Craig Collins joined IMPACCT Brooklyn in October 2019 as Director of Community Organizing. Prior to joining IMPACCT Brooklyn, Craig spent eight years organizing for the Jamaica Community Partnership and worked as a Site Supervisor for a Preventative Program, in charge of the General Preventive and the Family Rehabilitation Program for the Far Rockaway location. He is a proud member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Collins traveled to the recent March on Washington. Andrew Murrell, IMPACCT Brooklyn’s Communications Manager asked Mr. Collins to share his experience and we share this information here with you.
I attended the March on Washington on August 28th, 2020. There was this energy about this gathering that just kept telling me I needed to be there in the midst of a pandemic. The thought of people from all walks of life gathering to unite for one cause that affects my life as well as my children’s lives was an event I just could not pass up.
Honestly, I didn’t have any expectations of the day because I wasn’t sure if a lot of people would attend due to the pandemic. I was surprised that so many people decided to attend. It was a good feeling that so many people felt the need to be in attendance to commemorate the original March on Washington [in 1967].
Once I arrived at the March on Washington, I was able to connect with one of my fraternity brothers (Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.) who just so happened to be with Jacob Blake’s father, Mr. Blake. The rest of my day was spent with the Blake family. I was able to listen to him tell how he did not raise quitters and that is why his son was still alive. Mr. Blake stated “you can’t take who the Lord is not ready for, and that is why his son is still here.” He also questioned (as I did, as well) why is someone paralyzed chained to a bed?
I was able to go up into the Lincoln Memorial where Mr. Blake and family went to the podium to address all of those that made the similar trip as I. While waiting for him to speak, I heard Martin Luther King III who reminded us that today was not only the anniversary of the original March on Washington, but was also the anniversary of Emmett Till’s murder. Mr. Till’s killers were never convicted for his death and today we still are suffering from the same injustices. Speaker after speaker echoed the same refrain about the inequality of life in our country for people of color and how we need to keep fighting until we are equal. The day for me was full of mixed emotions: as uplifting as the speeches were, part of me feels that racism is too ingrained into the fabric of our society, and that we will never see true equality. Being around Mr. Blake gives me hope that we are willing to continue the fight for equality.
Outside of the speeches I think the march over to the Martin Luther King, Jr. monument was a highlight for most. I didn’t go, but those that were on the bus with me were fascinated as this was their first time laying eyes on the statue.
The March on Washington 2020 reminded me a lot of attending the Million Man March in 1995. Perception-wise, I think there were more people at the Million Man March and for me, the key difference between the two were that as Black men, we decided it was time for us to do something. However, I think there have been minimal changes externally, meaning society still views Black men as a threat, but not as extreme as before, and internally, as the rate of black on black crime appears to be the same.
I hope people reading this who might not have attended the March on Washington take away that we are all human and have the right to live, grow old, and have all the liberties this country allows every other groups of people. This country needs to find the funding for youth services so children will stop hanging in the streets where trouble will find a lot of them. I grew up in a time where there were free after school, weekend programs, and summer activities where youth were able to engage each other in positive social environments. We need to reinvest in proper educational programs, bring back co-op programs and offer trade schools as a real option for youth so they feel a real chance to succeed in life; whereby there will be less of an interest to get the quick dollar. I truly believe the generation behind us can be the key toward moving to a better society, but if we don’t reinvest now we will produce another lost generation that will only get angrier with counterproductive results.
If community development corporations were to partner and develop work groups that can focus on different community needs, such as community affairs, health fairs, other resource fairs, college and vocational fairs, as well as other needs determined by research and focus groups, I believe we can achieve some of the things that I mention. Once the community is vested in their betterment, I truly believe things will start to progress in the right direction.
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