Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 October 2001 — Page 17

Keeping Dr. King’s Dream Alive through the Ebenezer Baptist Church

By Ashley Hardy Northwest High School Recorder Intern “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” This is a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s "I Have a Dream” speech. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. conducted the March on Washington in 1963. It was here he delivered his “I Have a Dream" speech. Nearly a quarter of a million people attended the March on Washington. Today, part of Dr. King’s dream is in peril. The Ebenezer Baptist Church is being restored. It is important that the Ebenezer Baptist Church be restored because the church played a key part in Dr. King’s dream. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta, Ga. on January 15, 1929 on 501 Auburn Ave. On September 20, 1944, when he was only 15 years old, he entered Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. When King was 17-years-old, he decided to become a minister. At 18 he was ordained a minister. The next year he graduated from Morehouse College with a degree

in sociology. Although he graduated from college, his education did not end there. On September 13, 1951, he began his studies at Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Penn. In 1951, he graduated from Crozer with a bachelor's of divinity degree. On September 13, 1951, King went on to study systematic theology at Boston University. He met Coretta Scott there, and they were later married in June of 1953. They went on to have four children. At the age of 35, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tenn. In 1983, Congress designated the third Monday in January a national holiday to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. The Ebenezer Baptist Church was founded in 1886, nine years after Reconstruction. Rev. John A. Parker was the pastor at the original site on Airline Street from I 1 886 to 1894. Oh MafcK 14, 1894, The Rev. Adam Daniel Williams was called to pastor Ebenezer. At this time, the Ebenezer Baptist Church was a struggling church with 17 members on the roll. Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. served as an assistant pastor to Rev. Williams until 1930. In 1931, Rev. Mar-

tin Luther King, Sr. became the pastor of Ebenezer, following the death of Reverend Williams. He had three co-pastors: On August 1,1975, Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. retired from Ebenezer Baptist Church after 45 years of service. There are many memorable events involving Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church. When King was 5-years-old, he was baptized there. When he was 17, he preached his first sermon in the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist Church. In I960, Dr. King joined his father as co-pastor, which gave the church international stature. In 1980, the Ebenezer Baptist Church became a National Historic site. It is important that the Ebenezer Baptist Church be restored because the church played a key part in Dr. King’s dream. Restoration of the church officially began on Tuesday, ApAf 10, 2001. There are two phases in the restoration process. Phase I of the project includes upgrading the church’s major building systems. Phase I of the project will cost approximately $1.8 million to complete. Twothirds of the total cost has already been secured through federal and private donations. Phase II is the final segment of the restoration

process. When both phases are complete, the church will have been restored to its I960’s appearance when King preached there. If Phase I of the restoration is not completed by January 21,2002, the annual commemoration will have to be moved. Radio One launched "Preserve the Dream Fundraiser". The goal of the • fundraiser is to raise $700,000. ; Radio One is the nation’s seventh largest radio broadcasting company in the U.S. Octavia Robinson, a freshman at Arsenal Tech High School, said “I believe the restoration project is a good idea. I think they will raise enough money to complete the project.” By restoring the Ebenezer Baptist Church, we will be restoring faith in Dr. Martin Luther King,Jr.’s dream. Aresidentof Indiana, who would like to remain anonymous, said "I feel that we really need Dr. King’s dream." Lisa Hardy, a mother of three, said, "I feel it would be it would be beneficial to the community because you are preserving his dream, yet continuingto recognize a great Civil Right’s leader.” Anyone who takes a look at the way the world is right now will be able to see that Dr. King’s dream is needed more than ever.

I 19

W mJ* 9 sir

3*' m 'M

J 9

Ml' * * l»

mm W * " * $

ri t 3

m m W m *0

3 n s “‘ 5 4 f Jew to fJliimiiii infs W ign "ime, leMane w ef , e -nji| 1^55 ’

sciflfli sun jjfjiie |gy e |

t want u Miu ital ijii 1 ^

By Terica Ward Lawrence Central High

School

Recorder Intern No one likes to admit it, but racial slurs are not a thing of the past. Whether or not they are spoken in mixed company is another issue, but rest assured that hate words are well and alive. In fact, it would seem that it’s in our best interest to avoid words that even come close to sounding like racial slurs. The word “nigga," derived from the derogative term “nigger," has been a part of black lingo for years. During slavery and civil rights that term made African Americans inferior and less human. According to Webster’s New Twentieth Century dictionary the definition says that a nigger is “a negro, a ' member of any dark-skinned

