Marking milestone of Million Man March

It’s been 20 years, but Fort Mill resident and 1996 Winthrop University alumnus Montrio Belton still recalls the massive crowds and the message that reached across the nation’s African-American men.

Oct. 16 is the 20th anniversary of Louis Farrakhan’s Million Man March, one of America’s largest civil rights demonstrations.

“It is quite surreal,” Belton said. “I’ve started to think about the significance of the event and how historic it was at the time.”

Belton, 42, said a chance meeting with Farrakhan at Walls Memorial AME Zion Church in Charlotte while he was promoting the Million Man March began his journey to be a better person and public servant.

While Belton did not share Farrakhan’s political or religious views, he did share his concern for the African-American community. In the crowded church, Belton sat in the overflow just behind the pulpit and shook Farrakhan’s hand before hearing a speech that would stick with him decades later.

“Still to this day that encounter has had a profound impact on my life,” Belton said. “I’ve tried to be a responsible citizen, husband and father.”

Belton and his wife Tonya Belton continue to give back to their community in multiple ways. Belton founded the Urban and Rural Educational Institute, which works to inspire parents to be involved with the school systems, provides professional development for teachers and recruits qualified teachers. Belton also worked as a public educator for years before running for S.C. superintendent of education last year.

Belton, who received a doctorate in educational leadership from UNCC and has a law degree from USC School of Law, said his education is another way to continue the event’s message.

“It has always been about how this would benefit those I love and those in the greater society,” he said.

That mentality, Belton said, was sparked when he boarded a Charlotte bus around 10 p.m. in 1995 headed to Washington. Then, he was a 22-year-old history major who felt he needed to be part of the movement.

“It was the modern day March on Washington,” Belton said. “As an African-American man, I could not afford not to be there.”

Belton was joined by 10 to 12 fellow students from the organization Taking Integrity Back, founded by late Winthrop professor Dorothy Perry Thompson.

Just as the sun started to rise on Oct. 16, the group stepped off the bus between the Capital Building and the Lincoln Memorial.

“It was already packed,” Belton said.

Despite several racially-charged events at that time causing tension, African-American citizens from around the country packed together at the National Mall to hear from Farrakhan, a Nation of Islam leader, and other local leaders.

“We were in a harmonious spirit pledging to make a positive impact on our respective communities across the United States,” Belton said. “I’m not sure I’ve experienced that type of euphoria since then.”

Farrakhan’s implored the African-American community to get off drugs, get educated and atone for their actions, Belton said.

“It was an ‘aha’ moment for me,” he said.

However, Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, couldn’t reach everyone in attendance.

“A lot of people never listened to the message because they couldn’t get past the messenger,” Belton said.

For Belton, however, the March helped shaped his view of society. He recognizes that inequalities, such as income gaps, unemployment rates and a lack of educational opportunities are still present for African-Americans.

“Some things we tried to eradicate 20 years ago unfortunately still exist in our community,” he said.

However, Belton said the community has to also acknowledge the investments that have been made toward equality.

“You can’t undo 100 years of societal injustices in the last 30 years,” he said, “but African-Americans have a hell of a lot more opportunities now than we’ve had in the history of America.”

Belton also said opportunities don’t exist for every community, a problem that contributes to the poverty level among some African-American individuals.

As a teenager, Belton said he faced similar challenges.

“There were some things I did that were extremely wrong,” he said.

Belton said that though he is not perfect, the Million Man March taught him to step up and take responsibility for his family and society as a whole.

“There is no question that the Million Man March had a profound, life-altering, path-changing impact on my life,” he said. “I’ve attempted to live up to the pledge I made 20 years ago.”

This story was originally published October 12, 2015 at 12:43 PM with the headline "Marking milestone of Million Man March."