SCLC Magazine - Fall 2023 Issue

National Magazine sclcmagazine.com

FALL ISSUE 2023

SINCE 1957

The Fall Report: America in Crisis

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

Table of Contents 7 Dr. Charles Steele, Jr. President’s Corner

9 Mrs. Steele

From The First Lady

12 Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr. Chairman’s Corner

15 Economic Justice At The Top of SCLC Agenda at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legistlative Conference

By Kevin Kimble

21 600 African-American Christians fulfill MLK and Coretta Scott King’s dream to visit Israel

By Dr. Pauline Plummer

27 Atlanta Poet Hank Stewart Shines on Black Poetry Day

By Debbie Ellison

36 In the Shadows of Injustice: America at the Crossroads

By: DeMark Liggins

Cover Photo: Lorenz Tate - Actor, Director, and Activist, Dr. Johnnie M. Green, Jr. - D. Min Senior Pastor - Mount Neboh Baptist Church Harlem, Sherman Lea - President National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, US Rep. Jonathan Jackson, Mayor Brandon Johnson - Mayor of Chicago

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

3

NATIONAL EXECUTI V E OFF ICE R S

Dr. Charles Steele, Jr. President & CEO

Martin Luther King Jr. Founding President

Ralph D. Abernathy President 1968 - 1977

Fred L. Shuttlesworth President 2004

Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr Chairman

Joseph E. Lowery President 1977 - 1997

Dr. Charles Steele, Jr. President & CEO

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

Martin Luther King III President 1998 - 2003

Howard Creecy Jr. President 2011

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

5

In Honor of

Dr. Martin Luther

King Jr. 1929 – 1968

Gray Television and our employees honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. May his wisdom, words and dreams continue to shape our hearts and minds for years to come.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

PRESI DENT’S CORNER

The Remanent of MLK’s Dream in College Football By: Dr. Charles Steele Jr., SCLC National President & CEO

The significance of Deion Sanders and the Colorado football phenomenon

I remember in 1989 when Deion Sanders was drafted out of college (Florida State) to play in the National Football League (NFL). This was extremely exciting and a significant time to see African-Americans breaking barriers during these times. African-Americans were starting to see themselves more and more in the public eye. Sanders showed young people early on that it is possible to be a black man and attend college as well as succeed in sports. The most interesting fact about Sander’s career is that he still holds the record as the only person to ever play in both the World Series a and Superbowl. The significance for AfricanAmericans is that Black students were not accepted into predominately white schools in significant numbers until around the 1960’s. Although this time might seem like a very long time ago, it is actually only 60 years ago when Blacks could start to see themselves attending white colleges. Before this time, Blacks were spit on, beat up and kept out of the doorways of white colleges. During these times there were many boycotts and marches all across the country. Many of these marches were led by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). The significance and accomplishment of playing football in college and being drafted into the NFL was beyond groundbreaking in 1989 when Deion Sanders was drafted. Remember, it had only been about 43 years since re-integration of black athletes into the NFL. Now, let’s move on to what Sanders is doing for college football after a 14-year NFL career and an NFL Hall of Fame inductee. Let’s start with becoming the head football coach of an historically black college and university (HBCU). This move not only helped increase the visibility of Jackson State in the media nationally, but it showed that there are phenomenal black athletes attending HBCU’s every year. Although Sanders brought significant attention

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

7

to HBCU athletes, there is more work to do as there was only one HBCU player chosen in the NFL draft in 2023. However, I am beyond hopeful that the efforts and hard work of these young men will continue to be seen more each year.

Deion Sanders is now the fourth black football head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. The excitement that Sanders was able to bring to college football is Creator: Dustin Bradford | Credit: Getty Images phenomenal! He has brought a little bit of HBCU vibe with him to Colorado and it’s invigorating. His understanding of the importance of what his players need and especially from an AfricanAmerican perspective is refreshing. However, I am extremely impressed with sanders understanding the God-given value of each player whether black or white. He seems to understand how to make each player feel valued for who God created them to be on and off the field. The best thing about sports is not how many touchdowns, 3-point shots, goals and points you can score, it’s the unity that brings us all together. On the field or on the court, you are a team working towards one goal. This is the sentiment of Dr. King’s dream…that all God’s children will be able to stand hand and hand seeking the same goal of making this world a better place. I believe if we can achieve the mentality that is enforced on the fields across the country in sports that we are one team working towards the goal of equality and justice for all God’s children, we can start to see a manifestation of “the dream”. As we get nearer to the close of 2023, I am beyond excited to see the effects of sports in civil rights in 2024.

