By request of Cherryanne Weinstein the 1997 Million Women March piece was created within one hour..

Thanks to CSEA this August 24, 2013, my daughter Zoe and I attended the 50th Anniversary March of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr's 1963 March on Washington, D.C.. Those who rode on the bus with us were provided a copy of both the "1997 MILLION WOMEN MARCH" and "Defender or Enemy." For me this was very special. As a child my mother allowed me to participate in the Bus Boycott of the 1950's and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's (March from Selma, AL to my home Montgomery, AL). Laura Nixon (mom) was brave and housed three Freedom Riders from the North (Bonny, Larry and Jerry). For all of this I am grateful, because my daughter experienced a part of what I experienced 50 years prior. All people need to understand that yesterday has come front and center with today, as we watch our children being killed and the rights we fought so hard for being dismissed by those who are yet stuck in the past. Denial is not just a River referred to in Egypt, but is thriving in America, that the ills of yesterday may be repeated if we as watchers fall asleep at the helm. We all need to stop fighting one the other and realize that the enemy of old is yet alive amd pulling strings that are a true threat to our democracy. Yes, 50 years later I am yet trying to help Caucasians feel that I am no threat to them, that I may feed my children. If I step over their line of comfort, I am quickly reminded by a painful action that I am not allowed to question or challenge them.

1997 MILLION WOMEN MARCH

IN HONOR OF THEIR PRIDE

Today I pause to pay tribute to one of the greatest wonders of this world. This wonder has rocked many cradles, saved many lives, bore many sorrows and soothed many hearts. This wonder whisper with the strength of the wind, “You can make it”. With loving hands, this wonder continues to pull to safety those that are forgotten, weakened and lost. Late at night when cold whispers through the house, this figure rise to provide heat for those that sleep. Cold feet and shivering teeth do not stop these hands from covering little ones. With love, heads are covered with hats and scarves and hands with socks or gloves. Hot cereal or syrup and biscuits are prepared for breakfast. Sometimes only water and bread. This wonder arises early to see that all is well and is last to bed at night. This great wonder is woman. She bore the lash of slave masters and endured unmentionable sorrows, yet her strength remained. She scrubbed floors on her hands and knees, nursed babies at her breast and brought leftovers home from the master’s house that we may live. Today she yet stands strong in spite of being last hired, first fired and looked down upon by many that fail to appreciate who she really is. She is not only Harriet Tubman, Mary McCloud Bethune and Una Clark; she is our grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, daughters, nieces and granddaughters. She is the scrubwoman, baby-sitter, mother on welfare and hard working family woman. She is my sisters, strong supporters and yes “YOU”. May your strength, wisdom and faith continue to help guide us and may this journey lead you all to a higher plane of fulfillment. Cr. Ms. Alice B. Nixon-Barr, 1997, Alicebbarr.com. This labor of love is not to be duplicated in any form, placed in a retrieval system or performed by anyone, without the written permission of the above-named author.

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