UPW Urban Pro Weekly

UPW JANUARY 11 - 24 2018

Augusta minister recalls arrest and incarceration in a Birmingham jail along with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

URBAN PRO WEEKLY

VOL. 7 NO. 6

KINGINBIRMINGHAM1963 In many ways the campaign conducted by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Birmingham, Alabama in 1963 epitomized the entire civil rights movement and demonstrated how the forces that shaped the movement relied on circumstance and conditions well beyond the power of one man.

Demonstrators seek protection from the assault by firemen in Birmingham, Ala., in 1963. Many of those on the frontlines of the protest were high school students who boycotted classes to march for the freedom. Credit: Charles Moore/Black Star

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KINGINBIRMINGHAM1963

USA. Alabama. Birmingham. 1963. A female protester being arrested and led away by the police. Photo by Bruce Davidson

“The purpose of direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation . . .We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open where it can be seen and dealt with.”

— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

— The Rev. Wyatt T. Walker

Direct Action and The Birmingham Campaign

T

he Birmingham campaign was a strategic movement organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to bring attention to the unequal treatment that black Americans endured in Birmingham, Alabama.

The campaign ran during the spring of 1963, culminating in widely publicized confrontations between black youth and white civic authorities, that eventually pressured the municipal government to change the city’s discrimination laws.

Organizers, led by Martin Luther King, Jr. used nonviolent direct action tactics to defy laws they considered unfair. King summarized the philosophy of the Birmingham campaign when he said: “The purpose of ... direct action is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.”

In the early 1960s, Birmingham was one of the most racially divided cities in the United States, as black citizens faced legal and economic disparities as well as violent retribution when they attempt-

ed to bring attention to their problems.

Protests in Birmingham began with a boycott to pressure business leaders to provide employment opportunities to people of all races, and end segregation in public facilities, restaurants, and stores. When business leaders resisted the boycott, SCLC organizer Wyatt Tee Walker and Birmingham native Fred Shuttlesworth began what they termed Project C, a series of sit-ins and marches intended to provoke mass arrests.

After the campaign ran low on adult volunteers, high school, college, and elementary students were trained

by SCLC coordinator James Bevel to participate, resulting in hundreds of arrests and an instant intensification of national media attention on the campaign.

To dissuade demonstrators and control the protests the Birmingham Police Department, led by Eugene “Bull” Conners, used high-pressure water jets and police dogs on children and bystanders. Media coverage of these events brought intense scrutiny on racial segregation in the South.

Not all of the demonstrators were peaceful, despite the avowed intentions of the SCLC. In some cases, bystanders attacked the police, who responded with force. Scenes of the ensuing mayhem caused an international outcry, leading to federal intervention by the Kennedy administration. King and the SCLC were criticized for putting children in harm’s way.

By the end of the campaign, King’s reputation surged, Connor lost his job, the “Jim Crow” signs in Birmingham came down, and public places became more open to blacks.

The Birmingham campaign was a model of direct action protest, as it effectively shut down the city. By attracting media attention to the adverse treatment of black Americans, it brought national force to bear on the issue of segregation. Although desegregation occurred slowly in Birmingham, the campaign was a major factor in the national push towards the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited racial discrimination in hiring practices and public services in the United States.

Local minister jailed in Birmingham with Dr. King

By Frederick Benjamin Sr. In March 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. was jailed by racists in Birmingham, Alabama, then a hotbed of racial injustice and discrimination. It was from his jail cell that he composed his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Along with King, as was usually the case, others were sub- Rev. James E. jected to the Robinson same dumb hatred and ignorance for the crime of standing up for their rights and dignity.

One such person was the Reverend J.E. Robinson, then a minister and teacher of the CME faith. He, along with Dr. King and hundreds of courageous Black men, women and chil-

dren faced down “Bull” Conners, his racist officers and attack dogs and struck a blow for civil rights that set the segregationist bulwark tottering and eventually obliterated it totally.

