The 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March is coming up on Friday and Larry Hicks, Geary County Commissioner reflected on that day calling it,”one of the single greatest experiences in my life.”

While reflecting back on the day of the march Hicks recalled that there was some controversy involving black organizations hesitant about supporting the march, because they didn’t know the intention of the marches organizer Louis Farakhan, the Leader of the Nation of Islam.

“From my various conversations with people who were involved in the nation, I was convinced that the purpose was to bring African-American males together under one umbrella, and that umbrella was unity,” said Hicks. “That happened during the course of that period of time. It was truly an amazing event to be a part of.”

Hicks went on to say that he was disappointed with the follow-up of the event because it did not result in major changes to the African-American community on a national scale,”particularly in urban and mid-urban areas.”

Hicks said that he would have liked to see a greater emphasis put on education, specifically greater support to upgrade and expand schools that were a part of the United Negro College Fund at that time.