Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 14 January 1999 — Page 22

The Muncie Times, January 14, 1999, Page 22

In remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther Ding, Jr. Keep The Dream Alive... “HELP SOMEBODY” HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR LONGER LIFE

The Tree: Symbol of Health and Long Life And you shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; your leaf shall not wither; and whatsoever you doeth shall prosper. Psalms 1:3

MINORITY HEALTH COALITION OF DELAWARE COUNTY Seeks to foster the healthy lifestyles and natural environments that will produce long and full lives in our community 1117 East Jackson Street Muncie, Indiana 47305 (765) 284-6994 James Vanleer, Coalition President Phyillies Burks, Coalition Coordinator

Jackson sees hope for racial unity

By Tabatha Tower-Harris When comparing Muncie’s status in relation to realizing Dr. King’s dream for blacks and whites to walk hand-in-hand and side-by-side, Pastor Willie J Jackson, Sr., said that he thinks they are getting closer. He said that he thinks that Muncie is making great strides toward the Dr. King dream which is certainly toward the dream of equality. He thinks that the recent unity service at the Ball State University Arena is one of the greatest pieces of such evidence. Jackson said that he doesn’t believe that King’s dream for justice for all has been realized in Muncie. He thinks the important thing is that strides are being made. There are still reasons to be concerned but...the order of the day is to keep striving toward that goal. Jackson said that he doubts that black or poor people get equal justice when they go into the court system, but thinks there are a lot of reasons for that although that doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with a court system being biased. “I think some of the reasons why poor people may not be treated the same is because of their inability to hire the best legal counsel. And then sometimes you can’t hire a good counsel, sometimes poor people are not as informed about legal options, so when you’ve got poor legal counsel, you don’t always understand all the legal options. “I think social status plays into it and poor people don’t often have the social status, in that matter, just for character reference. Those kinds of things, so, I think for reasons like those three, on a legal issue, poor people are disadvantaged, assuming that there is real innocence and trying to prove that innocence,” said Jackson. As far as unity among the black and white communities in Muncie, Jackson said, “I think that there is a closer union than ever before at least as far as my stay in Muncie is concerned. I’ve witnessed that experience and interaction with members of the other community.” Jackson said that there are some

causes that are more important to blacks than they are to whites simply because of their history. For example, like the police, black people because of such a turbulent history in this nation with police, will probably regard police officers very differently from whites. He also thinks that there is interest in both parties on what happens with our youth and the drug issue. To make the MLK dream become more recognized in Muncie, Jackson has been very involved in church and community activities. “I’ve been involved in networking with members of the Christian community, just trying to bring out the kind of unity that King was about. “As far as the youth are concerned, I’ve been working with South Madison Community Center. We’re trying to make that center a very positive piece for the Muncie community. And there’s been a lot of support from blacks and whites in that effort,” said Jackson. To help the black and white communities in Muncie get along Jackson works with the Delaware County Coordinating Council to help in the elimination of drugs. He’s also involved with the Collective Coalition of Concerned Clergy, which is working toward trying to provide support for black pastors and black churches. The clergy is a forum where they can deal with community problems and as pastors of the church, they can be a voice of the Christian community as well. In the coming year, Jackson plans to help make King’s dream become a reality by being willing to continue the effort that has begun here to bring about racial reconciliation, equality for all and opportunity for all. “...And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the w'ords of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last,’” said King in his “I Have A Dream” speech.