As a show of its appreciation for the sacrifice and devoted service of thirty-four distinguished community servants, the Middle Georgia Local Organizing Committee of the Millions More Movement hosted its first Beacon of Light Awards Program on September 30. The event was facilitated by Macedonia Baptist Church.

After a fitting welcome and opening prayer by LOC Co-Chair and emcee Kenneth Muhammad, in which he referred to awardees as “well deserving”, the lively and attentive crowd engrossed themselves with an excerpt of the Millions More Movement rally keynote address delivered by Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan during the October 16, 2005 event at the foot of the Capital Building in Washington D.C.

The Millions More Movement is the tenth anniversary commemoration of the historic Million Man March that took place on October 16, 1995 in the nation’s capital. Nearly two million Black men from across the country and world converged on Washington as an expression of their commitment to change within themselves, their families and communities. Unity, Spiritual Values, Education, Economic Development, Political Power, Reparations, Prison Industrial Complex, Health, Artistic/Cultural Development and Peace is the ten-point platform of the Millions More Movement. 

Participants were next treated to an impressive guitar performance by a music student of Kenneth Muhammad, before hearing from the event’s main speaker Minister Darryl Muhammad of Macon’s Nation of Islam Mosque #93 – who commended the award recipients for the courage and commitment that they have unselfishly exhibited through service throughout the mid state over the years. Muhammad was also honored with an award following his address: Refocusing on the Millions More Movement.

Beacon of Light recipients were well pleased and impressed with both the event and the selections. “The event was really wonderful. I accept this award on behalf of all the children of Progressive Christian Academy,” said the school’s founder and principal Dr. Betty Tolbert following the ceremony. “Everybody needs to become a light right where they are. Young people especially need that light and I want to continue being one.”

Veteran television anchor and reporter of Channel 13 fame Tina Hicks was overwhelmed. “I’m so elated that somebody remembered,” she excitedly expressed. “This program was well done and very inclusive. I’m very grateful for the Local Organizing Committee choosing unsung heroes that go above and beyond the call of duty. The right things that we do in secret will eventually be rewarded openly by God and I’m grateful for that!”