people." That is why we must reject the usage of the word. The "n" word, as it has been selectively called, has a particular historical significance, but it with a strong sense of racial oppression. The word is degrading and it can never be eliminated, but its meaning has been diluted. While usage of the word in African American culture is complex in that it can be used affectionately, politically, or pejoratively ironically orseriously. When black people use the word “nigga” in reference to each other, the term becomes just another part of their vocabulary, rather than a racial slur. The power that the oppressor could have given the word "nigga" now lies in the hands of the oppressed. Mike Moore, a junior at Lawrence Central High School,

explained "Start by defining the word. The actual definition of the word is not necessarily a good thing. I personally wouldn’t use it if I didn’t have to. ‘Nigger’ is a word that is allowing the black culture to feel a kind of fellowship, a bond, and they don’t feel offended when using it between each other. The word has offensive roots. When ‘nigger’ was used 200 years ago, it meant that person was a dumb slave. Slaves were looked down upon as lesser humans. Personally, I would not want to be called a nigger, however, I have friends that are black and do not and do like the word. I also believe that individuals should have the choice to use the word. It is very important in the black culture. If it wasn’t there, then some other word would replace it that might not be as effective.

Michael Burr, a U.S. history teacher at Lawrence Central, says that he thinks it is interesting where the word nigger came from, some people think it is the southern slurring of negro. Some people think it came from niggardly, which means to be stingy or hold back. The story is it came from slaves picking cotton and how much they picked. It is like white Americans being called honkies. So what do you think? Is the increase of the word "nigger" in popular culture a step forward, or a giant step backward. If you believe it’s progress, then should it be free game to whites, too. Or is everyone who has ever uttered it’s two syllables an incurable racist. Be prepared to stand your ground on this one, challenges will arise.

'’iS' 5 " Jlll( ,iest st,ries ' s t |,a e-mil n mrnmsmm nr fsx n ^ memJZ

What is JAWS! The Recorder’s JAWS section (Journalism and Writing Seminars) is a nonprofit instructional program established through The Recorder Charities to provide students of color (interns) hands on training and exposure to the field of journalism. The goal is to encourage participants to pursue careers in journalism.

By Alesha Cooper North Central High School Recorder Intern With all of the tragic events that are taking place compounded with the additional stress from home, school and/or work, many jeens find it difficult to stay focused and concentrate on their goals in life. Some claim that they have sought out professional advice in order to better cope with the disaster. Others have turned to God and their church for advice in the matter. As a teenager, school tends to be the primary commodity in their life. Teens complain of long days, litttle help, and over four hours of homework a night that is ended

with little to no sleep. To make matters worse this poor life habit is a cycle that is continued Wbekly, Monday through Friday. This habit seems to promote stress, a factor that is both unneeded and unnecessary. Stress is something that leads to more drastic measures, such as suicide. For many young people, the terrorist attacks marked the first, and maybe the only, formidable and devastating thing to occur in their lifetimes. Many questions and concerns perplexed their minds, and youth became enraptured in the idea that the world would soon be coming to an end. This, in turn, made it hard to copp with school and the complexities

that accompany it. I could not focus on school after I heard what happened. I mean, I know the issue is exhausted to the fullest extent, but it still affected a lot of individuals, not to mention those who actually lost loved ones. It's all you see on the news and hear about the radio. School is already stressful enough; who needs other things to worsen the matter? Some schools actually took efforts to allow students to consult with a professional in hopes to discuss the situation and ameliorate it in anyway possible. When a tragedy such as this occurs, an explanation is definitely needed to ease minds. Stress rates were sure

to increase, and many started having nervous breakdowns. “We had to take my daughter to the hospital because she didn’t know what to do," a mother of three said. “In addition to school, many teens have taken on the additional task of a job in hopes to teach them a sense of responsibility. A job can add another headache to the mix of ongoing problems that already exist. "I know when I started my job it was like cool, I have a chance to make money of my own that I can save and spend as I please,” said 17-year-old Shannon Scott. “Then it was like wait a minute, it’s not that easy. You have to juggle that and work.”

♦ j