FNF is proud to support the SCLC's commitment to continuing the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by activating the "strength to love" within the community of humankind.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

FROM THE FI RST L ADY

My Eleven Days in Israel By: Mrs. Cathelean Steele, Founder, Justice for Girls

My journey to Israel was one of faith and gratitude.

I am blessed to have been invited by Dr. Pauline Plummer, the First Lady of the Church of God and Christ in Israel and the founder of Covenant Daughters. I was invited to help fulfill the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and Mrs. Coretta Scott King. I was also the honorary host of the Women of the Bible tour. Mrs. Coretta Scott King and Dr. King had planned to take 5000 African Americans to Israel. Unfortunately, Dr. King’s trip was cancelled because of the Six Days War. Dr. King’s desire was to build an alliance between African Americans and Jews. April 4th 1968 Dr. King was assassinated before he could fulfill that dream. Dr. Pauline Plummer invited me along with my husband and one hundred fifty members of the Covenant Daughters to help fulfill Dr. King’s dream. We were met by 600 African- American youth and adults gathered on Martin Luther King Street in Jerusalem on July 26, 2023. I was honored to share Dr. King and Mrs. King’s vision for a relationship between African-Americans and the Jews because of our historical journey through slavery/ discrimination and the journey of the Jews through the antisemitism.

I was honored to be hosted by the First Lady of Israel Mrs. Michal Herzog, Knesset Member Sharen Haskel, and Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor Fleu Hassan-Nahoum. Deputy Mayor Fleu Hassan-Nahoum met us at Dr. King’s street and greeted the six hundred young people that marched with us.

The respect for Mrs. King was overwhelming as we visited the Coretta Scott King Forest. In Israel, it is the Lavit Forest and if you visit Israel it is located in the Galilee Region of Northern Israel. The Forest is made up of no less than 10,000 trees and is a memorial to Mrs. King’s legacy. I was impressed that the people of Israel would honor an American that believed in the fight for justice and equality in Israel.

Lastly, I am grateful that Dr. Pauline Plummer would invite me to speak, meet top leaders of Israel and lead a march of hundreds. This trip was truly one of a life-time and I am encouraging you to contact Women of the Bible Holy Land Tour at covenantdaughtersintl.org.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

9

Prevent Sex Trafficking

An iniiaave of the Southern Chrissan Leadership Conference SCLC developed as an educaaonal awareness project aimed at highlighhng the alarming growth of sex trafficking in our communiies.

A pracccal guide of interaccve lessons designed to increase the sense of value and worth of girls 5-18 thereby reducing the risk of commerical sexual exploitaaon.

For more informaaon or to partner please email us at jussceforgirls@naaonalsclc.org SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

On February 14, 1957 a group of pastors and leaders, gathered under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to form an organization to bring nonviolent direct action to empower and bring freedom to Black Americans under the umbrella of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

April 4, 1968, a tragic day, when an assassin’s bullet took the life of Dr. King.

But it did not take the life out his movement, instead it provided the spark that brought light to his life’s work on nonviolent direct action and change.

The Love and Light Campaign supports the history, the work and the future of the SCLC. As you join, you help us continue to fulfill our mission of “Redeeming the Soul of America!”

Please head to http://nationalsclc.org/lal for more information

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

11

Ch airman’s Co rne r

KEEP THE MOVEMENT MOVING Written By: Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Chairman of the Board

As Chairman of the Board, I want to thank everyone for your attendance and involvement at the SCLC 64th Anniversary Gala, and the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington. What a significant, transformative time we had!

internationally for many years.

