HAPPY MLK DAY!

Honor Them

 

As we remember Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we should also recognize that CHILDREN fought, advocated, protested, and sacrificed their safety and even lives for human rights, civil rights... basic rights. We thank them and are indebted to them.

 

Sometimes the black and white photos we see of the civil rights movement gives us the false notion that this movement was long ago and far away. No. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated less than a decade before I was born. In other words, when we collectively say, “WE REMEMBER,” we mean it.The many CHILDREN of the civil rights movement are alive and well today. Their memories are not just collectively archived, but vivid, real, and ever-present. As I was searching the internet for pictures of children who participated in this movement, I was struck by the fact that some of these children were my daughter’s age! 8, 9…. They were chased, beat, jailed, bitten by dogs, yelled at, cussed out, spat on, shunned…. 😭 These were courageous children who knew their why and kept on. 🙏🏿💕As we honor Rev. Dr. King, let’s hold space in our hearts and memories for the children who also led. Thank you!If you would like to learn a bit more about the role of children in the movement, here is a link that contains a pdf document by the American History Teachers’ Collaborative.

#saytheirnames We Honor Sheyann Webb-Christburg

 

Sheyann Webb-Christburg (born in 1956) is called the “Smallest Freedom Fighter.” She was only 8 when she joined the movement, attending meetings and marches. Most notably, she marched on Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965 in Selma, Alabama where Alabama State troopers, sheriffs and/or vigilantes beat and gased her. She was rescued by other protestors. She wrote her own funeral arrangements that night. Thank you @SheyannWebb!! Thank you so much!!

 

While searching for images of children who participated in the Civil Rights Movement, I came across this captivating photo of @sheyannwebb with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! She followed Dr. King. She marched. She withstood billy clubs and gas. She fought for the rights we have today (the rights we still need to protect). Let’s give her flowers NOW and say THANK YOU!!! I just bought her book, “Selma, Lord, Selma: Girlhood Memories of the Civil Rights Days!” 💐💐💐💐💐💐🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