Category Archives: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Atlanta Pastor Completes 386-Mile March to Lorraine Motel in Memphis to Commemorate 50th Anniversary of Dr. King’s Assassination (PHOTOS + VIDEO)

Hello World,

During the official MLK50 commemorations, Pastor Terence Lester completed a 386-mile march to the Lorraine Motel in Memphis last week. In March, Pastor Lester left the National Center of Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta to embark on the journey on foot to Memphis in honor of the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination. The purpose of Lester’s march is to revive Dr. King’s “The Poor People’s Campaign” and to spread awareness about the alarming epidemic of homelessness and poverty around the country. Lester moved the crowd from the Lorraine Motel stage from as he gave reflection of his journey and the importance of passing the baton for justice.

“Dr. King believed that the next step towards equality was to eradicate a system that even 50 years later today, still keeps people enslaved to poverty. Systemic poverty is a civil rights issue affecting millions of people across the nation,” says Pastor Lester founder and executive director of Love Beyond Walls. “This march is a testament to Dr. King’s legacy and sheds light on the harsh realities of homelessness, food insecurity and poverty. It is time for the next generation to pick up the baton and we are on the frontlines to leading the charge.”

Love Beyond Walls is a 501c(3) nonprofit based in Atlanta, Georgia. Through hands-on assistance programs offering a temporary mobile shelter and operating the Love Center which provides clothing, laundry and groceries to the underserved, Love Beyond Walls has helped hundreds of men and women transition out of homelessness and poverty.

Check out a video and  few pictures from Pastor Lester’s video on the march below:

It’s official. The countdown begins. Today, I’ll make 21 days walking on behalf of the poor in our country. . On March 3rd, I set out on a 386 mile journey on foot to the Lorraine Motel (@ncrmuseum) to bring attention to poverty and honor MLK’s life. . I started from the Center for Civil & Human Rights (@ctr4chr) in Atlanta, GA and have walked all the way to Mississippi. . It’s my hope to arrive at the Lorraine by April 4th (MLK50th). . People have asked me what’s the one thing I’d want people to hear out of this sacrifice. It’s simple. . We have over a 100 million people in our country living near or below the poverty line. Therefore, “Poor People Matter.” . #MAP18 #lovebeyondwalls #MLK50th

A post shared by Terence Lester (@imterencelester) on

 

Pastor Terence Lester (center) leads March Against Poverty with his son and Gerald Griggs of NAACP Atlanta chapter by his side departing from the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in downtown Atlanta.

 

Pastor Lester alongside wife Cecilia and children.

 

Pastor Lester makes friends with homeless U.S. military veteran, Chris, along the walk.​

 

Pastor Lester and supporters join in the March Against Poverty.

 

Pastor Lester at the Alabama state line marker.

 

Pastor Lester continuing his march through the rain wearing a hoodie with text “Being Poor is Not a Crime”​

 

Pastor Lester crosses into Mississippi.

 

After 30 days, Pastor Lester officially makes it to Memphis.

 

Local supporters join Pastor Lester ​to finish the remaining 3 miles in Memphis to the Lorraine Motel.

 

Pastor Lester at the Lorraine Motel.

 

Pastor Lester sharing reflections from his journey and
the charge of the continuing Dr. King’s “Poor People’s Campaign”

For more information about the march, please visit marchagainstpoverty.com.

Any thoughts?

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Events in Atlanta & Memphis Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Hello World,

To be clear, today April 4, 2018, is not a day that we celebrate the assassination of likely the greatest civil rights leader to have ever lived 50 years ago before he was shot to death on April 4, 1968. We are commemorating Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and times not the tragedy of the death of a 39-year-old man who accomplished more than many who lived two of his lifetimes…

If you are in Atlanta, Georgia, his birthplace or Memphis, Tennessee, where he was assassinated, you have many opportunities to commemorate his life and times. Below are just a sampling of these events:

From The King Center’s website mlk50forward.org:

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize Award Ceremony on April 4, 2018, Ceremony: 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Luncheon: 12 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Nonviolent Peace Prize is The King Center’s highest award presented for commitment to nonviolence as a way of life through which social justice, human rights and civil liberties are attained for all. The prize also recognizes achievements in the eradication of poverty and racism, and the successful quest for alternatives to war. Honoring Benjamin Ferencz and Bryan Stevenson. To register and for more information, go to eventbrite.com. 
  • Global Bell Ringing & Wreath Laying on April 4, 2018 at 6:01 p.m. CST. The Global Bell Ringing will begin at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN and The King Center in conjunction with the rest of the world.
    The Wreath Laying, which will include the King Family, will take place at the crypt of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • King Centennials Speaks on April 7, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The Centennial Generation of “King Children”, Miss Yolanda Renee King, Granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Miss Maryn Rippy, Granddaughter of AD King, will host an event highlighting youth all over the world doing innovative and extraordinary work for humanity. The program
    will be co-emceed by Hudson Yang, Eddie from ABC’s “Fresh off the Boat” and  Storm Reid, Meg from the movie “A Wrinkle in Time.” Admission is free, but you must register at eventbrite.com. 
  • March for Humanity & Love for Humanity Tribute on April 9, 2018. The march will be 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m., and the Morehouse Event will be 2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. The March in Atlanta will begin in front of Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and end at the campus of Morehouse College followed by a Love for Humanity Tribute. Registration is required.