It was especially moving to witness the Awards Ceremony this year. Please refer to our recent publications to see all the awardees. Naturally, I am particularly honored that my wife of 49 years, Mrs. Kate LaFayette, was given the Evelyn G. Lowery Award for her decades of service to early childhood development and her unrelenting commitment to children’s wellbeing across the country. Fully engaged in humanitarian efforts, she has also served as a Kingian Nonviolence trainer nationally and

An SCLC Award ceremony would not be complete without recognizing the work of trail blazing young people, without whom there would be no future. This year’s Youth Leadership Award was given to Stefan Lockridge II, a 14 year old entrepreneur and Community Ambassador for Ward 8 Water Watchers, serving as an activist for clean water, food and environmental justice. We are so excited to see where his leadership will take him!

It’s encouraging to witness the level of concern and activism taking place nationally, demonstrated by our members. It assures me that our constituents, will continue to fight for justice on many fronts.

Our existing board has been very active in tireless efforts to develop strategies that support and grow SCLC’s mission and initiatives. The newly, inducted board members have long standing commitment in their own right. They are comprised of business leaders and policy analysts, journalists, activists, organizers, educators, inventive leaders determined to keep the movement moving forward to address the abhorrent conditions of poverty and racism that continue to plague our country.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

We are faced with the reality that strong, compassionate and just leadership is critical.

I encourage everyone to seek opportunities to develop such leadership. Become active in your community, what is at hand? What prevalent issues are of concern? How should one respond? What are the avenues for solutions? Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King’s Leadership we can develop strategies that address the injustice and begin to change it where we are.

With strong leadership and diversification,

Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. is one of the largest farmer owned agriculture related businesses in the Southeast.

WWW.ALAFARM.COM

@ALAFARM_COOP

/ALAFARM

®

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

13

All of the things I just found too hard to say.

LAUREN JAUREGUI // TRACK 03

WHEN YOUR KID CAN’T FIND THE LANGUAGE, FIND THE LYRICS. USE THEM TO START A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR KIDS ABOUT EMOTIONAL WELLBEING. LISTEN TO THE ALBUM, FIND TOOLS AND GET TIPS FROM PROFESSIONALS AT

SOUNDITOUTTOGETHER.ORG

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

ECONOMIC JUSTICE AT THE TOP OF SCLC AGENDA AT THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE By:Kevin Kimble, Esq., DC Bureau Chief, SCLC and Executive Director of Southern Christian Leadership Global Policy Initiative (SCL-GPI )

At this year’s ALC conference, SCLC hosted two major events promoting economic justice and inclusion. On Thursday evening, Dr. Steele presented “Economic Justice Champion” awards to Congressmen Hank Johnson (GA), Jonathan Jackson (IL) and Glen Ivey (MD).

Then, on Friday, SCLC in conjunction with other economic justice organizations, hosted a panel discussion with Rep. Jackson, Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson, actor and activist Lorenz Tate and others, to discuss the insidious effort by the forces of intolerance to continue to eliminate the last remaining vestiges of the civil rights movement.

As we continue to pursue our economic justice agenda and seek to fulfill the promise of Dr. King’s Poor People’s Campaign, it is critical we engage our political leaders and other stakeholders. After several years of aggressive legal and political maneuvering, the forces of hate and intolerance have succeeded in curtailing the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act, resulting in a return to Jim Crow policies.

The insidious use of the 14th Amendment, the Civil Rights act of 1964, 1866 and the Anti Klan Act of 1877 to curtail black economic inclusion has been incredibly effective. We must be ever more aggressive and diligent in our efforts to reclaim the initiative and restore what has been lost.

Mr. Kimble is a 25-year veteran of Capital Hill and has held positions as chief of staff for a senior member of congress and chief lobbyist for one of the nation's largest fi nancial services fi rms. As current D.C. Bureau Chief for the national chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Kevin has unparalleled access to minority communities and civic leaders around the country. He is routinely called upon and advises members of congress on policy and legislative issues and has been asked to speak to state and local government and testify at hearings.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

15

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

17

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

19

The SCLC wishes you

Happy Thanksgiving!

