A Tribute to an Extraordinary Mother! At the Age of Eight, I Began to Nurture the World

A Tribute to an Extraordinary Mother!

At the Age of Eight, I Began to Nurture the World!

The Youngest Activist in the Selma Civil Rights Movement!

BY SHEYANN WEBB-CHRISTBURG, SHEYANN WEBB GROUP

Mrs. Webb-Christburg has built a lifelong career as a voice for hope, justice, equality, and human rights. She has worked over forty-one years empowering young people to strive for academic excellence and work hard to become the better version of themselves.

Mrs. Webb-Christburg was born on February 17, 1956 by John and Betty M. Webb from a poor family of eight in George Washington Carver Projects where the now Historic Brown Chapel AME Church stands in the center of this housing projects.

Mrs. Webb-Christburg was the youngest activist during the Selma Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called her the “Smallest Freedom Fighters”. As we know her today. She uses her story of courage, triumph, and overcoming adversity to affect millions across the country and globally. Mrs. Webb-Christburg is Nationally recognized for her coauthored book, Selma, Lord, Selma. This book depicts her childhood memories of growing up during turbulent times in Selma,

Alabama. Her book, “Selma, Lord, Selma” written by Frank Sikora. The book is now a Disney Movie that was nominated as the Best Television Mini- Series by the NAACP Image Awards.

The story chronicles Mrs. Webb-Christburg’s childhood experiences as the youngest participant at 8 years old on the Bloody Sunday March in 1965, led by Congressman John Lewis and Hosea Williams. Her parents John and Betty M. Webb invested much time trying to convince Sheyann of the danger and risk that was involved with being a part of the movement. Sheyann, after meeting Dr. King, had already made her mind up that she wanted to be a part of the changes that Dr. King and others started in Selma. Sheyann became a very disobedient little girl who would sneak out of her house to attend mass meetings in the Selma Movement. She helped to lead the congregation in singing freedom songs and her favorite was “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around”. She would often get to school late to take part in many demonstrations and protests for social justice and for African Americans to gain their voting rights.

Sheyann joined many freedom fighters during the 60s to go out in neighborhoods and county areas to convince them on becoming registered voters. Many courageous freedom fighters who came to join in the struggle for freedom in Selma didn’t have a place to sleep or eat. Sheyann took it on her own to invite them to stay in her house. Sheyann’s parents approved her invitations, because they felt and knew that they were taking care of her as she continued to get into “Good Trouble”, standing up for what she believed in and what she knew was right. Even amid her

Community Activist, Good Trouble!

participation in the movement, she was highly active in her elementary school activities, she was smart and admired by her peers. She also took part in extracurricular activities in her community and in church activities. She loved speaking, acting, writing, reading, and asking questions. Her habit for writing led her to write in a diary daily, especially writing about her experiences growing up in the movement.

As she matriculated in school, her siblings attended all-black schools, but she wanted to meet the racist challenge of attending a white school. She attended a segregated public school in Selma when she became one of the first blacks to integrate an allwhite school. She was the only black student in many of her classes and felt the racial tension, insensitivity, and disrespect every day. It was rough, but she had a strong sense of determination with courage to face whatever she needed to because she knew that she was smart enough and ready to

A Tribute to an Extraordinary Mother! CONTINUED

compete on any level by any means necessary to press thru. She faced racial brutality daily. She was suspended from school, pushed downstairs, spat on, and attacked in various ways both physically and verbally because of the color of her skin. Her parents would constantly call and meet with the principal, but the school administration did nothing. She maintained her courage and dignity throughout those turbulent times. However, she fought her way to compete in extracurricular activities and faced whatever challenges she incurred. Sheyann later competed and become a cheerleader. She took part on the volleyball team, basketball team, and track team.

In-spite of Sheyann’s many encounters with racism and poverty, she completed her college education at Tuskegee Institute.

