. it is just that ne tuis a rcat icadmoment and that's why people marched at International Socialist Organisation THE ISO IS the US wing of the Socialist Workers" Party here in Britain. In the 13 October edition of the US Socialist Worker, the editorial notes that "Support for the march soans the ideolorical soectrum from. the Rev. Jesse Jackson to Black conservatives.
"The march's message is unahashedly ness that has caused us not to be willing to taxe up our responsibilty to co tor scil rarrakhan wrote in a motivation.
"This amounts to little more than blame. wing's attack on welfare for destroying the Wte it h cortalely aue that masy - if not most - of those attending the march will not support the NOl's agenda, the event's polities still reflect Farrakhan's reac"A march that targets the people responsible for racism, today - the corporations and Cheir politicians - would be a step forward. The Million Man March represents a step
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No 93, November 11 1995. Page 8