by Nisa Islam Muhammad
Staff Writer

WASHINGTON, D.C.�National leaders came from around the country with hyped spirits to begin the countdown to the largest gathering of people in recorded American history, the Million Family March.

With less than two months until October 16, the fifth anniversary of the Million Man March, plans were revealed for dawn-to-dusk activities that will set a precedent for the millennium.

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan hosted guests from nearly every walk of life, from academicians to clergy to fraternal organizations to businessmen to politicians to the Local Organizing Committee Chairpersons and presented his vision for the Million Family March.

"What is the vision?" he asked the audience rhetorically. "I�m not interested in marching for the sake of marching. I want to march for the sake of mobilizing the Black family. The Black family needs reconstruction.

"We must mobilize our people for specific action to bring about change. The Million Family March gives us an opportunity to mobilize like never before. We have to focus on the total liberation of people here and in Africa."

Many came to the meeting, some committed and some eager to learn more but after the Minister�s brief but moving explanation all were in overwhelming agreement to the need for a Million Family March.

The Minister explained the necessity to reform the family as a basis for reforming society and the world. He discussed the many skills and talents that are developed with higher education but remarked about the woeful absence of any education on marriage or parenting.

"We need to produce a textbook on courtship, marriage, rearing children and producing successful families," said the Minister.

He plans to accomplish this by having a week long symposium at Howard University to discuss the various aspects of family life. Scholars will be asked to present papers on their research.

"I would like to see workshops for parents. We need to take our kids back from the streets," said Dr. Nancy Boyd Franklin, researcher, scholar and author of the book "Raising Boys to Men."

The audience of more than 100 people marveled at the technical presentation by the staff of National Events, the production company that did the Million Man March. They explained the layout of the march from the Capitol Building all the way to the Ellipse.

The Mall will consist of three stages of activity with large Jumbotron screens to let everyone see everything that happens. There will also be a site on the mall for children�s activities, the Million Family Village area, an exhibit site, and vending all along the Mall.

"From the main stage at the Capitol all the way to the Ellipse everything will be family friendly," explained Min. Benjamin Muhammad, national director for the Million Family March. "The program will be attractive and attentive to the whole family. We want parents to bring their children to the children�s area but not leave them. This won�t be a massive day care area. We want family participation."

This year the vending spaces will increase from 1,000 booths in 1995 to 2,500. Lost and found stations will be plentiful and Dr. Abdul Alim Muhammad, Nation of Islam minister of health, will once again coordinate the medical services.

The march will be simultaneously translated into various languages so, as Minister Farrakhan said, "As we reach the world through satellite feed, we really reach the world."

The Minister has asked each family to come with a sign and symbol to represent the diversity of the family.

"Each stage will reflect the symbols that mean something to us. Each family will come under their symbol. This will show that we can transcend our symbols. No cross is greater than the Christian," he explained. "We will become a national family, still love our symbols but never let our symbols divide our family."

The Saturday before the march will showcase "A Celebration of Family Gala." Tickets range from $100 to $500 and the event will be held at the Marriott Wardman Hotel Grand Ballroom.

The meeting gave the participants an inkling of the wonderful activities planned for the Million Family March from the Sacred Marriage Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial where Minister Farrakhan will marry 10,000 new couples and renew the vows of countless, to the health testing to the extravagant cultural presentation of arts and entertainment.

The audience was wowed by all it heard and pledged to return to their homes and organize like never before to bring busloads, carloads and planeloads to Washington, D.C., for the Million Family March.

Min. Farrakhan briefly interrupted the meeting to hold an impromptu meeting with 5,000 members of the National Black Data Processing Associates, who also were meeting at the hotel. Min. Farrakhan introduced them to page 81 of the Million Family March National Agenda, which focuses on computer literacy. He invited the members to become active participants in the MFM.

"Thank you for inviting me," said Herbert Stanley, executive director of the National Association of Black Catholics. We usually don�t get invited to these things. I plan to make a major entry to our website and have as many Black Catholics here as possible."

"It is our job to make sure that your vision becomes a reality," Miles Clark, director of National Events said to the Minister.

"I�m honored and pleased to do voter registration for the Million Family March," said Dr. Marvin Cheatham, national director of Social Action for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, whose national headquarters was the national headquarters of the Million Man March and now houses the Million Family March.

Min. Farrakhan closed the meeting with these words: "I can see the future is bright up to the march and beyond the march. I see the development of organizations and systems that will work for the good of the whole.

"The cries of the people call for a change in their lives. Everything we do is bigger than we are," he said.

For more information, to volunteer, donate time or money and to just get involved call 202-291-1119 or visit the website at www.millionfamilymarch.com or continue to read The Final Call. For travel arrangements, please call 1-877-880-3200.