She found the Keep Productions Youth Development Mentoring and Modeling Program in 1980. She designed this program for youth ages 3 thru 18 to build self-esteem to gain the confidence they need to break out of nonproductive patterns and become successful leaders, overcome adversities, and find their passion and their purpose. This program also promotes Leadership Development, Academic Ms. Christburg and Maxine Waters, US Representative

Excellence, Etiquette Training, Community Service Projects, Entrepreneurship, Cultural and Social Projects, and Voter Education. She has worked with other youth groups in various capacities throughout the State of Alabama and has organized and conducted major Youth Development Workshops and Training Programs.

Mrs. Webb-Christburg established the Sheyann Webb-Christburg Scholarship Foundation, for any motivated students aspiring to further his or her education. The Sheyann Webb-Christburg Scholarship Foundation is used to help cover tuition expenses and related educational expenses such as books and select cost of living. We will select scholarship recipients based on applicant’s academic achievements, those who have showed accomplishments in leadership and community service, and particularly to those disadvantaged youth who have faced significant roadblocks or challenges.

Through her Consultant work, Mrs. WebbChristburg has worked with other Youth Organizations and served as a Life Coach, Debutante Director, Choreographer, Pageant Consultant, and Etiquette Trainer to name a few. In April 2017, Mrs. Webb-Christburg found the Women of W.I.L.L. Organization, which stands for Women affecting and Lifting Lives, a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to bring together women from diverse backgrounds to focus on Empowering, Educating, Encouraging, Inspiring, and Networking with young girls, young men, and women alike. This motivated group of women also serve the community by

Ms. Christburg at 8 years old

providing Mentorship Programs, Empowerment Events, Health and Political Forums, Personal Development Workshops, Women Conferences, and Business Connection Opportunities. This organization strives to promote leadership development and activities which focuses on unity and a network of support for women.

Over the years, Mrs. Webb-Christburg has received many Civic and Community Service Awards in the State of Alabama and abroad. She has appeared on all the major TV networks including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, CNN, MSNBC, The Today Show, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, and other major Radio and TV Talk Show. They also featured her in the PBS documentary, “Eyes on the Prize”.

Mrs. Webb-Christburg speaks for many organizations to include schools and colleges, Community Organizations, Government Agencies, Conventions, and also serves as Ms. Christburg and Senator Kamala Harris, US Vice President Candidate

a Panelist Presenter across the country. Mrs. Webb-Christburg also is a National Speaker and Presenter for Virtual Platforms. Some of her topics are: • My childhood experiences with Dr. Martin

Luther King Jr. • Youngest Eight-year-old on The Bloody

Sunday March 1965 • The Journey to Voting Equality • Race Relations and Reconciliation • Diversity and Inclusion • Selma 56 years later

Mrs. Webb-Christburg has dedicated her life as a Youth Advocate and Change Agent mentoring our youth to “Be Better and Do Better.” She also helps to motivate and inspire youth to find their passion and purpose in life in order that they may become active participants and leaders to help create that “Beloved Community” and for this world to be a better place and for those who will come behind. Mrs. Webb-Christburg lives in Montgomery, Alabama, where she is still active in her community with Youth, Women and Civic Organizations.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER GLOBAL MOVEMENT MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS COMING TOGETHER TO HEAL THEIR FAMILIES

The purpose of the leadership committee is to bring together 200 women to organize a Spirit of Unity among mothers and their daughters, creating “Healthier Families and Healthier Communities.”

OUR MISSION: • To focus on raising a new God conscious minded generation of mothers and daughters. • To bring the nurturing power of mothers together to restore family values, as they teach their daughters how to maintain those values, for their children! • To focus on the principles of the Virtuous Woman. (Proverbs 31:10-31) • To demonstrate how the fruits of the spirit can heal their relationship; “Love,

Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-

Control,” are the ingredients for a trusting and honest relationship. • To remind mothers of their “Power of Influence,” over their daughters. An influence that can help or hurt their daughter’s decision-making processes. • To use God’s words to teach mothers and daughter how to plant “Seeds of

Wisdom” into another mother and daughter relationship. • To provide Spiritual, Health and Economic relief to the members of the Mother and Daughter Global Movement.