I just had to pinch myself.
Did I wake up this morning in a foggy dream, or rather a nightmare, set back in the 1960's?
Frankly I kept waiting for Alec Baldwin and Whoopi Goldberg to show up at my front door as Bobby Delaughter and Myrlie Evers dragging James Woods the murdering Byron De La Beckwith by the ear to face justice .
But I hadn't been mysteriously transported back to the days of "Ghosts of Mississippi". I wouldn't be seeing Whoopi. Alec or James.
Rest assured however, that as I contemplated with nausea the contents of my e-mail inbox, the spirit of the late Medgar Evers was surely aroused and probably already in prayer and planning with the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Sadly, I was awake, and it is 2007.
It is 2007, and it is true.
It was confirmed by e-mail from other anti-hate Not In Our Town http://pbs.org/niot leaders from across our country. In this place we call America, the land of the free, home of the brave, fighters of global terrorism and protectors of the downtrodden, evil and hate had reared their ugly heads in the state of Louisiana.
In this place we call America, at the home of Mayor Ernest Lampkins, the first black mayor elected in Greenwood, Louisiana in 2004, gunshots were fired into his family's home.
Clearly when someone shoots into one's home their intent isn't wholesome. It isn't a case of an innocent teenage prank gone awry. There's nothing innocent about it at all. And there darn sure isn't anything even remotely American about it.
Someone had a purpose.
Someone was sending the Mayor a message.
It was a message of hate.
Perhaps it is the same message that the family of Gerald Washington believe may have been sent 150 miles away from Greenwood in Westlake, Louisiana.
There, some believe the same message rang loud and clear when the family of Gerald Washington learned of his death December 30, 2006 in a parking lot. A gunshot wound to the chest.
Gerald Washington. Shot to death just a few days before he was to take office as Westlake's newly elected mayor. Gerald Washington was black.
The coroner and the sheriff pronounced Washington's death a suicide. A supposed self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest? His family and supporters have questioned the ruling and have asked for an FBI investigation.
In these days of might makes right, our elected officials chant a rallying cry to be Americans. As Americans we have taken up the torch of democracy and are spreading it throughout the world. As Americans we cry out to protect our borders and for all American citizens to be vigilant and on alert stamping out terrorism at our doorstep.
But amidst all these pro-American rallying cries, I can't help but wonder who of us are couregous enough, and dare I say, American enough, to publicly stand up and acknowledge, let alone fight, the domestic terrorism that exists in our very own backyards. The bullies in our own schoolyard here at home.
See, in some corners of this great country of ours, we still have our very own homegrown axis of evil. In some corners of our beloved homeland, not all citizens act like Americans. Instead, they hide in bushes, under the cover of darkness, and perpetrate their own special brand of domestic terrorism against our fellow Americans.
So while we sit here in our comfortable homes and offices, presumably safe in our own backyards, I first ask you to consider the hateful acts perpetrated against Mayor Ernest Lampkins and his family. I ask you to consider the kind of courage the Gerald Washington and Ernest Lampkins families have had to summon up.
As you view the size of the bullet holes in the windows of the Lampkins home I ask you to consider your place in this country as an American.
In closing, I ask you to remember the movie the "Untouchables". Consider the words of Sean Connery's Irish-American beat cop character James Malone as he asked Elliot Ness about going into battle against Al Capone. . . "What are YOU prepared to do?"
S.J. Seyfarth-Lechner
Co-Chair
National Advisory Council
Not In Our Town
Stay tuned as the national anti-hate grass roots movement called Not In Our Town takes a look at these events. Visit the website http://theworkinggroup.org/ to view video of the Not In Our Town Movement, learn about the filmmakers from The Working Group, and how you can become a part of a national anti-hate movement.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Friday, January 20, 2006
Need to Know People
Need to Know People will be a recurring feature of Reconciliation Central. You will be introduced to dynamic individuals who have had an impact on their community...irregardless of whether some might consider that influence to be positive or negative.
Xanthene Norris
District 23, Greenville County Councilwoman
Greenville, South Carolina
In the case of Mrs. Xanthene Sayles Norris, her contribution to Greenville County and the State of South Carolina is immeasurable. In 1986, then County Councilman Ennis Fant first introduced a motion for Greenville County to recognize the King holiday as signed into Law by then President Ronald Reagan and as prescribed by the Congress of the United States. Unfortunately for then Councillor Fant, the County Council delivered a firm "No". That "No" continued on for 19 years until a grass roots movement began in Greenville County to replace the councilmembers who continued to vote against the holiday. Councillor Norris reintroduced a proposed ordinance in 2002 which eventually lead to a changing of seat holders for then councilmembers Bunk Johnson, Steve Selby, Dozier Brooks, and former Chairwoman Phyllis Henderson.
