Birmingham, Alabama has been celebrating 50 Years of Civil Rights all year long. As a resident it has been fantastic to see progress and the patience of a city. There is a great website http://50yearsforward.com/history/ .The celebrations have continued to remind me of the struggles and true sacrifices in the past and the victories won through the years. We have made significant strides in America to level the door of access for all citizens. The most impressive thing about the people that marched and work for Civil Rights then and now is thier commitment to toil now for a better future for the next generation. The movement had the Patience to Dominate, with its sit-ins and demonstrations knowing full well that justice would take time. One of the blessing of living in Birmingham Alabama and formerly of Atlanta Georgia is that I have had the occasion to meet some people directly connected to the movement. I will take the time to mention these people only because of their grand commitment to patience and Justice.
Martin Luther King III, James Orange , Julien Bond, Andrew Young, Angela Davis, Dick Gregory, Bernice King, Huey P. Newton, Fred Shuttlesworth, Congressman John Lewis
These are all people that I touched and remembered the conversations. I remember the conversations because they were so serious and direct. Most of these encounters were brief and one recurring word I remember from these conversations is actually a title. The individuals directly involved in the movement would call me LEADER. James Orange, AFL/CIO Leader was the first to address me like that and I was meeting him to ask a favor. The most recent was when I happened upon Dick Gregory waiting on Martin Luther King III to pick him up. Note: stay connected no matter how long or winding the path. My young family and I offer Mr. Gregory a ride and He said, ” Leader are you involved in your community?” I said, “Yes, Sir!” and then asked him why did you call me leader. He said “First, I am calling out of you, your potential. And more importantly it is people like you and those in your community who are leaders to organize and support the overall Civil Rights Movement. ” So in reality it is not the more notable names that power the movement it is the people like you and I who participate and stimulate the current of Justice and economic empowerment.
Julien Bond and Andrew Young had a different approach both of them mentioned Economic empowerment as the next catalyst of Civil Rights. This vision takes many shapes but economic empowerment is introspective because it is about self-motivation. You and I have to build a future that is sound and expressive financially to support the overall Movement and assure your personal DREAM.
If we take our leadership and economic empowerment seriously we can honor 50 Years of Civil Rights Movement and enrich our individual communities and families. Patience sees over the Mountain Top.