Reverend Robinson’s quiet demeanor belies the dogged determination and courage embedded deep within his being. As a man of God, it is not in his nature to fear other men, not is it in his nature to hate. A constant goal kept before his inner vision: to improve; to become a better human being.

[Editor’s note: This interview pulled from the archives of UrbanProWeekly was conducted in 1986 by Frederick Benjamin Sr. Dr. Robinson was 72 years old at the time.]

I found the Rev. Robinson in his home in the quiet Turpin Hill neighborhood of Augusta. This month, he retires from pastoring the Rock of Ages C.M.E. Church after seven years at the helm. I had come to stir up some memories that may have lain dormant for over 20 years.

When did you first meet Dr. Martin Luther King?

Robinson: Personally, it was probably in 1960 in Alabama. We used to have a movement meetings and he used to come and speak.

He was quite a national figure at this time. People from all over the United States came. People from foreign countries even dame. At that time there was a lawyer from Washington who came down to my home every week just to see what needed to be done or whether there were any new disturbances.

Why do you think that the civil rights movement in the south was predominantly a movement headed by the church?

Robinson: I don’t know, but it was. One reason may have been that the preachers were somewhat independent in their livelihoods.

Others had to have jobs controlled by whites. We had the time and even if we didn’t, we took it. I can remember meeting with two city councils in one day and spent the

whole day. And then, also, the preachers had a place to meet free of interruption.

Even in the NA ACP, school teachers couldn’t let it be known that they joined. They would give me money but they didn’t want a receipt. (Editor’s note: Rev. Robinson was the president of the NA ACP in Fairfield, Alabama in 1963-1966).

What years of the struggle were the most intense?

Robinson: 1961-1963 were the worst years. In Birmingham, we had the worst situation. We had quite a bit of police brutality and we had a lot of things happening throughout the country that year. They killed the folks in that bus; they killed (Emmet) Till in Mississippi.

In Birmingham, we had police brutality every week. During that era, we wrote up every case of police brutality and sent it to Washington and even abroad. I Continued on page 5

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“Bull” Conner had something in his mind about not letting these ni**ers get to City Hall. I prayed that he’d keep trying to stop us.. .Birmingham would have been lost if Bull had let us go down to the City Hall and pray; if he had let us do that and stepped aside, what else would be new? There would be no movement, no publicity. But all he could see was stopping us before we got there.

We had calculated for the stupidity of a Bull Conner.

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SportsVIEW

Butler senior Keith Littles (L) goes for a layup as Westside freshman Felix Booker (R) defends during a conference game held at Butler. The Bulldogs defeated the Patriots 95-74. In the AA region, Butler is ranked third, after Glenn Hills and Laney.

(January 9, 2018 - Augusta, GA) - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal

Butler High School’s Kyozjma Jackson (R) (#14) battles it out with Westside senior Taylor Lewis (L) (#12) for control of the ball during a conference game at Butler. The Lady Bulldogs defeated the Lady Patriots 55-26. Butler is currently in third position in region AA rankings, after Josey and Laney.

(January 9, 2018 - Augusta, GA) - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/ Sports Journal Butler freshman Ronnie Striggles prepares for a free throw during a home conference game against Westside. The Bulldogs defeated the Patriots 95-74. In the AA region, Butler is ranked third, after Glenn Hills and Laney. (January 9, 2018 Augusta, GA) - Photo by Vincent Hobbs/Sports Journal

UPW Urban Pro Weekly Hephzibah, GA 30815

URBAN PRO WEEKLY Publisher URBAN PRO WEEKLY MEDIA 706-306-4647 urbanpromedia@yahoo.com

CEO / Sales FREDERICK BENJAMIN SR. 706-306-4647 editor@urbanproweekly.com

Contributors VINCENT HOBBS Photography & New Media KEN MAKIN contributing columnist

Local Pastor from page 3 Was there a concerted effort on the part of the white power structure in Birmingham to keep Blacks off of the police force?

Robinson: Oh, yes. We prepared bright people to take the test and they failed every time. We trained them and worked with them and they would go down there and every time they went, they failed. A white person could go in right off of the street and pass.