Mrs. Norris' career as an educator and her commitment to public service have earned her a legacy of recognition.
Born in Winston Salem, North Carolina, Xanthene S. Norris grew up and attended the public schools in Greenville, South Carolina. She earned a Bachelor's Degree from Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master's Degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. She is a retired educator, served as Greenville County teacher, high school counselor and adult education director.
Presently, she is Greenville County Councilwoman, representing District 23, elected for three terms since 1997. She is Vice-Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee and past Chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee.
She is Trustee, College Ministry Chair and Personnel Chair of Springfield Baptist Church, a member of the Order of Jessamine, Life member (Cluster VIII Coordinator 1987 - 1994) Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Peace Center Board, the University Center of Greenville and past UNCF - Upstate Chair, 2005 and 2006 Gala Chair.
Her honors include 2005 Women Making History Award, 2005 Church and Community, Living Legend MLK Award, Greenville Tech Unsung Hero Award (2005), UNCF Inc. Award (2004-05), National Organization for Women Award (2003), NAACP W.F. Gibson Freedom Fighter Award (2003), Greenville Links Service Award (2003), Human Relations Award (2001), Omega Psi Phi Inc. Award (2000), American Association of University Women Honoree (1998), Martin Luther King Award (1993) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, NAACP Education Award (1992), Black Heritage Award (1992), and the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina Service Award (1991).
Ms. Norris is Local Executive Director of Miss Palmetto Scholarship Program, a Miss America Affiliate and a South Carolina Pageant Approved Judge. She has been a Greenville Democratic State Convention Delegate since 1997 and was State Democratic Delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
I invite you to visit http://greenvillecounty.org
NEED TO KNOW
January 20, 2006
Xanthene Norris
District 23, Greenville County Councilwoman
Greenville, South Carolina
In the case of Mrs. Xanthene Sayles Norris, her contribution to Greenville County and the State of South Carolina is immeasurable. In 1986, then County Councilman Ennis Fant first introduced a motion for Greenville County to recognize the King holiday as signed into Law by then President Ronald Reagan and as prescribed by the Congress of the United States. Unfortunately for then Councillor Fant, the County Council delivered a firm "No". That "No" continued on for 19 years until a grass roots movement began in Greenville County to replace the councilmembers who continued to vote against the holiday. Councillor Norris reintroduced a proposed ordinance in 2002 which eventually lead to a changing of seat holders for then councilmembers Bunk Johnson, Steve Selby, Dozier Brooks, and former Chairwoman Phyllis Henderson.
Mrs. Norris' career as an educator and her commitment to public service have earned her a legacy of recognition.
Born in Winston Salem, North Carolina, Xanthene S. Norris grew up and attended the public schools in Greenville, South Carolina. She earned a Bachelor's Degree from Clark College in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master's Degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. She is a retired educator, served as Greenville County teacher, high school counselor and adult education director.
Presently, she is Greenville County Councilwoman, representing District 23, elected for three terms since 1997. She is Vice-Chairperson of the Public Safety Committee and past Chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Committee.
She is Trustee, College Ministry Chair and Personnel Chair of Springfield Baptist Church, a member of the Order of Jessamine, Life member (Cluster VIII Coordinator 1987 - 1994) Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Peace Center Board, the University Center of Greenville and past UNCF - Upstate Chair, 2005 and 2006 Gala Chair.
Her honors include 2005 Women Making History Award, 2005 Church and Community, Living Legend MLK Award, Greenville Tech Unsung Hero Award (2005), UNCF Inc. Award (2004-05), National Organization for Women Award (2003), NAACP W.F. Gibson Freedom Fighter Award (2003), Greenville Links Service Award (2003), Human Relations Award (2001), Omega Psi Phi Inc. Award (2000), American Association of University Women Honoree (1998), Martin Luther King Award (1993) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, NAACP Education Award (1992), Black Heritage Award (1992), and the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina Service Award (1991).
Ms. Norris is Local Executive Director of Miss Palmetto Scholarship Program, a Miss America Affiliate and a South Carolina Pageant Approved Judge. She has been a Greenville Democratic State Convention Delegate since 1997 and was State Democratic Delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
I invite you to visit http://greenvillecounty.org
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Reconciliation Central 2006
In January, 2006, I returned to Lake Geneva,Wisconsin from my former hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. After waging a 19 year battle, we the citizens of Greenville County celebrated our first, official Greenville County Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as decreed by
President Ronald Reagan in 1983.
