-John Miller
The past two days in Atlanta, Georgia has been an incredible experience. It is one thing to learn about the Civil Rights movement in the classroom, but to travel to the locations where the movement’s most significant events took place and to converse with participants, black and white, has added a whole new level of appreciation. Our Q&A session, in particular, with MLK’s chauffeur, Tom Houlk, and Civil Rights activist, James Bond, served as a humbling reminder that the participants in the movement were ordinary humans. Yes, they held strong morals and adamant convictions but they also laughed and empathized with our group. It really grounded our perception of the Civil Rights movement, which has allowed us to reflect on and to interpret the movement on a personal level.
I was specifically moved when Houlk and Bond announced they supported and continue to support gays in their struggle for equal marital rights and social acceptance. They’re activism is not limited to black Civil Rights. They’re human Civil Rights activists. I believe their innate belief in everyone’s social equality and acceptance, regardless of race, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation, is the most valuable lesson the Civil Rights movement has bestowed upon us.
Unfortunately, I hear too many people today say that history is important so that we can prevent similar situations from manifesting themselves in current society. This is certainly a valid reason but what about now? Aren’t history’s lessons applicable to the present? Houlk and Bond reminded me that they are.
Before we left Atlanta, we toured the Church MLK pastored, Ebenezer Baptist Church. Upon entering, a blind man monitoring the entrance greeted us warmly and pointed to a flight of stairs that lead to the church’s auditorium. I was speechless as I stood in the room where MLK had delivered countless powerful sermons; however, I soon found myself standing on the stairs reading a poster next to the blind man. While I read the poster, a woman quietly passed behind me and exited the church. The blind man must have thought someone had entered because he got up from his chair and spewed the same introduction he had given us a few minutes prior. He quickly realized his mistake and sat back down in his chair.
The man might have felt embarrassed or he might have accepted his mistake as an inevitable repercussion of being blind. Regardless, I sympathized with him. I have always taken vision for granted and let’s face it; I don’t think many people would consider monitoring the entrance to a historic church as a glorious job. It was during this moment when I remembered Houlk and Bond’s message. So I asked him what he knew of Ebenezer Baptist Church’s history. He went into an extensive historical description and although it was a short interaction, I hope it made the blind man feel like he was appreciated. Houlk and Bond remind us of how important it is to make people feel valued all the time.
The past two days in Atlanta, Georgia has been an incredible experience. It is one thing to learn about the Civil Rights movement in the classroom, but to travel to the locations where the movement’s most significant events took place and to converse with participants, black and white, has added a whole new level of appreciation. Our Q&A session, in particular, with MLK’s chauffeur, Tom Houlk, and Civil Rights activist, James Bond, served as a humbling reminder that the participants in the movement were ordinary humans. Yes, they held strong morals and adamant convictions but they also laughed and empathized with our group. It really grounded our perception of the Civil Rights movement, which has allowed us to reflect on and to interpret the movement on a personal level.
I was specifically moved when Houlk and Bond announced they supported and continue to support gays in their struggle for equal marital rights and social acceptance. They’re activism is not limited to black Civil Rights. They’re human Civil Rights activists. I believe their innate belief in everyone’s social equality and acceptance, regardless of race, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation, is the most valuable lesson the Civil Rights movement has bestowed upon us.
Unfortunately, I hear too many people today say that history is important so that we can prevent similar situations from manifesting themselves in current society. This is certainly a valid reason but what about now? Aren’t history’s lessons applicable to the present? Houlk and Bond reminded me that they are.
Before we left Atlanta, we toured the Church MLK pastored, Ebenezer Baptist Church. Upon entering, a blind man monitoring the entrance greeted us warmly and pointed to a flight of stairs that lead to the church’s auditorium. I was speechless as I stood in the room where MLK had delivered countless powerful sermons; however, I soon found myself standing on the stairs reading a poster next to the blind man. While I read the poster, a woman quietly passed behind me and exited the church. The blind man must have thought someone had entered because he got up from his chair and spewed the same introduction he had given us a few minutes prior. He quickly realized his mistake and sat back down in his chair.
The man might have felt embarrassed or he might have accepted his mistake as an inevitable repercussion of being blind. Regardless, I sympathized with him. I have always taken vision for granted and let’s face it; I don’t think many people would consider monitoring the entrance to a historic church as a glorious job. It was during this moment when I remembered Houlk and Bond’s message. So I asked him what he knew of Ebenezer Baptist Church’s history. He went into an extensive historical description and although it was a short interaction, I hope it made the blind man feel like he was appreciated. Houlk and Bond remind us of how important it is to make people feel valued all the time.