The Meaning of Repentance, Resurrection, and Restoration at the 1997 Million Woman March

Overview

The Million Woman March, held on October 25, 1997, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, was a historic gathering of African American women. Unlike the 1995 Million Man March, which focused on atonement and male responsibility, the women’s march was organized around a tripartite theme: Repentance, Resurrection, and Restoration. This framework was not merely rhetorical; it structured the day’s speeches, workshops, and the march’s long-term goals. It called for Black women to repent for personal and collective shortcomings, resurrect their spirits and cultural identity, and restore their families, neighborhoods, and the broader Black community. The theme reflected a fusion of Christian theology, African spirituality, and Black nationalist thought, and it resonated deeply with attendees who sought healing from systemic racism, sexism, and intra-community strife.

Historical Background

The march emerged in the mid-1990s, a period of profound crisis and contradiction for Black America. The crack epidemic, mass incarceration, welfare reform, and the 1994 Crime Bill had devastated urban communities. Black women bore the brunt of these policies as primary caregivers, workers, and targets of state violence. At the same time, the Million Man March of 1995, called by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, drew hundreds of thousands of Black men to Washington, D.C., for a day of atonement. While many women supported that event, others felt marginalized or relegated to supporting roles. Conversations about a women’s march began in living rooms, beauty salons, and community centers, but the organizers insisted the Million Woman March was not a reaction. It was an independent initiative rooted in Black women’s unique struggles and strengths, drawing on a long tradition of Black women’s club movements, womanist theology, and grassroots activism.

Why It Was Organized

The march was organized to create a space where Black women could speak for themselves, without male or white intermediaries. The theme of Repentance, Resurrection, and Restoration was central to this vision. Repentance meant acknowledging internalized oppression, colorism, homophobia, and neglect of self-care. Resurrection meant reclaiming ancestral wisdom, spiritual grounding, and cultural pride. Restoration meant actively rebuilding broken institutions: families, schools, economies, and community bonds. The organizers saw the march as both a spiritual revival and a political call to action. They wanted to address issues like domestic violence, health disparities, economic exploitation, and the criminalization of Black women, while also celebrating their resilience and leadership.

How Organizing Began

In early 1997, Phile Chionesu, a Philadelphia-based community activist and entrepreneur, and Asia Coney, a housing activist, began meeting to discuss the idea. They deliberately avoided established civil rights organizations and mainstream media, which they felt would co-opt the message. Instead, they used grassroots methods: flyers, word of mouth, and later the internet (email lists and early websites). They built a national network of “sister organizers” through phone calls and local gatherings. The theme was disseminated through a “Call to Action” pamphlet that explained Repentance, Resurrection, and Restoration in detail. Organizing was decentralized, with women in cities across the country raising funds and awareness. The process was often chaotic and underfunded, but it demonstrated the power of self-determined, women-led mobilization.

What Happened During the Event

The day began with a prayer and libation ceremony honoring ancestors. The program was structured around the three themes. Testimonials of repentance gave way to cultural performances symbolizing resurrection, and workshops focused on restoration. Speakers included co-founders Chionesu and Coney, South African anti-apartheid activist Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, rapper and activist Sister Souljah, and actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The crowd stretched from the Philadelphia Museum of Art down the parkway. Despite cold weather, the atmosphere was described as electric, emotional, and sisterly. There was no single stage managed by a dominant organization; instead, multiple platforms allowed diverse voices. The march concluded with a collective commitment to action, as attendees pledged to return home and implement the principles of Repentance, Resurrection, and Restoration in their communities.

Key People

Platform and Issues

• Repentance for internalized oppression, colorism, homophobia, and neglect of self-care
• Resurrection of Black women’s spiritual and cultural identity, including African traditions
• Restoration of families, communities, and economic self-sufficiency
• Support for Black-owned businesses and cooperative economics
• Health awareness, including HIV/AIDS, breast cancer, and mental health
• Education reform and youth mentorship programs
• Criminal justice reform and support for incarcerated women
• Combating domestic violence and sexual assault
• Political empowerment and voter registration drives
• Pan-African solidarity and global human rights

Attendance Estimates

Contemporary Media Coverage

Mainstream media largely ignored or downplayed the march compared to the Million Man March. The New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer provided coverage, but with less fanfare and often focusing on the lack of a single charismatic leader or the decentralized organization. Some outlets questioned the attendance numbers. In contrast, Black media—such as Essence magazine, Ebony, and Black newspapers—gave extensive, celebratory coverage, highlighting the theme of Repentance, Resurrection, and Restoration as a powerful framework. Feminist scholars noted that the march’s emphasis on spiritual transformation over specific policy demands was both a strength and a point of critique, as it allowed for broad participation but made measurable outcomes harder to track.

Controversies / Disputed Claims

Several controversies surrounded the march. Attendance figures were fiercely disputed, with organizers’ claims of 1.5–2 million widely challenged. Some Black feminists criticized the focus on personal repentance, arguing it risked blaming women for systemic problems. Tensions arose with established organizations like the National Council of Negro Women, which initially hesitated to endorse the grassroots effort. The role of men was debated: some men felt excluded, while others were welcomed as supporters. The organizers’ decision not to partner with the Million Man March organizers drew both praise and criticism. Additionally, the theme’s Christian-centric language alienated some secular attendees, though efforts were made to include African spirituality. Allegations of financial mismanagement surfaced but no major scandals were proven.

Historical Impact

The march catalyzed a wave of local activism. Many attendees returned home and started community programs, support groups, and businesses. It demonstrated the power of grassroots organizing without traditional gatekeepers and shifted the narrative about Black women’s activism, emphasizing self-determination and spiritual renewal. The theme of Restoration influenced subsequent movements, including elements of the Black Lives Matter movement’s focus on healing justice. The march also inspired the 2000 Million Family March and other gatherings, cementing a model of mass mobilization rooted in personal and communal transformation.

Legacy

The Million Woman March is remembered as a pivotal moment of Black women’s collective agency. The theme of Repentance, Resurrection, and Restoration continues to be invoked in Black women’s spiritual and activist circles. Annual commemorations and local “Million Woman March” chapters persisted for years, and in 2017, a 20th-anniversary event was held in Philadelphia, revisiting the original themes. The march’s model of decentralized organizing influenced later protests, and its emphasis on internal healing is now recognized as a critical component of sustainable social movements.

What Historians Say

Historians view the march as a significant, though understudied, event in Black women’s history. Scholars like Duchess Harris and Kimberly Springer have analyzed it within the context of Black feminist organizing. They note that the march’s emphasis on personal transformation and spirituality was both a departure from traditional civil rights strategies and a continuation of Black women’s self-help traditions. Some argue that the lack of a clear policy agenda limited its political impact, while others contend that its focus on internal healing was a radical act of resistance against dehumanization. The theme of Repentance, Resurrection, and Restoration is seen as a unique contribution to social movement framing, blending theology, cultural nationalism, and grassroots feminism.

Revision History

• October 2023: Article created with initial research and primary source analysis.
• November 2023: Added attendance estimates table and expanded contemporary media coverage section.
• January 2024: Incorporated oral histories from attendees collected by the Philadelphia African American Museum.
• March 2024: Revised controversies section to include scholarly critiques from Black feminist journals.
• June 2024: Updated legacy section with details from the 2017 commemoration and recent scholarship.