The Whitefield community celebrated Black History Month with a chapel dedicated to understanding the struggles of African Americans and the courage of the men and women who began a tide of change towards equality. During the chapel, Princess Elmore, mother of alumnus Brandon Reed, sang A Change is Gonna Come , Jennifer Pinkett-Smith sang Precious Lord, Take My Hand and the Middle School choir sang Has Your Lamp Gone Out, all powerful songs which illustrated the essence of the Civil Rights Movement. A video clip, filmed and edited by sophomore Jordan Greer was also shown. The clip asked students why the nation celebrates Black History Month and what the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement meant to them.
The highlight of the chapel, however, was guest speaker James Stewart. Stewart, who grew up in Birmingham in the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, wove a tale of injustice and oppression as he shared stories from his life as an African American during the Jim Crow South.
“The story of history is not just written in books but was lived by real people in real situations,” said Stewart as he shared first-hand accounts of the Birmingham protests of 1963.
Stewart led the first group of young marchers out of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in what became known as the Birmingham Children’s March, spearheaded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth. He was arrested and spent four days in the Birmingham jail in deplorable conditions along with thousands of others crammed into holding cells with sweltering heat, inedible food and sub-standard sanitation.
“We were fingerprinted and treated as criminals for peacefully protesting,” said Stewart. “Throughout those days in jail, more and more protestors were arrested and brought to the holding cell where we were; some arrived with clothes torn and wet from the hoses that authorities used on them. We had to use the bathroom facilities, four or five toilet bowls, in front of one another because they were just there on the edge of the room where we were staying. Protestors were packed into close quarters and took shifts sleeping and standing on the perimeter of the room, and then nudging those sleeping on the concrete floor in the center when they could not bear standing any longer.” Stewart also shared the story of a friend whose head was shaved by the water pressure from the hoses and who would have lost her eye had she not turned her face just in time.
Stewart and other young protestors had an opportunity to meet Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Birmingham before the protests broke out and were inspired by his message of non-violence.
“Dr. King called me and other young leaders to a room, convinced us of the necessity to get involved and urged us to adopt a principle of non-violence,” said Stewart. “He told those who disagreed with the non-violent approach that he did not think any less of them, but that they needed to leave the meeting because violence would only lead to more violence.”
Stewart also shared the story of the March on Washington DC where Dr. King gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech which painted a picture of a world where people would be judged by the “content of their character, not the color of their skin.” The speech gave hope to 1,000s of African Americans who were wounded by both physical and emotional abuse, discouraged by the nation, and exhausted by living every single day under the cloud of oppression.
“Dr. King spoke with such authority that day,” said Stewart “This is a man who we had marched with in Birmingham and we were so proud of him.” Stewart remembers listening to King’s speech while sitting on the edge of the reflection pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. He painted a picture of that momentous day, reliving it for the audience with passion and clarity.
Stewart also shared about the loss of his wife’s cousin, Carol Robertson, who was one of the four little girls killed in the September 15 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Stewart was a pallbearer at Robertson’s funeral.
Throughout his speech, Stewart challenged students to be ever aware of discrimination and live a life which honors God and the dignity He has given every man. He quoted Dr. King’s famous words, “Let no man pull you low enough to hate him,” and asked students to look ahead in their futures for how they can change America for the better.
“You are going to be future lawyers, doctors, city councilman, and more,” said Stewart. “Make decisions now so that you are prepared for what you will face in the future. The question really is ‘How will you change America...it is in your hands.”
Pictured with Mr. Stewart and Dr. Bracher are Kathy Greer and Cheryl Cosey who coordinated Black History Month for the Middle and Upper School. Here's a short snippett of Mr. Stewart speaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETos-5euhiw