All Ministers were called forth to attend Triumph Baptist Church in Germantown, N.Philly to strategize in the final days of this watershed election. I never know what to expect whenI attend an Obama event but it is always more than I expected as well as postive and uplifting.
Ministers have been the sentinels, the encouragers, and our "great father figures" that have traditionally organized the people. They have the responsibility as Martin said to "reedem the soul of America."
Obama senior counsel, Michael Strautmanis friend of both Obama and Michelle was a speaker as was the Rev. C.T.Vivian former member of the MLK's Executive committee. Some key points were made, realites that hit us hard. For the first time ever, we will be decison makers in one of the two parties. Rev. Vivian talked a lot about "process." It's on going, we cannot sit down anymore, we are in an eternal vigil.
When I asked Rev. Vivian why our youth blame us, for their lack of direction, he said "they are right" we got a victory in 1964, and then we sat down. Many young people feel this way and I have heard this from my own son. My answer is, we believed in the Constitution of the United States and that American's love of freedom would prevail, and the right to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, all wonderful , pollyanna goodness.
Well, we were wrong. We didn't surmise how relentless racism really was. How deep and wide and deepley esconced in the hearts of far too many. We didn't know it was a "race war" we thought it was just a war on poverty, injustice, housing, employment, but it was not perceived as a "race war."
The Rev. C.T. Vivian is in the center of the photo,he is now 84-years old God Bless him, still talking mighty!
Rev. Vivian was a member of Dr. King's executive staff and leader of community organizing and direct action in the Nashville, Birmingham and Selma campaigns. He was featured by PBS in "Eyes on the Prize" and a film special on his life, "The Healing Ministry of Rev. C.T. Vivian." He will speak on "Jesus' Call to Active Nonviolence" and "Working for Change in the Face of Violence: Experiences and Reflections from the Civil Rights Struggle." This is an extraordinary opportunity to learn from one of King's close associates. Workshops on strategies to address issues of violence will be offered between presentations.
Posted By: Marta Fernandez
Saturday, October 18th 2008 at 7:29AM
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