President Reagan, a Republican and the Congress of the United States made it a reality that our country take a day each year to remember where we came from and where we are going as we honor the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I spent 5 years in Greenville, the "Buckle of the Bible Belt" not only building life long relationships but learning to build coalitions between political and civil rights groups as well as bringing diverse groups of people together. I am blessed to have learned from and worked with many unsung heroes as well as known icons of the civil rights movement through the anti-hate movement Not In Our Town.
I was astound in 2002 when Greenville County Councilwomen Lottie Gibson and Xanthene Norris contacted me. These two brilliant ladies inquired if my anti-hate grass roots organization, the Not In our Town Project Greenville, http://pbs.org/niot would lend its support to establish a paid holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King in Greenville County.
I couldn't imagine what they were talking about. In fact, my exact words to Councilwoman Norris were "What do you mean we (Greenville County) don't have a King holiday?". How could we not have one?
What had we been doing to advance the practice of true American citizenship for the past 40 or 50 years? ! ! !
Why wasn't the so-called "Christian Right" championing this cause? Greenville, the hometown of Bob Jones University, a visible institution of Christian education. Where were they? How could they not support a holiday to honor a man who promoted non-violence for all people in the name of Jesus.
I didn't understand how two of the primary opponents of the King holiday are directly tied to Bob Jones University: County Councilman Bob Taylor is the Dean of Math and Sciences at Bob Jones University and County Councilman Scott Case is an alumni.
Are there different definitions of what it means to be a Christian? Who's right, or rather Christian Right and if you are going to call yourself a Christian in Greenville what exactly are you saying?
Why wasn't it disturbing to more people that nearly 40 years after the March on Washington and Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" sermon, local politicians try still follow in the footsteps of Hoover's smear campaign against Dr. King?
Why is it that 40 years later some feel compelled to debate the need to renew the Voting Rights Act.
Some amongst us who are people of good will still feel that if people would just pick themselves up by their bootstraps, get an education and a job, the welfare roles would empty out. They don't realize the vast majority of those welfare persons are poor white single mothers. They are women who don't realize they have a voice let alone boot straps with which to pick themselves up!
I know. I was one of them once.
Our country remains "at war" and it seems that each day there are reports of our troops being killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Do we need to be there still? Were we really justified to go there in the first place? How and when do we get our troops home without leaving the Iraqi democracy to flounder into oblivian?
There are 3,200 people in New Orleans are still missing after Hurricaine Katrina. Was race an issue in getting the people out or was it economics? Is calling for the rebuilding of a "chocolate" New Orleans by its mayor even relevant today?
Why is gentrification alive and well, and still happening to the poorest of the poor all in the name of economic development and neighborhood renewal. Can any of the developers even begin to understand the day-to-day struggles of a single mother on welfare or an 85 year old grandmother on a fixed income? Does anyone get that living in one of the new homes post-gentrification is a pipe dream and that a $70,000 townhouse may as well be seventy million? Good meaning neighborhood renewal perhaps but unable to fit the needs of the present community.
Why in this, the richest nation on the earth, are so many of my patients, particularily elderly and working poor, handing me back their medication prescriptions saying "Nurse, I can't get these. I have to eat." and all I can offer in response is a prayer.
Through caring more closely for His children, we move closer to God. Isn't that what Christian discipleship calls us to do?
What does Jewish tradition or Law compel you to do?
What does a Buddhist see as his obligation to the community? Who does a Buddhist consider his community to be?
Wherever you fall on the continuium of faith, how do you view your obligation, if any, to the people of this world?
Establishing this blog, Reconciliation Central, is my first foray into the blogging world. It is intended to be a safe place where we can celebrate our commonalities and explore our differences in a respectful way as we build relationships.
It is my prayer that it becomes a place of support for its visitors where a diverse group of God's children meet regularly to learn and teach each other, talk about social justice issues, our hopes, dreams, fears, warts and beauty marks.
Reconciliation Central is open to all persons regardless of their race, faith, culture, gender, sexual orientation, political party, socioeconomic status or educational level. I would encourage people from outside the United States to post in order that a world view may be represented and not just that of US citizens.
It is my belief that even through an electronic faceless media such as the Internet, our willingness to explore our selves and each other naturally leads to the building of relationships. That is one of the hidden blessings: the humanization of each other as we discover we all have mothers, concerns for our children, hopes for our futures, warts and beauty marks too.
A wise South Carolinian preacher man, who remains my mentor, friend and brother in Christ, taught me that it is through the building of personal relationships that racism, sexism, and all the other "ism's" will be overcome and reconciliation begins. That is my dream.
My prayer is that we can start here.
Welcome to Reconciliation Central.
Sandi
President Ronald Reagan in 1983.
