Today we are observing Martin Luther King Day, a Federal holiday in the United States of America.
The impact of his movement was lost on me when I was living through it as a young girl. I was 9 when he was assassinated and not into current events. His death clearly impacted my Mother terribly . . . and that impacted me.
It was a Thursday, I remember because we had choir practice on Thursday nights. I sang in the church choir.
The following Sunday, as a request to our Pastor, a special collection plate was passed around to collect donations for Dr. King's family.
My Mother was on the Altar Guild at that time and she was responsible for the collections and tithes.
After church that Sunday my Mother was clearly upset. I had rarely seen her cry, and she was crying . . . in Church. It was upsetting to see my Mother cry and I asked what was wrong and why she was so upset. She told me that someone had written a note and placed in in the collection plate which was circulated for donations. She told me, through tears "Someone wrote 'It serves him right, the black devil.' "
THAT impacted me . . . and I'll never forget the hate that was in that note which was placed in CHURCH! It made my Mother so upset because it was her suggestion that this donation be taken up. It was NOT her intention to have to see this type of hatred, bigotry and prejudice in church. But there are a lot of people who hate . . . there is nothing new under the sun. And because I saw my Mother cry, I remember what sadness she felt as a result of people's disdain for one another.
I SEEK HIGHER GROUND!
Last year I posted a really interesting article The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And a Knight in Tunisia. I went back to read it today and WOW look at what happened in the months to come.
I stumbled on a project called "Playing for Change" and it's fascinating. I thought this was a good day to share it. Musicians from all around the world are synced together in a jam session. Pretty interesting use of technology.
The Playing for Change project has covered a lot of songs. Their cover of Mick Jagger's (The Stones) "Gimme Shelter" is great. But, for today, I thought their cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" was befitting.
People playing for change . . .
a blues guitarist from Livorno, Italy, a tabla percussionist in Chinnai, India, vocalists in Paris, France and Amsterdam, Netherlands, the sounds of Detroit, MI are represented and Los Angeles. Musical instruments from Tokyo, Japan to Sao Paul, Brazil, to Mali to Senigal -- that I have no idea what they're called -- ancient traditional instruments and worn guitars to new Yamaha drum sets . . . all blended together to bring you "Higher Ground"
"I'm so glad that he let me try it again
Cause my last time on earth I lived a whole world of sin
I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then
Gonna keep on tryin'
Till I reach my highest ground
Till I reach my highest ground
No one's gonna bring me down
Till I reach my highest ground
Don't you let nobody bring you down (they'll sho 'nuff try)
God is gonna show you higher ground
He's the only friend you have around"
Turn up the volume:
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I wonder if my daughter remembers me crying on 9-11? Never thought of that before I read this
I don't remember crying. But I do recall being mad as hell.
What compels a human being to come to church and have so much hate inside them?
Your story hurts me like someone just punched me in the stomach. . . I can't even comprehend why someone could write that?. .inside a church?
Carla I think we all know that the late Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was nothing noooo where close to being a Black Devil. God forgive us all for the things we say or do that is ungodly. We are all God children and we should all treat each other they way God wants us to treat one another. Almost 49 years later since his "I have a Dream" speech,I wonder what Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. thinks of us now. Love the video. Thanks for sharing this Carla.
Carla,
I cried when he was murdered, and I cried watching the video but he would have loved the tribute. He would have loved the video. He would say we have made progress but we are not done.
Nauseating to think that someone wrote that in church but churches have warred, crusaded, held inquisitions and killed a lot of people for "religion".
Hi Tammy . . . you can ask, but I'm sure she does.
Hey Jim -- emotions run differently in people.
Hi Fernando . . . It was no less of a shock to my Mother and it upset her very deeply. I remember it, and remember what she told me about why she was crying.
Hey Lanre -- Thank you for your comment and adding to this post in such a positive way!
Hi Marge . . . Saints and sinners . . . AGHHHHHHH!! I was too young to understand things, but remember the impact those words had on my Mother. The struggle was understood by me as I grew up and remember these events. I realized why my Mother cried in church.
Carla....I cannot imagine sending a note like that....IN CHURCH....but it does not surprise me either. It saddens me to read it all these years later.
Hi Christine . . . and to me, this is why we must keep the dream alive. We move forward with love and seek a higher ground.
Absolutely amazing Carla! That really cheered me up after reading the first part of your post...that made me teary eyed. I can't even imagine the level of hate that would take to write something like that in Church...Wow have we come a long way..we have further to go but Dr. King's vision is all around us and it's wonderful!
Hi Carla,
The naked hate of such a note being delivered in a CHURCH is appalling. I'm sure there are people who feel that way even today. But we have come a long way - we just have such a long way to go. Sometimes I think we take one step forward and another step back.
Wow - thanks for sharing this story. I was seriously moved by it. Gave me goosebumps.
Wow what a terrible thing for someone to have done in church. Amazing the things we remember so clearly from our childhoods. Sounds like you and your mother were very close as you were growing up. Nice post Carla.