Many Sistas from Milwaukee attended the Million Woman March. Below is the account verbatim from our own Sista Margaret Burnett of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Let's begin………..

The bus is loaded up with professionals, business-owned women, executives, entrepreneurs, multi-talented women, aged women, wise women, grand women, young women, and women to be, along with water, juices, cookies, cakes, muffins, crackers and cheese, potato chips, candy, fried chicken, and a long sub-sandwich, and excitement.

The departure was at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 23, 1997. The road that will be utilized to access the information to regain control of our families, to strengthen our communities, and build our foundational principals based upon unity and strength goes South to Illinois, tolls, East on I-80 to Indiana, tolls, then on to Ohio, tolls, south on I-76, tolls, next to Pennsylvania, tolls, then three long tunnels that are built under big mountains, tolls, and finally after fifteen and a half hours, Philadelphia, PA!!!

The Resurrection, Restoration, and Redemption……………..

It's an hour of prayer at Penn's Landing, which is an area of interest for all starting at 6:00 a.m. The African Drummers (men and women clad inside and out with their native cultures) started the processional at 7:00 a.m. The March which is about 30 blocks from the Holiday Inn - Independence Mall Hotel, through the historical sites of the Afro-American & Cultural Museum, Civil War Library and Museum, Fireman's Hall, Franklin Court, the Old City Cultural District, U.S. Mint, the Gallery, Strawbridge's (which is exclusive, but I can pay for it. Girl you know you would look good in that suit in the window J ) Pennsylvania Convention Center, City Hall, The Shops at Liberty Place, Philadelphia Visitors Center, Museum of American Art of Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, CoreStates Science Park, pass the Embassy Suites Hotels, the Four Seasons Hotel, into Benjamin Franklin Parkway which is surrounded by JFK Boulevard, the Please Touch Museum for Children, Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Everything is compact and easy to navigate, so you are never more than a few steps away from something worth shopping for. In the Center City, just think, numbered streets North-South, and named streets East-West. Most are one-ways. My smile could only widen having found out there is no sales tax on clothing here. J

The Mistress of Ceremony was Sister Burgess from Detroit, Michigan. Christine Wilson, female vocalist, sang the Black National Anthem. The founder was a Sister Phile' Chionesu followed by an official welcome from Sister Asia Coney, co-chairperson. The itinerary was more than satisfying. Not only was the day prepared with entertainment of music, flutist, poetry, Million Woman's March songs, dancing, stepper group "Royal Seeds," prayers of purpose, prayers of hope, prayers of our Ancestors, prayers of patience, prayers for strength and endurance, prayers for determination, prayers for unity, prayers for inspiration, and prayers of love, most of all prayers for our movement which is an official City of Philadelphia welcome.

Counting down from the ten platform presenters were numerous Sisters from all nations. Mistress of Ceremony was Sister Jada Pinkett, Actress/Activist; African American Women of Leadership, Dr. Dorothy Heights; Mother Tynenetta Muhammad; Sister Afeni Shakur; Mother Coretta Scott-King; and Mother Rosa Parks. Faith serenaded us with a song entitled "Emotions". Sista Souljah reminded us what PMS really means: Positive Minded Sisters and nothing less. Production is not only for small, women-owned businesses, but also for all our "Sisters of all Seasons". She shared a positive vision of networking with our communties as well as ourselves. Sister Ramona Africa was in attendance, you remember her, Mayor Goode ordered that a bomb be dropped in her community on her and her family in the early 1980's , which killed her family and friends, and destroyed a community right there in Philadelphia. After three years in prison and an out of court settlement of one million dollars, just simply put "Still We Rise". The Honorable Maxine Waters, the Congresswoman of CA; Angie and Debbie Winans, Dr. Peola Dews made the introduction of the international speaker, the official instollement of Queen Mother Winnie Mandela. Queen Mandela spoke of how to expose Truth, to find her out, to walk and talk like she is and will only be, the only one for you. The Truth.

It did not matter what the circumstances were, or is, or yet to come, it did not matter about the environment you live in, or the economic status, or the wound(s), or your survivalist status, many passageways are not revealed because pain does have privacy rights, which befits what the pros know - - If someone should try and damage your mind, body, soul, or spirit with the careless toss of words or actions, you can quickly recapture its perfection through prayer. How satisfying, therefore, to own one thing that will never betray you.

The multitudes of great grandmothers, grandmothers, mother, mothers to be, aunts, cousins, friends, women of all shades of color, shapes and sizes, heights, widths, were all on one accord this day. There was no hair to toe, then back to your outfit looks, no B words, no attitudes, no animosities, no quiet storms, no negativity, no depression/oppression, abuse, misuse, ill-treatments, injustices, no none. Even though I was caught in a four hour grid lock (no one moving forward, backwards, or sideways), there also were multitudes of children of all ages, who had their own space. I am not amazed, but ever so grateful to witness and feel love from women I didn't even know. The genuine and sincere smiles, hugs, and compassion was displayed when you could only smell and see the food, because of the massive lines. You weren't able to get food under two hours. Sisters shared with me, I ate off their plates all the different ethnic dishes. The desert was not needed, it came from their hearts.

Entertainment………..

On Friday, October 24, 1997, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Blair Underwood of "L.A. Law" and Margaret Avery of "The Color Purple" presented a short play entitled:

This world premiere play is based upon generations and generations of men who have abused and disrespected - in various ways, the very beings they should have cherished. It is for the women they have wronged, that they humbly and most genuinely and sincerely apologize to all their Queens.

"Diamond From the Darkness" and Mr. Norman Wyatt, Jr.'s artistic interpretation appeared to welcome you, courtesy of Pages of My Mind by Dana Hawes, this brother told us as Sisters, that from this day forth let it be known that diamonds are not polished without friction, how radiant the sparkle and beauty of you.

Heritage……

Our success is due to the unique positions that we hold in society, from homemaker to executive and all in between. With the exposure to wide-ranging information and the access to educational tools and resources like never before, we are able to aspire, produce, teach, develop, and cultivate:

Wisdom - is the ability to use knowledge correctly. History proved it, Heritage acquires it, and Revelation sustains it.