There is only one word to describe my reaction to the Millions More Movement: uninspiring. I really wanted to enjoy myself today, but the entire event just left a bad taste in my mouth.

The second I walked into the vendor section and heard G-Unit’s “Wanna Get To Know You” blasting, something told me that I was going to leave disappointed.

I applaud the efforts of Minister Farrakhan and all those who worked to organize this event. I’m sure each had the best intentions at heart. Having said that, I can’t help but note how the event lacked a clear central theme to coincide with the festivities. If someone were to ask me what core issue brought us all together, I would not have the slightest idea of what to tell them. Were we all here to take a stand against the racism that still pervades our society or was the point of the march to call for the troops serving in Iraq to return home? Is this truly an interfaith effort or did we all really just allocate a representative of each sect equal time to compete for perspective members? Is fighting obesity the focus of the event or should we pay more attention to the wage gap? The event, more or less seemed like a melting pot of various issues for several speakers to discuss or in some cases rant incoherently about.

Yes, our community suffers greatly from a number of issues; but, can people really make sense of that many issues in a short period of time? Should there not be some core theme that ties it all together, while still allowing people to touch on other areas plaguing our community? It seems as though everyone had their own agenda, which is one of our main problems now: The notion people hold as to how I can prosper versus developing ways we can grow.

What’s more, I was really annoyed that at every single turn someone was trying to sell something to me. No, I’m not knocking another person’s hustle, but in some instances, it was out of line. I don’t need a mixtape, sir. No, ma’am, I’ll get that cream at CVS, but thanks anyway. For a minute, I could have sworn I was walking through Canal on the weekend and Fulton on any given weekday.

As a young adult, I also felt a bit disconnected with much of the ideology being presented. Black Nationalist views of the 1970s are trite and simply do not work in the new century. If one honestly believes that shouting, “Black Power” is the ticket to our people’s salvation, perhaps they ought to go back and read the history book they’re calling on me to open. It only went so far then and it certainly won’t take us far now.

By that same token, while I’m sure this is an unpopular opinion, those of the Civil Rights Generation who believe they only way to reach young people is through hip hop artists really ought to sit down, take a breather, and come up with something better.

Jim Jones on stage spitting about opium does not motivate me to do anything. It’s almost insulting. Are expectations of us that low?

As much as I love hip hop, in an industry where even so-called “conscious rap” is now a commodity, how much can it really do to encourage political involvement among the youth in this country? At this point hip hop is strong in terms of buying power, but even richer in apathy.
As for my fellow Howard students, I regret not making it in time to march with them to the mall. Then again, after hearing that many shouted various football chants a long the way, I would have been sure to hop on the metro and ditch them. Please “Do it…do it…do it” some other time, people.

I’m worried if anything was truly accomplished today. Concerned over where my race will be in the next ten years. Fearful of who will take charge once many of the current “leaders” pass on.

I think my friend said it best, “We’re fucked.”