Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and How His Life Improved the Lives of Many
I was born and raised in Orrville, Ohio. Orrville was a town of about 5,000 people at the time. This small town, in the corn belt of Ohio, is known for being the home of Smucker’s Jams and hall-of-fame basketball coach Bob Knight. I was raised by my mother, a single parent, and our house was not across the tracks, it was between the tracks. Things back then were different then they are now, particularly if you were black.
Orrville was a beautiful and industrial place filled with companies. Yet, blacks could only work at two places (Kopper Wood Preserving and the Quality Casting Foundry). If you worked in wood preserving, you dealt with creosote (a carcinogenic chemical preserving agent), and if you worked at the foundry you performed hard labor. Such was the nature of employment for blacks at the time.
In regards to the academic environment of the town, Orrville was an integrated school system. However, it was not lost on me that there were two separate worlds, one white and one black. I remember being selected as the captain of the high school football team, but receiving an “unsatisfactory in gym” grade by one of my white coaches. How could the captain of the football team and arguably one of the best athletes in the school get an “unsatisfactory in gym” grade? And, if white teachers and coaches had a mind to do so, some would call us names and treat us very badly because they knew there would be no repercussions. Outside of school, we (black students) would sit for hours watching our white classmates swim, speaking to them through the fence at the community park. At the time, blacks were not permitted to swim in the community pool although our tax dollars helped fund it.
In regards to healthcare, there were no dentists in town that would practice on blacks. The only dentist we knew came in a box titled “Red Cross Toothache Medicine” which we would apply to our teeth as the only option we had for toothaches other than extraction. Our only “doctor” was a lady named Pearl “Momma Pearl” Brown. She had no medical training but was always willing to lend her services which she derived from personal experience and an abundance of prayer. Mama Pearl pierced ears, served as a midwife, set broken limbs, and stitched our wounds. With other healthcare providers outpricing themselves to the black community, Mama Pearl was our only option.
When I moved 12 miles from Orville to attend the College of Wooster (a football coach convinced my mom to talk me into going), there were nine African Americans on the entire campus. Including myself, all were male and all were athletes. We did have one black girl attend for a semester until she became ill with mononucleosis and went home. The nine of us experienced the same challenges that I faced back home in Orrville.
This was my world. It was a world of great trial and sometimes insurmountable difficulties directly caused by racism and bigotry. Many caved-in to the hopelessness that they would never be permitted to use their God-given talents to the fullest. This was until Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with his message of nonviolent civil disobedience and hope, had the courage to speak up on our behalf. This man, through his words and actions, changed things not only in the “Jim Crow” south but for many others throughout the country.
I am reminded, by the example of Dr. King, of the words of Saint Thomas Aquinas; “Tell people how to live and use words only when necessary.” Simply put, Dr. King showed us how to live. Attack dogs, jail, name-calling, and threats could not stop him. Only a bullet could end his moral and courageous actions and silence his words, and only temporarily. Although Dr. King was assassinated, his message lives, and I am forever grateful for his life, service, and example.
On his last night, he spoke these words:
“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But, it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And, I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life; longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And, He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But, I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So, I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”
Thank you Dr. King. Thank you for teaching us great love, morality, and courage. While the costs of these lessons were high, we will never forget them. In sincere remembrance of you, may we all continue to reach inside and press on towards that hope and dream about which you so eloquently spoke.
By: C. Reggie Williams
Clarence “Reggie” Williams is a retired Air Force Colonel, former USAA Vice President of Information System Operations, and former President/CEO of the San Antonio Area Foundation. He currently serves as the Vice President of Advancement for Hallmark University in San Antonio, Texas.