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

600 African-American Christians fulfill MLK and Coretta Scott King’s dream to visit Israel

By Dr. Ruth Pauline Plummer Unprecedented gathering follows Holy Land tour of prominent Christian women meeting with Israeli officials

When 600 African-American Christians gathered on Martin Luther King Street in Jerusalem to pay tribute to the civil rights leader, it was the fulfillment of a dream that he carried and that his widow, Coretta Scott King, continued to implement after he was assassinated in 1968.

Underscoring the poignant moment last week was the presence of King’s successors, Dr. Charles Steele, the CEO of the organization co-founded by King – the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) – and his wife Cathelean Steele.

“We are fulfilling the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King to bring African Americans to Israel,” Cathelean Steele said during the keynote address of the ceremony. “Our job is to bring us back together because of the history we share.”

Steel was also an honorary host of the Women of the Bible, an educational tour organized by Covenant Daughters International. The tour – designed to educate and empower women – brought 150 women in leadership positions from around the United States, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas.

They met female leaders in Israel including Knesset Member Sharren Haskel, Israel’s First Lady Michal Herzog and Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum.

“I believe that Dr. King’s dream and Mrs. Coretta Scott King’s dream is being fulfilled,” Steele said during the tour. “The history of African Americans and the history of our Jewish brothers and sisters is not that different. Slavery is slavery. I don’t care what name you call it by.”

Steele said Mrs. King had been instrumental and “very intentional about collaborating and uniting with Jewish communities in America in a quest to combat racism and antisemitism.”

“She believed that there was an educational benefit to reassuring that Black and Jewish youth understood the struggle that each group experienced as two of the most repressed groups in the world. Personally and professional, until her death Mrs. King remained a support of the

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

21

Jewish people and of Israel,” Steele said.

This relationship between Black America and Israel was on the Kings’ hearts since 1959 when they visited the Holy Land. After Martin’s death, Coretta Scott King wrote a letter to the Israeli parliament expressing her desire for this relationship to continue.

“On April 3, 1968, right before he was killed Martin delivered his last public address and in it, he spoke of the visit he and I made to Israel in 1959. Moreover, he spoke to us about his vision of the Promised Land – a land of justice and equality, brotherhood and peace,” she wrote. “Martin dedicated his life to the goals of peace and unity among all peoples and perhaps nowhere in the world is there a greater appreciation appreciation of the desirability and the necessity of peace than in Israel.”

Israel dedicated a section of a forest to the Kings and another forest plot outside Jerusalem is dedicated solely to Coretta Scott King. Cathelene Steele received a certificate in honor of her visit to the Coretta Scott King sight from the Jewish National Fund.

Knesset Member Sharren Haskel, co-chair of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, addressed the group at their hotel and noted the mutual struggle of the African-American and Jewish communities in the United States and Jewish support of America’s civil rights movement.

“In these days when people are rewriting history and I see so much fake news that is being spread, it is important to remember our roots and our mutual history together that connects us all,” she said.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

After a raucous week in Israel leading up to a vote on legislation in the controversial judicial reform, Haskel said that it was important to her to make time to meet with these women.

“This real friendship comes from the heart comes from shared values, comes from shared beliefs,” she said.

Hosting the women on Tuesday at the official residence of the Israeli president, Herzog said has taken on her role to help empower women and to promote dialogue.

At the march on Martin Luther King Street on Wednesday, the Women of the Bible tour group was joined by Apostle Joshua Giles and his group of 400.

“This isn’t just a historic moment, this is a prophetic moment which means that we are watching prophecy fulfilled literally even before our eyes,” Giles said. "We are not just watching history we are a part of writing history.”

Giles honored the “generals” who have gone before the new generation of African Americans “for all that you had to pioneer to pave the way for us. We have not forgotten you.”

Hassan-Nahoum addressed the group on behalf of the municipality and pointed out that in synagogues this week, Jews were reading the portion of the Old Testament that talks about

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

23

Moses taking the Israelites to the border of Israel, but not going in himself.

“That connects to Dr. Martin Luther King who said you’re going to go to the Promised Land even though I may not take you there. And here we are, in that same week, and all of you are here in the Promised Land without Dr. Martin Luther King – just like the Jewish people came into Israel without the great Moses,” she said. “That to me is the most beautiful parallel of all.”

