2020
TIME MAG
AZ
Photo: Phil Roeder / CC BY 2.0
Remembering*
Photo: National Park Service
INE NAME the Preside D HIM the d ntial Medal ean of black of Freedom prominent preachers in from Presid leader in th 1980. In 20 ent Bill Clin e U.S. Civil with other 00, he was a to n. The Rev. Rights Mov African Am warded D e r. Gardner C m e nt and work erican clerg I know . T a y e y d lo p w r eople to fou was a ith Dr. Mart of Rev. Taylo nd the Prog in Luther K r because I College was ressive Nati in grew up in th g J r. along forced to cl onal Baptist e shadows o ose in 1960 Convention f his alma m . Throughou . ater, Leland t its histor y, its main ob College. Lela it educated jective of tr nd hundreds o aining educa f Black stud halls to imp tors and min e act the worl n ts with isters who w d. My grand in the shad ould leave it father Majo ows of this s r King Jr. li great instit 10:47 a.m., ved his enti ution, but o he died from re li n fe Tuesday, Au complicatio a host of gra gust 4, 202 ns related to ndchildren 0 , at COVID-19. and great-g if he would As the eldest randchildre still be with n of , I cannot h us today if th downplayed elp but won e im b p y a d leaders of o ct of COVID er oto: Michael Swan / CCO 1.0 ur countr y. My gran -19 had not dfather (sh b e e n own here in been a part his high sch of my life fr ool baseball om the beg corner from uniform) ha inning. Our my grandpa d fa m il y re li n v ts Louisiana. I ed just arou in the Lelan nd the always knew d College co him to be a mmunity o for his famil work truck hard-workin f Baker, y. I can vivid and, after g g m e ly tt a n in re w g cleaned u m My grandfa h e o m lo b v e e r my grandfa d and cared p, he would ther would ther coming then relax o read the ne current issu h w o n m sp th e in his a e p es in our co er ever y sin couch by re mmunity an ading the n gle day, whic As an a e d wspaper. h helped him throughout dult, I can re the world. develop an member dri anything, I awareness o ving my gra remember b f ndfather to eing my gra my grandfa buy catfish ndfather’s b ther’s barbe o r a newspape arber. Yes, th r. I have nev hair as a yo r, but more at’s right, w er been a pro ung person than h il e I lived in L fessional ba , and I would Not only wo ouisiana I w rber but my share the sk uld I cut my as father taug ill with fam grandfather’ ht me how throughout ily members s hair, he als to the commu cut and friends o recruited nity. As a fa for. whenever I me to be th mily we hav co uld. e barber for a e always trie Prayer w few of his fr d our best to as another iends make sure e way we sho took on a d ver yone wa wed our care ifferent me s ca red for each oth aning. We b grandfather’ er, but in th egan to gath s prognosis. e summer o er daily for We prayed e f 2020 pray virus in a h prayer via Z ach day for ospital bed er o o m w h h e is in n su w B r vival. We p e received m aton Rouge been alone; , Louisiana, rayed for him y he had alwa alone. All o ys been surr as he fough He did f his life he t the ounded by fr not have th h a d ie n n e a v t d er s o ption in the and family Our fam members. last weeks o ily and all o f his life. f the Leland will miss M C o llege comm ajor “Sonny unity of Bak ” King Jr. Th of this grea er, Louisian e grief we a t man conti a, re e xperiencing nues to be v we refuse to e fr r om the loss y painful. Fro allow others m this day fo to downpla sickness for rward may y the seriou that matter. sn ess of COVID Just as Dr. oppression T -19, or any a y of Black peo lor and Dr. King stood ple during th '60s, may w u p against th e Civil Righ e stand with e ts Moveme all who are other syste nt of the 19 experiencin mic dispari 5 0 s and g the kind o ties that ha f health, we ve been rev alth, and ealed in this – R andolph age of COV Knighten J ID-19. r. (M Director of ATS ’18) Outreach M inistries, Sa int John’s U nited Meth odist Churc h, Austin, T exas Winter Winter 2021 2021 || 9 9
