FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
“We Know Too Much to Go Back”
The day was March 7, 1965. The place was Selma, Alabama. The event was a march from the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma to the State Capitol building in Montgomery, Alabama. The eyes of the world were fixed on Selma Alabama that day. News media from around the world were covering the efforts of a peaceful protest met by the evil of racists men on horseback. That day was the march in which Civil Rights marchers made an effort to walk from Selma to Montgomery Alabama in peaceful protest to let the world know that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had done little to nothing to change the voting conditions of African Americans in this country. Those 600 marchers on that day were met with tear gas, state troopers on horseback, and billy clubs as they were beaten and injured by the racism so apparent in this country.
Though Jim Crow had been hidden from worldview for many, on March 7, 1965, the world was able to see the evil of this country that had not gone away with the Emancipation Proclamation. While many around the world thought racism had died, that day proved and showed the world that racism was still alive and well. A march led by the late Civil Rights Leaders and U. S. Congressman John Lewis had given the world a snapshot of evil. A snapshot of fear. A snapshot of lies. And a snapshot in black and while that we still had a long way to go.
Well, today, the eyes are once again fixed on this country. The times have changed as to date but the evil of racism continues to build. Just as the absence of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was needed, now a reaffirmation of that act is needed. The Supreme Court has now given the world a snap-shot that evil still exists. The Supreme Court has given the world another snap shot that this country is not the place of freedom that it often brags to be. The Supreme Court has now ruled that race should not be considered an issue in redistricting. Voting Rights Act of 1965 was needed, now a reaffirmation of that act is needed. The Supreme Court has now given the world a snap-shot that evil still exists. The Supreme Court has given the world another snap shot that this country is not the place of freedom that it often brags to be. The Supreme Court has now ruled that race should not be considered an issue in redistricting.
If you take away the issue of race in redistriting, there is no United State Representative Barbara Jordan from Texas, there is no United States Representative John Lewis from Georgia, and there is no President Barak Obama of the United States of America. They would not exist because we would not have representation. Now, the Supreme Court has taken away what many have fought for us to have. Therefore, states like Louisiana, Alabama, and even Tennessee are quick to push to redraw lines so that an evil and crazy president can now get the results he desires in the midterm elections. There is a deep sense and effort in this country to take us back. However, we shout loud and clear that we are not going back.
There is a word embedded in our Scripture for today that informs us that we know too much to go back. We know too much now to go in the back door. We know too much now to be called boy and girl as if placing respect with our names is asking too much. We know too much to allow others to determine for us what freedom and justice look like. That is the core of the scripture today, Christ has brought us into the marvelous light and given us the knowledge of God’s glory. And that is the core of the day we celebrate today, called Mother’s Day. We have come this far by faith leaning and trusting on the Lord. And just as the Lord has not failed us in the past, the Lord will not fail us now. So, I want to say with great belief that we are not going back.
Office of the President
Reverend Dr. Boise Kimber, President
National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc.