Volume 134 No. 11
THE BLACK MEDIA AUTHORITY • AFRO.COM
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OCTOBER 11, 2025 - OCTOBER 17, 2025
All AFRO Photos / J.D. Howard
This week, the AFRO commemorates the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Million Man March, the historic event orchestrated by the Minister Louis Farrakhan and a host of other community organizations focused on improving the plight of Black men and women. The AFRO was present three decades ago, with images coming from the late J.D. Howard, and will document anniversary events taking place this October.
30 years later, Million Man March spirit lives on in local gatherings By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO
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Thirty years ago one of the largest assemblies of Black men ever recorded in the country came together in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 16. Gathered on the National Mall, more than a million Black men urged Congress to address their needs and debunk long-held stereotypes about African-American men. The march was
a call for Black men to bind together and petition the government to address unemployment, incarceration rates and other ills impacting their community. The event, known as the Million Man March, was conceived by Minister Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam, and held in conjunction with the National African American Leadership Summit. The march was an outgrowth of the “Men Only” meetings held during Farrakhan’s national “Stop the Killing”
tour in 1994, according to information found in the Final Call, the official newspaper of the Nation of Islam. Also included were leading civil rights organizations of the day and grassroots groups based in America, Africa and the Caribbean, all serving in essential roles. America has undergone a paradigm shift since that October day, with a current administration bent on reversing many of the victories achieved during the Civil Rights Movement. The anniversary of the Million
Man March comes at a time where national leaders are gaining ground in their efforts to return American society to the “good ole days” when White supremacy and Jim Crow served as the status quo. Organizers for this year’s historic march have therefore chosen not to return to D.C., but instead to hold events in cities across the country which have significant Black populations. Continued on A3
Despite security worries, Alfred Street Baptist keeps standing for truth By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Word in Black The Rev. Howard-John Wesley is no stranger to speaking hard truths from the pulpit. His Sept. 14 sermon at Alfred Street Baptist Church—one of the nation’s oldest historically Black congregations—placed him and his church at the center of controversy. But his congregation at the Alexandria, Virginia-based church, has his back. The tension of the week and the possibility of protests were the result of Wesley’s sermon, “Lead Me to the Rock,” which focused on the overabundance of injustices against Black people in this country and how the weight of it all leaves him overwhelmed. Wesley masterfully handled the scripture text, Psalm 61:2, interwoven with one of the hottest news topics of the times, the killing of Charlie Kirk, hailed by President Trump as “our greatest evangelist for American liberty.” Wesley told the congregation that Kirk did not deserve to be killed. “But I’m
overwhelmed seeing the flags of the United States of America at half staff, calling this nation to honor and venerate a man who was an unapologetic racist and spent all of his life sowing seeds of division and hate into this land,” he said. And then came the threats from Kirk’s supporters.
“I Love You, Pastor”
A week later, though, the congregation stood to its feet with resounding applause in appreciation for the previous Sunday’s sermon by Wesley, widely regarded as one of the greatest communicators of this age. It was at the point in the service when he introduced the preacher of the morning, and admitted, without going into great detail, how the activity of the week had worn him out, without going into great detail. The congregation applauded him for some time, amid shouts of “I love you, Pastor.” The church notified people that protestors were expected near or around the church campus, but that the church’s regular activities would not be disrupted. The church also “received information about a possible
Meta (Facebook)/ Alfred Street Baptist Church
Rev. Howard-John Wesley’s words echo beyond the sanctuary, reinforcing his reputation as one of the nation’s most powerful prophetic voices. Alfred Street Baptist, a 200-yearold congregation, once again finds itself at the intersection of faith and social justice. vigil” from Kirk supporters taking place during the week. “We will continue to monitor the situation and provide any necessary updates as we get closer to the date. Your safety and worship experience remain our highest priority. Our security and hospitality teams are prepared and will be on site to ensure a smooth and peaceful day,” a notice to
congregants read. This isn’t the first time Alfred Street Baptist has been a target of hate. In 2021, a Texas man was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for making a bomb threat to the church. The tension underscored just how much weight Wesley’s pulpit carries. For 17 years, he has led
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Alfred Street, a 200-year-old congregation with national reach. His sermons have often spoken to moments of crisis — from “When the Verdict Hurts” after Trayvon Martin’s killing to “A Rizpah Response” and “Tell Your Own Story,” now preserved at the National Museum of African Continued on A6