When I came to Atlanta last week, I wanted to take the opportunity to visit at least one of the landmarks or museums of the Civil Rights Movement, since Atlanta and its citizens played such an important role in that struggle, which remains (in my opinion) the greatest people-powered achievement in American history. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote the book (literally) on nonviolent social change, and I wanted to see the historic physical elements of his legacy, as well as honor the achievements he and his compatriots managed to gain. I did, in fact, visit the King Homestead National Historic Site, but there was also a King-related session at Netroots that I didn’t want to miss. More on these over the fold.
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On Friday afternoon, there was a featured panel entitled Time to Choose: Nonviolent Coexistence or Violent Co-Annihilation? (The link will take you to a page where you can watch the panel presentation in its entirety.) The theme of the panel was the relevance of Dr. King’s technique on nonviolent action to bring about social change in the contemporary world, where the gains of the Civil Rights Movement are threatened, and new dangers, such as terrorist threats, have arisen. The big draw here was Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Coretta Scott King, and CEO of the King Center. The moderators were Sam Collier and Mary Pat Hector; other panelists, also from the King Center, were Charles Alphin, Carmen Luisa Coya-van Duijn, Dr. Kendra Momon, Bryan Murray, and Dr. Hilda R. Tompkins (see the link for further information). It was acknowledged that, while we live in turbulent times, they are no more turbulent than the times of the Civil Rights Movement, and the method of nonviolent action is still the best way to proceed.
Most of my photos of the sessions were not good, but below is the best of them.
I have to admit that seeing Bernice King was kind of a big deal for me. She is the living legacy of Dr. & Mrs. King, and she is soldiering on, just as her mother did after Dr. King was assassinated.
In my diary yesterday, I wrote about participating in two marches. After the first one, on the way back to the hotel, I realized we were crossing Auburn Street. Knowing that the King Homestead was on Auburn Street, I decided to take the time to visit it right then. At the top of the diary, I have included a photo of the original Ebenezer Baptist Church, of which both Martin Luther Kings, Sr. and Jr., were pastors. There is a much newer church across the street, while the old one is now part of the National Historic Site. I was disappointed that all of the tours of the home were booked for the rest of the day, but I could at least visit the other parts of the Site. There was an interpretive center as well as a rose garden.
Sitting in a pew in the old Ebenezer Baptist Church was very powerful. It was here that all the sermons, all the mass-meetings during the struggle took place. They have a soundtrack of King orating, but I try to imagine what it might have been like to be in this church on an ordinary Sunday. A lot of history was made here, and now, any Democrat who wants to become president needs to make a pilgrimage to this congregation (though it now meets in the new church across the street).
Next to the historic church is the King Center, where the tombs of both Dr. King and Coretta Scott King are located. This was a place for meditation on the hard work and sacrifice that these two great Americans made in order to improve the nation and the world. About thirty years ago, back when I was a graduate student, I saw Coretta Scott King speak, and was impressed by how she had so valiantly taken up her husband’s burden after his assassination. I still think it was a minor tragedy that she never got to hold her granddaughter.
Also on Auburn Street, along the way, I passed the offices of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, also legendary in the history of the movement.
I proceeded back to the hotel, where I would soon learn about the mayhem in Charlottesville, happening during my visit. The contrast was drastic. I wish I had wise words to say at this point, but I’m all out right now.
On to the comments.
Top Comments (August 17, 2017):
From JGinMD:
From Brian Eisley in Joan McCarter's The man in the White House is melting down, one reason we struggle to deal with 45.
From ericlewis0:
In my post about 3 charities cancelling galas at Mar-a-Lago, Snud makes this entertaining comment.
From Avilyn:
This comment by Front Toward Enemy captures precisely how simple the choice is in the fight against DJT & his ilk. From Cinnamon Rollover's excellent diary.
Top Mojo (August 16, 2017):
Top Mojo is courtesy of mik! Click here for more on how Top Mojo works.
Top Photos (August 16, 2017):
Tonight’s picture quilt is courtesy of jotter!