President Reagan, a Republican and the Congress of the United States made it a reality that our country take a day each year to remember where we came from and where we are going as we honor the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I spent 5 years in Greenville, the "Buckle of the Bible Belt" not only building life long relationships but learning to build coalitions between political and civil rights groups as well as bringing diverse groups of people together. I am blessed to have learned from and worked with many unsung heroes as well as known icons of the civil rights movement through the anti-hate movement Not In Our Town.
I was astound in 2002 when Greenville County Councilwomen Lottie Gibson and Xanthene Norris contacted me. These two brilliant ladies inquired if my anti-hate grass roots organization, the Not In our Town Project Greenville, http://pbs.org/niot would lend its support to establish a paid holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King in Greenville County.
I couldn't imagine what they were talking about. In fact, my exact words to Councilwoman Norris were "What do you mean we (Greenville County) don't have a King holiday?". How could we not have one?
What had we been doing to advance the practice of true American citizenship for the past 40 or 50 years? ! ! !
Why wasn't the so-called "Christian Right" championing this cause? Greenville, the hometown of Bob Jones University, a visible institution of Christian education. Where were they? How could they not support a holiday to honor a man who promoted non-violence for all people in the name of Jesus.
I didn't understand how two of the primary opponents of the King holiday are directly tied to Bob Jones University: County Councilman Bob Taylor is the Dean of Math and Sciences at Bob Jones University and County Councilman Scott Case is an alumni.
Are there different definitions of what it means to be a Christian? Who's right, or rather Christian Right and if you are going to call yourself a Christian in Greenville what exactly are you saying?
Why wasn't it disturbing to more people that nearly 40 years after the March on Washington and Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" sermon, local politicians try still follow in the footsteps of Hoover's smear campaign against Dr. King?
Why is it that 40 years later some feel compelled to debate the need to renew the Voting Rights Act.
Some amongst us who are people of good will still feel that if people would just pick themselves up by their bootstraps, get an education and a job, the welfare roles would empty out. They don't realize the vast majority of those welfare persons are poor white single mothers. They are women who don't realize they have a voice let alone boot straps with which to pick themselves up!
I know. I was one of them once.
Our country remains "at war" and it seems that each day there are reports of our troops being killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Do we need to be there still? Were we really justified to go there in the first place? How and when do we get our troops home without leaving the Iraqi democracy to flounder into oblivian?
There are 3,200 people in New Orleans are still missing after Hurricaine Katrina. Was race an issue in getting the people out or was it economics? Is calling for the rebuilding of a "chocolate" New Orleans by its mayor even relevant today?
Why is gentrification alive and well, and still happening to the poorest of the poor all in the name of economic development and neighborhood renewal. Can any of the developers even begin to understand the day-to-day struggles of a single mother on welfare or an 85 year old grandmother on a fixed income? Does anyone get that living in one of the new homes post-gentrification is a pipe dream and that a $70,000 townhouse may as well be seventy million? Good meaning neighborhood renewal perhaps but unable to fit the needs of the present community.
Why in this, the richest nation on the earth, are so many of my patients, particularily elderly and working poor, handing me back their medication prescriptions saying "Nurse, I can't get these. I have to eat." and all I can offer in response is a prayer.
Through caring more closely for His children, we move closer to God. Isn't that what Christian discipleship calls us to do?
What does Jewish tradition or Law compel you to do?
What does a Buddhist see as his obligation to the community? Who does a Buddhist consider his community to be?
Wherever you fall on the continuium of faith, how do you view your obligation, if any, to the people of this world?
Establishing this blog, Reconciliation Central, is my first foray into the blogging world. It is intended to be a safe place where we can celebrate our commonalities and explore our differences in a respectful way as we build relationships.
It is my prayer that it becomes a place of support for its visitors where a diverse group of God's children meet regularly to learn and teach each other, talk about social justice issues, our hopes, dreams, fears, warts and beauty marks.
Reconciliation Central is open to all persons regardless of their race, faith, culture, gender, sexual orientation, political party, socioeconomic status or educational level. I would encourage people from outside the United States to post in order that a world view may be represented and not just that of US citizens.
It is my belief that even through an electronic faceless media such as the Internet, our willingness to explore our selves and each other naturally leads to the building of relationships. That is one of the hidden blessings: the humanization of each other as we discover we all have mothers, concerns for our children, hopes for our futures, warts and beauty marks too.
A wise South Carolinian preacher man, who remains my mentor, friend and brother in Christ, taught me that it is through the building of personal relationships that racism, sexism, and all the other "ism's" will be overcome and reconciliation begins. That is my dream.
My prayer is that we can start here.
Welcome to Reconciliation Central.
Sandi
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