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January 19, 2014The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Each January, we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the vision that he had for his country.
Many historians will suggest that the Civil Rights Movement began with the brutal killing of 14-year-old Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955. Deacon Art Miller grew up with Emmett Till in Chicago:"If you were to read history books or go on the internet today and look up Emmett Till, it will tell you that he was killed because he whistled at a white woman.
Emmett Till was the VICTIM.
Emmett Till was not murdered because he did anything. But the history books reflect that he was killed because he did something. Emmett Till was murdered because he ventured into a community that was filled with hatred.
Emmett Till wasn't killed because of who HE was. Emmett Till was killed because of who THEY were.
What Dr. King did was he came with a great mirror, so that people could see what they were and who they were. And to see the pain they were inflicting on others."- Deacon Art Miller
19 Jan 2014
Click here to watch Deacon Art's compelling presentation.
Outline: Presentation on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Jan 14, 2014
1. The Question of NationalityWe derive our sense of self from where we come from (Belonging).
Do we have something to offer (Worthwhileness)
Sense of communal competence
2. Emmett Till: The BeginningIn 1955, a boy named Emmett Till traveled to the south to visit relatives. During that visit he was brutally lynched by two white supremacists.
(An investigation of this crime would be very helpful for further discussion -- see video below)
Little or no blame for this horrific crime has been directed towards the perpetrators.
The victimization of Emmett Till in nearly all historical documents is pointed to as the cause of his own murder.
It was his actions that affronted people which resulted in his death. The victim is blamed.
3 -- What Now?Will Rev. Dr. King's legacy of peace and nonviolence live only in old newsreels, faded newspapers and history books?
Will his dream of peace and harmony die a dreamer's death?
It's up to us.
For more information on Emmett Till:
By: Arthur Miller (Deacon Art)
Published by: AuthorHouse, 2005
Video:As you may expect with a documentary about a brutal lynching in the deep south in 1955, some of the descriptions and images may be disturbing, particularly to children.
