LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT for the MILLION WOMAN MARCH, Oct. 23 - 28, 2017 in Philly

LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT FOR MILLION WOMAN MARCH, Oct. 23-28, 2017, Philly; from the National Black Council of Elders

 The newly founded National Black Council of Elders, wishes to applaud and offer solidarity and support to the upcoming Million Woman March and its organizers to be held in Philadelphia, PA, this October 23- 28, 2017, in celebration of its 20th Anniversary. Black Women have always stood steadfast for the principles of Liberation, Family, and the rights of our people to define, defend and develop our interests as a people and National Community. We recognize all the Black Women whose names have been ingrained in our consciousness, and who have historically followed in the footsteps of Hatsheput, Tiye, Nzingha, the Angolan Queens, Yaa Asantewaa, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Zora Neale Hurston, Madame CJ Walker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Winnie Mandela, and Maya Angelou.
Our solidarity and support is based on the shared commitment to improve the quality of the lives of our women and people in fundamental ways and based on shared principles. These are:
1. To expand existing Industry in our communities, and to found new industries which will empower our people, and allow our women to engage in the Cultural Development, and Family Unity which remain key to Restoring the Black Community.
2. To engage in the process of Institution Building which empowers our women to ensure an education for our children, unify our communities in the US and around the Globe, develop a health care system which speaks directly to the needs of our people and does not cater to a profit and greed motivated system, cares for our elderly, disadvantaged, orphaned, addicted and abused, and which seeks a sane social justice system free of racism and avarice.

The leadership of the Original Million Woman March have taken on the challenge of harnessing the collective resources, creativity and intellect of African American Women and joining with Diaspora, Continental and Women of good will around the World to make their power felt in significant ways. We support the efforts to mobilize, organize and nationalize African Women on a Global level. We appreciate the upliftment and promotion of the Principles of Kwanzaa, Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economic, Purpose, Creativity and Faith. As a product of the Black Power Movement of the 60's and 70's, which was mostly dominated by the Rise of Black Men, we view todays' Movement, in this Era of African Rebirth/Renaissance, as being shaped, directed and led by African Women. In that regard we view this Million Woman March to be the singly, most important and significant event of the 21 Century and will set the tone and tenure for our Community and Nation Building endeavors for the next decades. By supporting this March and the organizing efforts resulting from it, we support ourselves, our families, our communities and our Nation Building. We say to its leaders, "Rise Up, YOu can Accomplish What you Will"; "Bring Good Back into the World"; and we will "See You in the Whirlwind", as we build "Toward Our Radiant Future".

In a word, the National Black Council of Elder and its affiliate, the Congress of African People fully, and without reservation, endorse the goals and objectives of the Million Women's March, and we will be well represented at this momentous and historical event. We wish for your and all who attend, Blessings Without Number, and All Good Things Without End! Ase'

In Unity and Struggle,

Mwalimu Wesley Kabaila
Founder, National Black Council of Elders
Chair, Congress of African People

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