The occasion of the third Million Man March on October 10, 2015, on the 20^th anniversary of the first march, offers a vantage point and opportunity to reflect on changes in African American life over the years. I was present at all three events and active in securing congressional approval for the location of the last two marches. The differences in attendance at this march were obvious, men and women, families, old and young, gay and straight, a new diversity of race and religion, and a new sense of the power of unity and determination. A renewed sense of energy and confidence.

I have to admit that deep in my heart there is an urge in an op-ed like this to let go with a few hundred words of rant expressing my frustration, impatience and bitterness over the slow progress, sometimes backsliding, our community has experienced over my more than five decades of activism and some 35 years as an elected official. But the truth is that my feelings are not the issue, and rants are not as effective in building a movement for change as laying out the truth, and building that movement is what I am about.