Million Man March T-Shirt, “UNITY”

Object Details

Medium: cotton, dye
Dimensions: 34 1/16 × 31 7/8 in. (86.5 × 81 cm); Other (Sleeve): 8 1/4 in. (21 cm)

Caption: The largest words on this white t-shirt are “UNITY” and “WASHINGTON,” which appear above and below a circle with the text, “ONE MILLION MARCH / BLACKMAN.” Under the black, red, green, and yellow design, smaller black text reads, “OCT. 16, 1995 / I WAS THERE!” The cotton shirt commemorates the Million Man March, which took place on that date in Washington, DC. Controversial for its co-organizer, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, the Million Man March promoted African American unity, especially among African American men. In addition to its text, the shirt’s pan-African colors—red, green, and black—emphasize unity. The shirt’s back nods to the March’s spiritual component with the banner headline, “A Day of Atonement.” In a large letter “M,” the word “RESPECT” runs vertically. The word “UNITY” repeats, also vertically, in a black bar next to the words, “One MILLION MAN MARCH.” The event’s date and place reappear on the back, too. The March approached the number in its name, becoming one of the largest gatherings in American history at the time.