Black Women Unite to Prevent the Abduction and Exploitation of Children

The 10-Year Anniversary of Million Woman March (MWM)

On October 25, 1997, Patrice was only 2 years old when her aunt, an African American woman, carried her a mile down Benjamin Franklin Parkway in the City of Brotherly Love. Patrice was on her way to take her place in history and join in celebration of sisterhood at the first Million Woman March.

Ten years later, seeing pictures of this historic occasion doesn't help Patrice recall the specific events of the special rainy Saturday afternoon when she and women of the African diaspora came from all over the world to Philadelphia, PA to unite and fulfill their collective mission of sharing mutual love and respect.

"Bringing together an estimated 2.5 million participants in Philly, over a 3 day period, the Million Woman March (MWM) demonstrated not only the capability and brilliance of African-centered self-determination and creativity, but MWM's actual and potential power," according to the Million Woman March official website.

Not everyone thinks that the location for this pivotal anniversary event lives up to its name, "Philadelphia". "So far this year, more than one person a day has been killed, most of them in southwest Philadelphia," reports CBS News correspondent Bianca Solorzano. Despite the current growing concern over the violence in Philadelphia and many other American towns, Patrice says that she feels protected. When questioned about the murder rate and whether or not she feels safe in Philadelphia, Patrice shrugs and says, "I feel loved and cared for here."

Unlike many of the world's children, early in her life Patrice was prepared to be part of the inner sanctum of community support and encouragement. Members of these communities, comprised of immediate family, neighbors, aunts, uncles, and cousins, remind children through consistent active participation in their lives that they are loved and jointly responsible for their own positive growth and that of the world around them. Nutured with love and respect, Patrice is almost oblivious to the fact that many children have never experienced genuine love and concern.