At the ceremony, Bishop to Israel for COGiC , Dr. Glenn Plummer played an audio clip of what was to be King’s last speech. In it, King described his visit to Jerusalem and he presciently said that, like Moses, he might not make it to the Promised Land.

“He had been here, he and his wife, Dr Coretta Scott King and he wanted us as a people to come here to the Promised Land and that’s what he was talking about then he said he had been to the mountain top,” Bishop Plummer said. “He went on to say that he might not get there with us but we as a people will get to the Promised Land and here we are having just walked down Martin Luther King Street in Jerusalem.”

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

We believe in equal opportunity for all regardless of race, creed, sex, age, disability, or ethnic background.

FX Matt Brewing Co D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital Mercedes Benz of Arlington/ American Service Center

A story of leadership, tenacity, and hope from the first Black mayor of Montgomery, Alabama SCAN ME

or vist prh.com/firstbest By scanning, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House’s Privacy Policy (prh.com/privacy) and Terms of Use (prh.com/terms) and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy located here: prh.com/privacy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime from prh.com/privacy/right-to-opt-out-of-sale-form.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

25

Remembering Aaron McCarthy Honoring the Legacy of a Visionary Leader SCLC Detroit Chapter President

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

Driving Change: The Auto Workers’ Strike and Its Impact on Black Families By: DeMark Liggins, SCLC Chief of Staff In the heart of the auto industry, a powerful movement is underway as auto workers, many of whom are African American, take a stand for their rights and the well-being of their families. The ongoing strike is not just about wages and working conditions; it's a bold assertion of the importance of the auto industry for Black families across the nation.

The Driving Force Behind the Strike: Equality and Fair Wages As the engines of the automotive giants hum, the workers behind the scenes are demanding more than just the smooth operation of assembly lines. At the forefront of the strike is a call for equality and fair wages. African American auto workers are demanding recognition for their invaluable contributions to an industry that has thrived on their labor.

For years, Black workers have been an essential part of the auto industry, driving innovation and excellence. However, disparities in wages and promotions persist. The strike is a collective effort to break the chains of economic inequality and ensure that every worker, regardless of race, receives just compensation for their hard work.

The Auto Industry as a Pillar of Black Prosperity The significance of the auto industry for Black families cannot be overstated. For many, these jobs have been a ticket to economic mobility, providing stable incomes and benefits that allow families to thrive. The strike is, in essence, a defense of the socio-economic lifeline that the auto industry has represented for generations.

In addition to job security, the auto industry has also been a catalyst for empowerment within Black communities. By providing opportunities for skill development, leadership roles, and entrepreneurship, it has paved the way for Black professionals to ascend the corporate ladder and make lasting contributions to the industry.

Community Impact: Beyond the Factory Walls Beyond the factory walls, the auto industry's impact reverberates through Black communities. Generations of families have relied on the stability offered by these jobs to build homes, send children to college, and invest in the future. The strike is a collective effort to preserve and enhance these opportunities for the benefit of future generations.

Moreover, the auto industry has been a source of pride and inspiration. When a Black family sees one of their own contributing to the creation of the vehicles that drive the nation forward, it instills a sense of achievement and belonging. The strike is not just a battle for economic rights; it's a fight to protect a source of pride and identity for Black families.

The Road Ahead: A Collective Journey Toward Equity As the auto workers' strike continues, it serves as a powerful reminder that the fight for equality is ongoing. The auto industry's role in the prosperity of Black families is undeniable, and the demands for fair wages and equal opportunities are a call for justice that resonates far beyond the factory floors.

The outcome of this strike will not only shape the future of the auto industry but also influence the broader narrative of economic justice and equality in America. As we navigate the twists and turns of this journey, one thing is clear—the auto workers, with their resilience and determination, are steering us toward a future where the wheels of progress turn for everyone, irrespective of race or background.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

27

wishes you a

Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

s

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

29

Atlanta Poet Hank Stewart Shines on Black Poetry Day By:Debbie Ellison

The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” – Black poet Amanda Gorman, America’s first National Youth Poet Laureate and the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history

Cries,” was published in 1760.

