Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 January 2003 — Page 9

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2003 PAGE B1

I N S I

Salt and

Light

By Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin

Why we still

can't wait Parts Delivered for the King Birthday Celebration at the Indianapolis Rotary Club on Jan. 14 by Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin Jr. ♦ * * * * At a pivotal point in American history, a Baptist clergyman named Martin Luther King Jr. accomplished the impossible by the grace of God. He took biblical theology and made it public policy. This drum major for justice took to the streets and marched against the sin of segregation and racism while at the same time calling the nation’s attention to the plight of the poor. This Nobel Peace Prize activist opposed the war in Vietnam and rallied the nation’s conscience against the immorality of such an unjust war. He would do no less today against an attack on Iraq. This courageous, charismatic child of God, unlike any other human rights leader in history, succeeded in reshaping the moral and political character of our beloved nation. He paid for it with his life and always believed that “if a man has not d iscovered something he will die for, he is not fit to live.” Forty years ago Dr. King wrote a book called Why We Can’t Wait. It was his response to the delay and denial tactics that the American government and the American society have used against the Black man since slavery. Everytime the African American would call for full equality, full access, full redress for slavery, segregation, discrimination, and racism, white Americans would say “wait!” We have come a long way in this our beloved nation, but we have a long way to go. As we celebrate the 74 ,h birthday of Dr. King, I am reminded that whenever the race issue is brought up, we still have problems with it. These problems are fueled by our guilt, shame, and more than not by our feeling that the race issue has been resolved. Why can’t you Black peoplejust move on? Mind you now, I didn’t say “move in,” I said move on. Surely, with Condoleezza Rice in the White House and Colin Powell in the Department of State, there should be some recognition of progress. Can’t you wait a little longer? Can’t you wait a little longer for some private clubs, some boardrooms, and some neighborhoods to open up? Can’t you wait a little longer for full access? Of course, the answer is “no.” When you have been standing in line for 300 years, “wait" works on the psyche. Generations have come and gone. “Patients” have died waiting for their inalienable rights. My mother had to wait. My grandmother had to wait. My great-grandmother had to wait. I am still waiting. We are tired of waiting. Racism is not dead even though I believe it is on its death bed, but as long as it lives, we must confront it. Minister Terri Hord ()wens, one of my student ministers, a brilliant third year student at the University of Chicago Divinity School wrote in my column for The Indianapolis Recorder last week: “For King, the issue was a moral one. Racism was a moral sin and racial injustice was a wrong that must be made right. It was and is not enough for Blacks and whites to hold hands in a memorial church service for Dr. ► SALT, Pag* B3

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Dr. Derek King keeps dream alive at Free Will Baptist

By ANNETTE L.ANDERSON R*cord*r Correspondent Dr. Derek King Sr., nephew of the late Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., delivered a powerful message on Sunday at First Free Will Baptist Church, during the Youth Department’s first program for the year. Youth Pastor Elder James Reeves was master of ceremonies for the event, which opened with praise and worship by youth members Christopher, Charles, Adam Sheppard, Charles Saffbld, Denita Thomas and Terence Shockley. Ericka Mason, youth director, rendered a song, followed by song and prayer from Evangelist Sallie Hester, associate minister at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, now pastured by Dr. Donald Hudson. Shockley also welcomed guests, a great job for his first time. “I’ve been in church a long time, born in a preacher’s house,” Dr. King said during his “We Shall Overcome” message. “But where you were born does not make the

Dr. Derek King Sr. speaks from the pulpit during First Free Will Baptist Church's youth program. (Photo/C. Guynn)

diff erence, but who you are does. Being born at McDonalds does not make you a hamburger. As I look into the eyes of these children I know they have a lot to offer.“These young folks need to know that the majority is not

always right. I’m talking about this thing called peer pressure. We’ve got some good children, and many times it’s the parents who are the problem. We need to go back to the time when everybody was your momma and daddy - you got it (disci-

plined) away from home and again when you got home.” Dr. King, the oldest living blood relative of his late uncle, charged America with three offenses - poverty racism and ignorance. “Dr. Martin Luther King looked closely at the

Declaration of Independence, which states (in part): ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,’ and said they are lying to us,” commented the dynamic speaker. "I le also said that although we pay the same price to ride the bus, we often get left behind. But he said that we can take this, and we did. The bus boycott proved that. This racism is big, and we’ve got to fight it head on. America is a rainbow of colors of people - coffee bean black, banana yellow, paper sack brown and raspberry red. But racism exists just to cover up the real problem of poverty.” Dr. King, associate minister at Ebenezer Missionary’ Baptist Church, where the pastor is Thomas Brown, made reference to the Black churches of Indianapolis. “Come Tuesday morning, these churches will deposit some $42 million into banks that they do not own,” he continued. “We need to join together and build our own banks." Ignorance, Dr. King said, is also a big problem. “Everybody

P- See KING, Page B3

IN THE SPIRIT

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The diversified Cross Culture Choir performed a variety of songs during last weekend's cultural event. The event was designed to bring young Christians of all races together. ' HHfl 1 .

Jason Hunter, youth pastor at Light of the World Christian Church and director of the Cross Culture Choir, addresses young listeners.

Rev. Charles Harrison, pastor of Barnes United Methodist Church, was the featured speaker at the MLK Birthday Celebration at St. John's United Missionary Baptist Church.

The Macalaster College Choir of St. Paul, Minn, and its director, Dr. Robert L. Morris (above) performed AfricanAmerican spirituals during a recent concert at Fairview Presbyterian Church.

Gospel mime group, Images of Light demonstrate a spiritual form of pantomime at Cross Culture.

6*year-old Deja Woods, learns spiritual praise at an early age during youth day services at Church of the Living God, CWFF Temple tt18. (Photos/J. Hurst)

Pastor Jacqueline L. Carroll, of Liberation Ministries, Inc., sang a heartfelt song at St. John’s.

Barnes United Methodist Church dancers appeared at St. John's with their graceful form of praise. (Photos/J. Hurst)