Keeping Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" alive and active in our lives ... and recalling another great local Civil Rights pioneer, Rev. Mary Edith Moody ... both continue to encourage all of us to promote the ongoing opening of dialogue for better race relations ....
Montage Pic: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Keith John Paul Horcasitas, Rev. Linda Reed, Maria Horcasitas, Rev. Mary Edith Moody
January 16, 2021
With today being recognized as "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observance," I'm reminded of another late and great pioneer in the Civil Rights movement who continues to help me to keep the "I Have A Dream" alive and in action.
A great role model for all of us to follow in working to dialogue better on race relations is my dear and late friend and Community Activist and Mentor, the Rev. Mary Edith Moody, whom I was blessed to meet through Rev. Dana Krutz with the Louisiana Interchurch Conference (LIC), as well as the Rev. Jeff Day and the Rev. Robin McCullough-Bade with the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge.
Many local civic and clergy leaders noted how critical Rev. Moody's presence and guidance facilitated the Citizens’ Task Force that worked to resolve the Consent Decree and improve Race Relations in the region. Fellow Task Force members had noted that when all attempts at consensus had failed, Rev. Moody initiated prayer and, as she had always been noted by her “gracious assertiveness,” she got people back on tract!
Let me end with the Baton Rouge Diocesan Prayer for Racial Harmony … which we usually read at every Mass at St. Francis Xavier at the end of the Prayers of Petition:
“God our Father, You call us to love one another as You have loved us. We pray for the conversion of hearts in our Diocese of Baton Rouge to bring about racial harmony rooted in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, strip us of our pride, mistrust and prejudices, so that we may be able to dialogue with one another to build communities where justice, peace and love flourish. We ask these blessings trusting in the infinite mercy of Jesus and the intercession of Mary our Mother. Amen.”
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Here in Houston, the Rev. William Lawson was a student minister at Texas Southern University when MLK called for boycotts and nonviolent resistance. After students sat in at local cafeterias, Bill Lawson was part of the group of ministers who got together with the powers that be downtown and and made great progress without any violence or riots in this great city of diversity and cooperation.
Rev. Lawson went on to establish the Wheeler Ave., Baptist Church in the same neighborhood where George Floyd grew up. Also the likes of Mickey Leland, former Congressman. His daughter, Melanie Lawson, is longtime anchor at ABC 13 television. She is an MS survivor and has done a lot to keep her father in the hearts of Houstonians. I also had the pleasure of attending a luncheon where I got to meet Melanie when Bill was honored for his civil rights work at the same time that former Pres. George H W Bush in his last year of life was present with Barbara and she received an award for her work with kindergarten children.
I feel fortunate to have had conversation with Rev. Bill Lawson and attended his church for several funerals. I have lived through great times, but have only been to New Orleans once and greatly enjoy my brief visit to the French Quarter listening to the band, Bless This Mess, with their wonderful news that I put on the video that I made of the trip. I really wish I had been able to stop and see you, Paul, on that trip.
https://ronhullauthor.com/streams/Louisiana-10-4-15.m4v
Ron