Black Poetry Day is celebrated every year on October 17 to honor African-American poets. It was created in 1985 to honor the birth of Jupiter Hammon, the first published Black poet in North America, who was born into slavery on Long Island in 1711. His first poem, “An Evening Thought, Salvation by Christ With Penitential

Hammon recognized the need to support and encourage Black writers, especially at a time when Black writers rarely received the support given to their white counterparts.

Black Poetry Day celebrates the contributions of Black poets, who express shared Black experiences and personal journeys through written poetry, rap, and spoken-word.

So many Black poets have graced our country’s history, including Amanda Gorman, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and many others.

Add to those poets Atlanta’s own Hank Stewart – poet, activist, humanitarian, philanthropist, and motivational speaker. He exemplifies the creativity and social responsibility that makes poetry the positive, powerful influence it is on our society.

Stewart says Black Poetry Day is important. “It gives us an opportunity to highlight poets. It creates a platform for us. It gives us an opportunity to shine, to bring some attention. You’re sharing your soul with the world. To write poetry is not just to pick up a pen and write.

You’re telling a story.”

On November seventh, 1991, something happened that changed the course of his life. He was watching the evening news. Magic Johnson announced that he was HIV positive. Floods and tornadoes ripped through the Midwest.

“I had never seen the news so bad,” he says. “And the very first poem that God ever blessed me with was a piece called ‘Can You Hear Me?’”

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

Lord there’s times when nothing is going right Lord there’s times when I can’t find anything good to talk about Lord there’s times when I cry. I wonder do you hear me Lord there are times I’ve fallen and I wonder did you see me Can you hear me Lord Can you hear me Can you hear me Just give me a sign.

Then very softly the Lord spoke to my heart He told me about Calvary and this is what He said They pierced me in my side because I heard your cry They slapped Me across my face because I heard your cry They Hung Me on a rugged cross, yes because I heard your cry I died on a Friday because I heard your cry But I rose on a Sunday because I heard your cry Now my child you have it all simply because I heard your cry.

“I’ve been fortunate,” he feels, “that people have embraced my work, the work that God has given me. And it’s taken off in the last 31 years.”

Taken off it has. He has recited his poetry to Rosa Parks and to former First Lady Michelle Obama. He has written and performed commercials for The McDonald’s Corporation and WAGA-Atlanta Black History spots. Congressman Hank Johnson named him poet laureate of Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District.

He co-authored two bestselling novels with Kendra Norman-Bellamy – Three Fifty-Seven A.M. and The Morning After and was commissioned by the Coca-Cola Company to write and perform a special piece for the 2023 Essence Music Festival. He was the first poet to perform on the main stage at the festival in front of 90,000 people. He also performed on The Trumpet Award which aired in over 150 countries.

Stewart believes serving others is important. He and Gwen Mason co-founded The Stewart Foundation, a youth leadership organization that has impacted thousands of youth since 2006. Stewart also hosts his own TV show, "The IT Factor," on which he interviews others who have the “IT” factor. He has won many honors and awards, including Emmy, Promax, and Gabby Awards.

He feels a deep respect and connection to the Civil Rights Movement and has had close relationships with icons including Dr. Joseph Lowery; Xernona Clayton; Ambassador Andrew Young; Dr. C.T. Vivian; Dr. Charles Steele, Jr.; Congressman John Lewis; and his mentor, Dr. Cameron Madison Alexander. Those relationships have been captured in his poetry.

Stewart’s poem “I Accept” was written when Dr. C.T. Vivian and Congressman John Lewis died on the same day in 2020. He says the poem was written for Civil Rights Movement icons Dr. Lowery, Dr. Vivian, 31 SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

Congressman John Lewis, Rita Samuels, Cameron Madison Alexander, and others. “I felt a sense of responsibility to move their agenda, our agenda, and our community’s agenda forward. And if it comes through poetry, that’s my platform.

“So I’ve been encouraged by the Civil Rights Movement legends and foot soldiers to do the work. They created a platform for me. So many people have embraced my work, the work that God has blessed me with. So the movement birthed me. The movement reared me, groomed me, mentored me, taught me, embraced me.” His work, he feels, “continues to tell the story.”