They used to destroy the interracial civil rights organizations by one means or another. We had one rights organization going rather well, but it was headed by a white preacher. Through maneuvering, the whites had him defrocked and in order for him to get back into the church, he had to leave Birmingham.

They used to call the white folks who were in accord with us “do-gooders,” They’d have meetings and say, “And we don’t want any ‘do-gooder’ to come. They ran out every white preacher in Birmingham that was active in civil rights organizations.

What led to your being put into jail?”

Robinson: Marching!

I was in jail with Dr. King when he wrote that famous letter. We were in jail four or five days. A Rev. Lindsay, who is Bishop Lindsey now, and I had a service every day [in jail]. There were quite a few of us arrested then. They separated us from Dr. King. We only saw

him occasionally, but there were at least a dozen young boys. That was the dirtiest place that I had ever seen where people were supposed to live. They separated us from the white prisoners, but we didn’t have any beds. We had one table and one or two chairs, one commode, one sink and an open roof. It was still somewhat cold. It was around Easter. The first thing I did when I got out was to hold my Easter Service.

At the trial, there was an elderly judge. He had a heart attack and actually died in the courtroom while Dr. King sang and prayed for him.

What role did the federal government play during that era?

Robinson: Kennedy was very active and Johnson probably did more than Kennedy. When Kennedy got killed, at least one of the white schools, if not more, had a field day. They were so happy.

They celebrated in the schools. Of course, when they got on TV they denied it, but it was too late then.

When the civil rights law was passed they sent down a federal official and he registered every person that went down. Before that, you had to take a test.

Do you think the civil rights struggle has borne fruit today?

Robinson: Oh yes, I’m sure it has. The civil rights acts by Congress have improved the Black situation tremendously. It’s a long way from perfect, but we certainly are far removed from where we were in the ‘60s and even in the ‘70s I would think.

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Events MLK Day Parade

City of Augusta and the NA ACP Augusta Branch presents the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade sponsored by Power 107, 96.3 Kiss FM featuring church groups, dance groups, array of f loats, bands and much more will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. This year’s Theme is “Steadfast and Immovable”.

Parade Route: Line up and start will be from the Dyess Park Community Center located at 902 James Brown Blvd., it will proceed from there south on James Brown Blvd, then going west onto Wrightsboro Road, then North onto Augusta Ave; then east onto Laney Walker Blvd, then North onto 11th street and finally east onto D’Antignac Street.

MLK Unity Breakfast The 21st Annual Rev. Brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Breakfast sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Alpha Chi Lambda Chapter and the Phil H. Waring Memorial Education Foundation (501©3 certified) will be held on Monday, 15 January 2018 at 7:30 a.m., in the Oglethorpe Ballroom of the Augusta Marriott Hotel at the Conference Center with the

Honorable Kellie Kenner McIntyre, State Court Judge, as the keynote speaker.

The chapter will also award its coveted “Brother Bert T. Thomas Unity Award”, to a person or organization in the community that has worked toward improving race relations over the past year and the Brother Lee Beard Humanitarian award. Tickets are $40.00

Last Chance: A play to honor

work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Written and Directed by Tyrone J. Butler After a friend is gunned down in a drive-by, Punkie must realize that her last chance for a better life is education.

SHOW TIMES Fri., Jan. 12, 2018 –8:00 P.M. Sat. – Mon., Jan. 13 - 15 –3:00 pm Sat. & Sun., Jan. 20 & 21, –3:00 pm Sat. & Sun.,Feb. 17 & 18 –3:00 pm

ADMISSION $15.00 Adults; $10.00 Children & Students (Ages 2-18) & Senior Citizens (Ages 65 & Up); $8.50 Youth Groups/Chaperones & Senior Citizens Groups (Ages 65 & Up) - (10 or more)

LOCATION Judith Simon Drama Studio on the Campus of Augusta Mini Theatre FOR TICKETS Call 706-722-0598

SPECIAL SHOWING: Saturday, March 10, 2018 –5:00 P.M. at Old Macedonia Baptist Church: 200 Macedonia Road, North Augusta, SC 29860 For more info call: 803.278.5244 or 803.648.8995 You can also purchase tickets and learn more about the Augusta Mini Theatre, by visiting www.augustaminitheatre.com.