From the National Civil Rights Museum’s website mlk50.civilrightsmuseum.org:

  • 10:00 AM Daylong Tributes from the MLK50 Main Stage in the Museum Courtyard on April 4 – Musical, dance and spoken word performances and reflections from civil rights leaders in salute to Dr. King. Free to the public.
  • 3:30 PM The 6:01 50th Anniversary Ceremony from the Balcony of the Lorraine Motel on April 4– The Beloved Community will gather for the official ceremony with the laying of the wreath, ecumenical liturgy, musical and spoken word tributes, and remarks from civil rights icons. Free to the public.
  • 6:01 PM Bell Toll on April 4 – Bells ring at places of worship, college campuses or institutions 39 times across the nation to honor the number of years Dr. King dwelled on this earth and to pay homage to his legacy.
  • 6:15 PM Evening of Storytelling – Civil Rights Icons and New Movement Makers in dialogue about “the Movement” then and now. This is a ticketed event at Crosstown Concourse in Memphis. The event will address the MLK50 theme, Where Do We Go From Here? Michael Eric Dyson and April Ryan will co-moderate a session with a set of candid discussions on the political, legal, and cultural aspects of social justice activism.  Former MSNBC anchor Tamron Hall will host a session with CongressmanJohn Lewis and James Lawson.  Invited speakers will share their recollections from the front lines, analysis of modern strategies, and ideas for new techniques that modern activists can use to further Dr. King’s platforms for peace, justice and equity.  Confirmed guests include seasoned civil rights icons Jesse Jackson,Marian Wright Edelman, Diane Nash, Clarence Jones, Bill Lucy,Coby Smith, Mike Cody, and Elaine Turner along with newcomers Yadon Israel, Bree Newsome, Quentin James, Nicole Porter, Tamika Mallory, Alicia Garza, and Tami Sawyer.  Apparently, this event is sold out, but you never know if someone will not show up and you can get in 🙂 For more information, go to mlk50.civilrightsmuseum.org.

Also, through Civil Rights Tours Atlanta, on Saturday, April 7, you can retrace the funeral route of Dr. King. See the places 50 years ago that served as key points in his funeral. They will also be observing the third anniversary of Civil Rights Tours Atlanta — showing you how incredibly things have changed. Reserve your seat @ www.civilrightstour.com and use the promo code “Civil” for a 20% discount!

And if you don’t live in Atlanta or Memphis, below is a link to an interview with journalist Alexis Scott.

From WABE.org:

Her grandfather founded “The Atlanta Daily World,” the nation’s oldest daily African-American newspaper. Scott became the paper’s publisher for 17 years and is currently a political commentator for “The Georgia Gang.” For WABE’s ongoing ATL68 series, Alexis Scott joined Lois Reitzes on “City Lights” to discuss her impressions of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 50 years after his assassination.

How are you commemorating the life and times of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Any thoughts?

 

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How Martin Luther King Jr.’s Last Sunday Sermon Speaks to Us Today – A Post from the Denison Forum…

Me and Dr. Bernice King, CEO of The King Center, at the Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine Women of Excellence reception last night…

Hello World,

I had planned to post about the fact that the 33rd Stellar Gospel Music Awards will be aired tonight on Good Friday no less on TV One at 9 p.m. EST and 8 p.m. CST and share some fun red carpet photos from the event which took place last Saturday, but then I received an inspiring post in my inbox from the Denison Forum  this morning which is the website where Dr. Jim Denison writes about cultural and contemporary issues from a Christian perspective.

His post was so inspiring and timely that I thought I would share a portion of it here particularly since I got the chance to hear Dr. Bernice King speak at the Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine Woman of Excellence Reception last night. I interviewed her in 2014 for the magazine so I got to know her a little bit back then, but last night she reminded everyone of something: When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., her father, became a martyr on April 4, 1968, 50 years ago next week, he was one of the most hated men in America. It was only because of the diligent work of his wife Coretta Scott King AFTER his death that he became a man loved the whole world over. Her statement spoke to me on so many levels. When we’re doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord we may not be liked, loved nor appreciated. In fact, we may not even live to see the fruits of our sacrificial labor. I’m reminded that when Jesus died he was treated as a common criminal, spat on, mocked and physically abused. So it is up to us to demonstrate that his actions in laying down his life were the ultimate in sacrificial love and that this gift of love is high, deep and wide enough to save whole world if only we share this Good News…

Below is a portion of Dr. Denison’s post:

Tomorrow marks the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s last Sunday sermon.

On March 31, 1968, Dr. King preached at the Washington National Cathedral. An overflow crowd heard him deliver “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” calling his listeners to join God in a movement that would bring righteousness to a culture divided by racial bigotry and endemic poverty.

In his message, he noted: “On some positions, cowardice asks the question: Is it expedient? And then expedience comes along and asks the question: Is it politic? Vanity asks the question: Is it popular? Conscience asks the question: Is it right?”

Then Dr. King stated, “There comes a time when one must take the position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it is right.”

Four days later, he paid for his conscience with his life.

Dr. King ended his sermon by invoking a hymn sung earlier in the service as a challenge to America, the church, and all of humanity:

Once to ev’ry man and nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth and falsehood,
For the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision,
Off’ring each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever
‘Twixt that darkness and that light.

“God proved his love on the cross”

On this Good Friday, we remember Jesus’ choice “‘twixt that darkness and that light,” his “great decision” to bear the evil of our sin for the “great cause” of our salvation.

You and I have no ability to fathom just what this day cost our Savior.

See the rest at denisonforum.org.

I will share one snippet from the Stellar Awards. Below is a video snippet of Tori Kelly & The Hamiltones, the R&B trio made up of the three singers who sing background for Anthony Hamilton, performing “Help Us To Love,” which is appropros on this Good Friday.

Here is a excerpt of the lyrics written by Kirk Franklin:

This world is weeping, hurting, broken and begging for change
Oh yeah
But still we marching, praying, dying, and things stay the same
When will we see?
Till everyone’s free
There’ll never be peace between you and me
God, your love is the cure
For the rich and the poor
God, please will you open our eyes?

Any thoughts?