One of those legends of the Civil Rights Movement is Dr. Charles Steele Jr., National President and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Dr. Steele says of Stewart, “God gave him a gift that impacts the lives of many. I am proud to say that I know a poet of his magnitude.”

Five years ago, after attending a meeting of the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda, Stewart had lunch with several civil rights activists. Jamida Orange, Rev. James Orange’s daughter, told a story about how Dr. Vivian, herself, and another man, John Taylor, went to Sanford, Florida, when Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted.

“On their way,” he says, “Jamida said that she and John were talking about how beautiful the trees were in Florida. And I guess it must have upset Dr. Vivian, and he said, ‘Those trees don’t look that good to me.’ And just that one statement prompted this poem.”

Those Trees

by Hank Stewart In the car riding through Alabama, on our way to Mississippi with some friends, talking about everything While riding, we even enjoyed some of the music on the radio: Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke, “Change is going to come,” some of the songs, my friends and I even tried to sing.

Great conversations, the topics ranged from politics, money, religion We talked about who’s the best athlete of all times Nothing like a great debate, all we needed was some good food and a bottle of wine.

As we were riding, we had this incredible view.

One of my friends began to talk about all the beautiful trees, The leaves, the color, and the more one friend talked, the more my other friend withdrew.

One friend said, “Look at those Maples, that Magnolia, and look at the Dogwoods”

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

I remember someone saying, some of these trees don’t grow in the hood Now my friend who had withdrawn from the conversation said, “I can’t take it anymore” It caught us all by surprise, we didn’t know if he was feeling well Did we need to stop and pick him something up from the drug store?

Finally, he said, “those trees they don’t look that good to me” When I look at those trees, that’s not what I see When I look at those trees, I see bodies that had been lynched, and set afire I see them putting ropes over those trees and around Black mens’ necks, and pulling them high When I look at those trees, I see our people tied to that Magnolia and beaten inches from their lives When I look at those trees, I see fathers being hung in the presence of their children and wives I don’t see those trees as a place to bring a basket and blanket and lay under the stars Or a place to lean my back up against as I read a good book or write my memoirs Sure I see that Maple and the leaves, colors are turning amber But what I really see is a tree that expired an entire family And they gathered around those trees like we were their recreation Families coming home far and near to watch, like they were on spring break or vacation When I see those trees, I can still hear the screaming and then all of a sudden, I don’t hear screaming anymore Another life is gone, those trees, those trees, still hurt Oh no, those trees bring back memories, bad memories; they make me want to cry I think of those trees, they make me ask why Those trees took away so many hopes and dreams Those trees, they have a theme If those trees could talk, they would say he was innocent, it wasn’t him But they ignored all the evidence and made judge and jury my limb

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

33

If those trees could call roll, what names would say, “There, I hung” Emmett, Calvin or Henrietta, that’s where the song, “Strange Fruit” comes from My Friend said that that was not the purpose God created for those trees; to be caught and hung, like prey One of the purposes for those trees was to provide oxygen, not take oxygen away I wish I could see those trees on a hot summer day, and only see that tree as shade Instead, when I see those trees, I see white men in robes with sheets over their heads Those trees took away mothers from daughters, and fathers from sons When you see those trees, you see beauty; when I see those trees, I want to run from Those Trees “One of the things I’m most excited about,” he says, “is that if I left this Earth right now, there’s something that shows I was here. You read my work. It’s going to outlive me. What are you doing that’s going to outlive you? What positive contribution would you make that will outlive you? Find that. That’s the voice I need you to find.”

Debbie Ellison is the Executive Director of Global Humanitarians Unite and Co-Chair of the Education Committee of the Cherokee County NAACP.

