“Stay on the Wall”

That’s what my brother, “Martin”, always says to me. An appreciated admonishment given the emotional rollercoaster that any advocate can experience from time to time. Does my work to help end genocide in Darfur even matter? Will my desire to galvanize the strength and resources of Baltimore’s young clergy ever be realized? Basically, will all of this speaking out, going against the grain, and challenging the status quo matter at the end of the day or the end of my life? Of course I think I know the answers, but I can’t lie and say that I never pose those rhetorical questions while trekking through the valley of the shadow of death.

I was re-energized over the Thanksgiving Break by a visit to the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. I can’t remember if I ever went as a youth, so it may have been my first time. Seeing the pictures, hearing the voices, and exploring the artifacts of the movement and of King’s life really gave me the necessary boost to keep going and “stay on the wall”. I visited the tomb of Dr. King and couldn’t help, but wonder if I ever will meet the standard set by King, Brother Malcolm, Garvey, Truth, Biko, Walker, DuBois, Washington, Douglas, and all of the other known and unknown ancestors.
I wondered if I’ll ever have the privilege to lay proudly in my grave with the last thoughts of the successful struggle etched in my decaying brain ever present in my eternal spirit. Perhaps that’s a little bit of what “SALVATION” is to me – to be remembered and included in the number of the Honorable Ancestors…I don’t need to have the “Brown Center” erected in Baltimore City…I just want to live a life that honors the God that created me and respects the sacrifices of those who came before.

And at the same time I can’t help, but feel like I’m only a few feet in front of death. I looked at the key to the door of the last motel room that Dr. King stayed in and couldn’t help, but to recall my near-death experiences over the past couple of weeks. On November 18th I got hit by a car – not my car was hit…I was hit. Thankfully, I was positioned in such a way that my knees cushioned the blow. On November 28th, an electrical fire started in the kitchen of my wife’s grandmother’s home at about 8 or 9 in the morning. The family scrambled to get out of the house. I put the fire out with the extinguisher. And then of course you know that my Uncle Will died recently. I don’t have a death wish, but I’ve really made peace with the fact that my time here won’t be long. There’s much work to do and little time to accomplish it.

So hold on to your seats, soon you’ll be reading about some major occurrences that I am privileged to be a part of. For example, on Friday, December 18, 2005 - Young Clergy for Social Change will be hosting a Networking Night in East Baltimore. It’s time for the Young Clergy and other like-minded friends to come together and discuss how we can work together to improve the social conditions of the Baltimore Metro Communities. More information to follow.

I’m excited about what’s about to happen…and I can’t wait to give you the full scoop. Check back soon and of course – STAY ON THE WALL!

(Check out more pictures of my King Center trip on my FLICKR Badge on the right of the screen)

No related posts.