Nancy Dawson, likens the idea of a Million Woman March to the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama in the 1950s.

Dawson, an assistant professor in Black American studies, said S.B. Fuller, a prominent African-American businessman of the period, was against the boycott. Fuller said African Americans should have bought the bus company instead of boycotting.

Dawson said that she agreed with Fuller’s statement and the same theory can be applied to the Million Woman March.

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I think that at this stage of our existence as African-Americans in this country, we should be moving towards more strategic forms of protest, she said.

The Million Woman March is set for Oct. 25 in Philadelphia, Pa. at the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

According to the Million Woman March mission statement and newsletter, the march is a continuum of the healing process that began with the Million Man March in 1995.

Although Dawson supports the principles behind the march, she said using another vehicle to show unity would be more effective because the African-American men already had a march.

Dawson said 1995’s Million Man March and the Promise Keepers march of a few weeks ago makes marching seem less effective. The Promise Keepers are a group of Christian men seeking to strengthen their families and communities.

Dawson said an economic boycott among African-American women would have been more beneficial.

For example, women tend to purchase products such as personal care items or clothes, she said. Maybe women wouldn’t purchase these things for a week. Marches start to lose their meaning if you overdo them. But it is a good thing in terms of women coming together.

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Dele Omosegbon, the advisor for the SIUC chapter of the NAACP and an assistant professor in Black American Studies, said the Million Woman March is important because of the historical circumstances of African-American people.

Omosegbon said the march is an effective approach because of its positive message.

I don’t think that it is reasonable for sensible people to say that because many people are marching, per se, that marching is an ineffective way of communicating a point or addressing an issue or problem, he said. We eat every day, every moment, but eating has not been abandoned because it is monotonous.

Omosegbon said the only problem with the Million Woman March are the people who have a negative attitude about it.

Problems occur when people have negative mental attitudes, he said. If you hate the messenger, then you hate the message and that’s wrong.

Dawson said one of the most positive aspects of the event is the keynote speaker.

I’m impressed by Winnie Mandela being the keynote speaker because it speaks to the oppression of Africana women worldwide, she said. So no matter what, it will be good for so many people. No matter if you have 100,000 or 2 million. It is one step further for the national African-American community.

Lekeiwa Rasberry, the president of the SIUC chapter of the NAACP, said the march will be a forum to discuss any issues pertaining to black women.

We are the most oppressed and in the worst situation of any women in America, she said. Because of the way society works, racism does exist and sexism does exist.

Rasberry said the march can help to change some of the negative stereotypes that have been given to African-American women.

This march could change things, she said. The image of the black woman is that of less than a woman and we’re tired of it. I want people to see how organized we really are.

Rasberry said that African-American women need the Million Woman March because they are faced with more obstacles in society than black men.

Every time a black man is killed, that’s a woman’s child, she said. Therefore the family is destroyed. I think black women are under even more stress than black men because they deal with racism and sexism.

Omosegbon said that the march is a positive effort and should be supported by anyone wanting to make a change,

The march is just one approach, he said. You can do things in many ways. Whether you drive or fly or go by rail, as long as you get there.