October 16th will mark the 31st anniversary of the Historic Million Man March/ Holy Day of Atonement. Nearly two million Black men answered the divine call of God through The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, the National Representative of The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. On October 16, 1995, the sea of peaceful Black men stood in unity on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. under the theme of Atonement, Reconciliation and Responsibility.

“No nation has assembled this number of men to make Atonement to God, to others we may have offended, to reconcile differences in our families, differences in our communities and to accept responsibility for our actions that have sown division, hurt and pain among us,” wrote Minister Farrakhan in an October 2020 column. October 16th is a Holy Day, not a holiday. It is a Day of Absence from work, school, sport and play. It is a day to be spent in prayer, fasting and practicing the 8 Steps of Atonement presented by Minister Farrakhan during the Million Man March address, which we all would be wise to go online and watch it in its entirety.

Men at the Million Man March took a pledge to be better men, better husbands, better fathers, and better community and global builders and businessmen. Men pledged to be better respecters and protectors of their women and children. Men pledged to love their brother as they love themselves and to be non-violent with one another, except in self-defense and pledged to support Black-owned media and Black artists who clean up their act.

Now thirty-one years later, the message, principles and pledge of the Million Man March are even more relevant and needed. The observance of the 31st anniversary will be hosted on October 10-11th at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The theme is “We Must Make Our Community A Decent And Safe Place To Live.” Learn more at NOI.org/HDOA2026. All of us have a role to play in making OUR community a decent and safe place to live.

Let us unite. (Brother Qiyam is a member of The Nation of Islam under the leadership of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. He attends Muhammad Mosque No. 45 in Houston, Texas)