Ingles Market

P.O Box 6676 Asheville, North Carolina SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

Our values of

togetherness, integrity, making a difference, and excellence

have helped us haveahelped us build uniquely buildapproach a uniquely Hershey to Hershey approach to making more moments of goodness. making more moments of goodness.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

35

In the Shadows of Injustice: America at the Crossroads By: DeMark Liggins, SCLC Chief of Staff

Introduction In the intricate tapestry of America's legal landscape, recent Supreme Court rulings are raising unsettling parallels with the dark days of the Jim Crow era. As the gavel strikes decisions that echo a bygone era of oppression, the ramifications reverberate through the fabric of society, causing concern among those attuned to the echoes of history. This article explores the ominous undertones of these rulings, contextualizing them within the broader backdrop of violence in Black communities, economic disparities, and the enduring mission of organizations like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

A Dangerous Nostalgia: Supreme Court Rulings and the Ghosts of Jim Crow Recent Supreme Court rulings have sent shockwaves through the nation, prompting fears that America may be veering dangerously close to reviving the legal precedents of the Jim Crow era. The Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States from the late 19th century into the mid-20th century, were notorious for perpetuating systemic racism, violence, and relegating Black Americans to second-class citizenship.

The fears are not unfounded. These rulings, often disguised in legal jargon, seem to peel back layers of progress made since the Civil Rights Movement, threatening to resurrect a legal framework that once justified segregation and discrimination. It is a chilling prospect, one that forces us to confront the ghosts of a past many believed were buried.

A City in Mourning: Jacksonville's August Tragedy The alarming trajectory of these legal decisions is underscored by the ongoing violence in Black communities, epitomized by the tragic events in Jacksonville, Florida, this past August.

The shooting that unfolded serves as a stark reminder that legal rulings are not abstract principles; they have tangible consequences

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

that manifest in the bloodshed of innocent lives.

As the nation mourned, questions lingered about the root causes of such violence. Is it a symptom of a society teetering on the edge of a return to an era where Black lives were not only devalued but also routinely extinguished? The juxtaposition of legal decisions and the blood-stained streets of Jacksonville demands introspection.

Economic Disparity: A Persistent Struggle In the shadows of these unsettling legal developments and the specter of violence, the economic disparity faced by Black Americans continues to cast a long and persistent shadow. The struggle for economic justice is a multifaceted challenge, with income and wealth gaps persisting despite decades of supposed progress.

Black Americans find themselves disproportionately affected by economic inequalities, facing barriers to educational and professional opportunities that perpetuate a cycle of poverty.

The promise of equality, a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement, remains elusive for many, as systemic issues persist and intertwine with the broader narrative of racial injustice.

The SCLC: A Beacon of Hope Amidst Adversity Amidst these challenges, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) stands as a beacon of hope and resilience. Founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and currently led

by Dr. Charles Steele, Jr., the SCLC has been an unwavering force in the fight for justice and equality.

The organization's mission to "Redeem the Soul of America" is a poignant reminder that the struggle for justice is an enduring one. In the face of resurging legal precedents reminiscent of the Jim Crow era, the SCLC's commitment to dismantling systemic injustices remains steadfast. Dr. King's dream, etched into the fabric of American ideals, lives on through the tireless work of organizations like the SCLC. Conclusion: Navigating the Crossroads As America stands at the crossroads of its history, the recent Supreme Court rulings force us to confront uncomfortable 37 SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

truths about the fragility of progress.

The echoes of the Jim Crow era, once thought to be distant memories, are reverberating with a disconcerting resonance.

The violence in Jacksonville, economic disparities, and the steadfast mission of organizations like the SCLC serve as poignant reminders that the struggle for justice is multifaceted. It requires not only legal reforms but a collective societal commitment to dismantling the deep-rooted structures that perpetuate inequality.

America faces a choice: to succumb to the ghosts of its past or to confront them head-on, paving the way for a future where justice, equality, and the sanctity of Black lives are not just lofty ideals but lived realities. The path forward may be uncertain, but the lessons of history remind us that the choices we make today will shape the destiny of generations to come.

DeMark Liggins is a proud alum of Alabama State University, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and involved in several civic organizations in the Atlanta area. He is married to his wife Atoya and they have three children, Reagan (13), Darden (7) and Deuce (7).

Lower rates.

Better service.

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue

39

THE MEMBERS OF THE UAW PROUDLY SUPPORT THE SCLC AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

“SOMETIMES SILENCE IS BETRAYAL.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

President: Shawn Fain | Secretary-Treasurer: Margaret Mock Vice Presidents: Chuck Browning | Mike Booth | Rich Boyer

SCLC National Magazine/ Fall 2023 Issue