2018 Leadership Conference The 2018 Leadership Conference hosted at the Everfaithful Missionary Baptist Church, located at 314 Sand Bar Ferry Road, Augusta, Georgia 30901.

The theme this year is Leadership Through Prayer, Faith and Commitment. Conference admission is free and will be held on Friday, January 19, 2018, with Registration beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the Conference begins at 6:00p.m. On Saturday, January 20, 2018, Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m. and the Conference will begin at 8:50 a.m.

Some of God’s best teachers are waiting for this opportunity to pour out and share this great opportunity. You don’t want to miss this move of God. Anyone requiring additional information may phone Elder Loretta Williams at 706-726-7735 or Bishop Rosa L. Williams at 706-564-3622. Sponsors: Everfaithful Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga. – Bishop Rosa L. Williams, Pastor Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Jackson, SC – Rev. Paul Bush, Pastor, St. Phillip Baptist Church, Beech Island, SC – Rev. Eric Butler, Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church, Aiken, SC – Rev. Charles Berry/ Min. N. Cummings, Mims Grove Baptist Church, North Augusta, SC --Rev. Reginald Grimes, Pastor

Runs Missionary Baptist Church, invites you to its Youth Day

Service on Sunday, January 14th at 8am.

Rev. Stevie W. Berry is our pastor.

Runs Missionary Baptist Church celebrates the 8th Pastoral Anniversary, honoring Rev. Stevie W. Berry and First Lady Trina A. Berry on Sunday January 21st, 2018 at 8 AM. Our guest minister will be Rev. Daniel Latimer, Pastor of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, Allendale, SC. Runs Missionary Baptist Church is located at 717 Williston Rd, Beech Island,

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Senior Pastor & Founder Pastor Quwan(Q.E. Asbury) Location: 1440 Jackson Rd, Augusta GA 30909 @ the elementary (side entrance) Tuesdays: 6pm-7pm-Bible Study Sunday Worship service @10:30am

Schoolboard Special Election The Richmond County Board of Elections announces the qualifying period and election information for the March 20, 2018 Special Election in Board of Education District 7.

Qualifying for the March 20, 2018 Special Election in Board of Education District 7 will open on Tuesday, January 16, 2018 at 9:00 AM in the Board of Elections Office located at 535 Telfair Street, Suite 500, Augusta, GA and will close on Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 12:00 Noon. A qualifying fee of $100.00 will be required upon qualifying for office.

The special election is for the unexpired term of Frank Dolan, resigned, which will expire on December 31, 2018. A

runoff, if necessary, will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

The voter registration deadline for all citizens desiring to register to vote or update their voter record will be Monday, February 19, 2018. Applications for Voting by Mail are being accepted now and ballots will be mailed beginning Monday, February 26, 2018. Advance Voting will be conducted in the Board of Elections Office beginning Monday, February 26, 2018. The last day for Voting by Mail and Advance Voting will be Friday, March 16, 2018.

All polling locations in District 7 will be open on Election Day and the polls will be open from 7 AM until 7 PM.

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Bulletin Board

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COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY The Richmond County School System will accept bids and request for proposals until 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 23, 2018, for the following: 1. ERATE 21 (2018) Network Infrastructure (51 Schools) Bid specifications may be obtained by contacting Cecilia Perkins in the Business Office at perkice@boe.richmond.k12.ga.us or 706826-1298, on our web site at www.rcboe.org/bids, or at Richmond County School System, Central Office 864 Broad Street, 4th Floor, Augusta, GA 30901.

The Richmond County School System reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive technicalities and informalities.

COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OF RICHMOND COUNTY By: Dr. Angela D. Pringle, Secretary