The fight for justice rings on
Doing the right thing, day in and day out, carries forward Martin Luther King’s rallying cries for justice, said David Toland, as the speaker for the MLK program Monday night at Ward Chapel AME Church.
Without the fanfare of marches, sit-ins and demonstrations, the purpose is as great today as in the heyday of the Civil Rights movement, and perhaps more difficult, because the target can sometimes be the man in the mirror.
“Confronting our own laziness, our own fears, our own desire to go along to get along, is the hard part,” Toland said.
“Too often we don’t speak up when confronted with the evil in our world. And when we don’t, we become part of the problem,” he said.
Toland, executive director of Thrive Allen County, capped off a night of inspirational singing, prayer and remarks at the traditional service.
In his brief remarks, Mayor Bill Shirley wondered if back in 1873 the founders of the historically African American church ever would have believed that one day their nation would have a black president. Monday’s ceremonies coincided with second inauguration of President Barack Obama.
“Things are improving, but we’re not there yet,” Shirley said. “Not until we all have self-respect and give respect to each other.”
In his opening prayer, The Rev. Phil Honeycutt looked out over the salt-and-pepper audience, saying, “We may all be from different backgrounds, but tonight, Lord, you got us on the same playing field. Let us celebrate as one Dr. King’s birthday and his dreams.”
The proficient Pat Pulley, who sang and played accompaniment on the piano, Becky French, and Naomi Clounch, whose 79-year-old voice grows richer with each passing year, provided music in separate performances.
A head count of 67 attended the service.
Toland’s comments hit the mark for the receptive crowd.
“Change doesn’t just happen,” he said. “It has to be willed to happen. And it takes individual action.
“We all have personal challenges, but not a one of us in this room can say that we struggled like Dr. King did. Being born a black man in racist Georgia in 1929, every single card in the deck was stacked against him.
“And yet we don’t have time to help out our fellow neighbors?
“Dr. King’s house was bombed. He was jailed. Attacked by dogs. Beaten. His life and his family’s lives were threatened. And he ultimately lost his life in the struggle.
“And we can’t give a few hours or a few dollars to help people in need right here in Allen County?
“If Dr. King wouldn’t let dogs and fire hoses turn him around, how can we let judgmental neighbors and people who do nothing for their fellow man turn us around with their judgments?”
The fight to do right is within each of us, Toland said. Call it out.
