Profiles In Politics, Part III
Recently, I took a short break from writing the Profiles In Politics series in order to call for Senator Al Franken to resign over his recent sexual harassment allegations. This past week, he did just that. This conversation on sexual harassment must and will continue, but in the meantime, I'd like to continue with my series.
The Reverend Ralph Abernathy wasn't a politician in the traditional sense. In fact, he never held elected office. However, his contribution toward the betterment of American society was far greater than any average politician could ever hope to achieve.
Rev. Abernathy was born on March 11, 1926, in Linden, Alabama. His father, William Abernathy, was the first black man to vote in Marengo County, Alabama, as well as the first to serve on a grand jury. Growing up, the Reverend was no stranger to activism. At his school, he led a successful demonstration to protest the inferiority of the school's science lab. As a result, the school updated it. After serving as a Platoon Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, Abernathy went to college at Alabama State University, in Montgomery. While there, he was elected President of the student council. In his capacity as President, he led a successful hunger strike to improve the quality of food served on campus.
In 1948, Abernathy was ordained a Baptist minister. In 1950, he graduated Alabama State University with a B.S. in Mathematics and went on to become the first black man to host a radio show in Montgomery. In 1951, Abernathy earned an M.A. in Sociology from Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. That same year, Rev. Abernathy was appointed the Dean of Men at Alabama State University, and became the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery. In 1954, Rev. Abernathy met the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who served as a Pastor at another church. The two became close friends.
This friendship would blossom into one of the most meaningful collaborations in American History. Together, they organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott in response to the arrest of Rosa Parks. The boycott led to the U.S. Supreme Court case of Browder v. Gayle (1956), which upheld an earlier decision that declared bus segregations to be unconstitutional. The boycott was succesful and ended on December 20, 1956, 381 days after Rosa Park's arrest. Less than a month later, Abernathy's home, as well as the First Baptist Church and other churches in Montgomery were bombed. Abernathy's family was unharmed, as well as Abernathy, who was away at a conference.
This would not be the last time Abernathy or his family would face such terrorism. He was beaten on numerous occasions by angry mobs and racist police officers. He was arrested 44 times in his life, 17 of those times together with Dr. King. He faced death threats on his life and the lives of his family almost daily. At one point, his family's land and car were confiscated, and his family had to repurchase the car at a public auction.
In 1961, Abernathy and Dr. King both welcomed the Freedom Riders on their stop in Montgomery. Abernathy was part of the successful effort to abolish Jim Crow laws in the south, the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Abernathy was also present at the March to Montgomery after the Bloody Sunday Incident in Selma.
On April 3, 1968, Rev. Abernathy introduced Dr. King, when he gave his final speech, I've Been To The Mountaintop. On the next day, April 4th, Abernathy cradled Dr. King in his arms after he was martyred outside his hotel room by an assassin. This did not lead to Abernathy standing down in cowardice. Instead, he pressed on, carrying the legacy of Dr. King by leading the Poor People's Campaign in Washington D.C. Together with poor Black, Latino, White, and Native American people of America, they camped on the Washington Mall for six weeks during late spring of 1968.
The Poor People's Campaign was an all-out effort to improve the lives of all Americans, regardless of race, and squarely aiming at the poverty that still cripples the United States to this day. The Campaign aimed for a $30 Billion dollar Economic Bill of Rights to guarantee full employment, an annual income, and more low-income housing, among other things. This did not occur. However, the Headstart program, as well as the school lunch program for low income students was expanded. The SNAP (food-stamp) program was expanded as well.
Rev. Abernathy would go on to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference after Dr. King's death from 1968 until his own retirement in 1977. He would continue to work for civil rights and for improved conditions for the poor, even building a housing complex for the elderly and handicapped. He died on April 17, 1990. He was 64 years old. Inscribed on Rev. Abernathy's tombstone are the words "I tried."
Tried he did, but succeeded even more so in his efforts. His work led to the enforcement of desegregation, the further repeal of segregation laws, the passing of the Civil Rights Act and the Voter Rights Act, as well as the improvement of government programs designed to combat poverty. Of course though, there is endless work to be done. Today, Abernathy's legacy is being furthered by Rev. William Barber's efforts to begin a new Poor People's Campaign.
Rev. Abernathy's work reminds me that there is a moral imperative to help those less fortunate and to take risks. He was arrested 44 times. He was beaten. He even had his house bombed. Rev. Abernathy suffered those things because he was a man of morals and he strongly believed in making a difference. He stands in contrast to many of our politicians who are cowering in the faces of the poor, bending over backwards to take away health insurance from millions of people in order to give tax breaks to the stupidly wealthy.
Those of you who read this may not be religious, which I respect; but I think we can agree that those who represent us on Capitol Hill and in statehouses across America, ought to look towards Rev. Abernathy's example; as screwing over the poor and the middle class in the name of the rich and wealthy is wholeheartedly unchristian.
The Reverend Ralph Abernathy wasn't a politician in the traditional sense. In fact, he never held elected office. However, his contribution toward the betterment of American society was far greater than any average politician could ever hope to achieve.
Rev. Abernathy was born on March 11, 1926, in Linden, Alabama. His father, William Abernathy, was the first black man to vote in Marengo County, Alabama, as well as the first to serve on a grand jury. Growing up, the Reverend was no stranger to activism. At his school, he led a successful demonstration to protest the inferiority of the school's science lab. As a result, the school updated it. After serving as a Platoon Sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II, Abernathy went to college at Alabama State University, in Montgomery. While there, he was elected President of the student council. In his capacity as President, he led a successful hunger strike to improve the quality of food served on campus.
In 1948, Abernathy was ordained a Baptist minister. In 1950, he graduated Alabama State University with a B.S. in Mathematics and went on to become the first black man to host a radio show in Montgomery. In 1951, Abernathy earned an M.A. in Sociology from Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. That same year, Rev. Abernathy was appointed the Dean of Men at Alabama State University, and became the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery. In 1954, Rev. Abernathy met the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who served as a Pastor at another church. The two became close friends.
This friendship would blossom into one of the most meaningful collaborations in American History. Together, they organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott in response to the arrest of Rosa Parks. The boycott led to the U.S. Supreme Court case of Browder v. Gayle (1956), which upheld an earlier decision that declared bus segregations to be unconstitutional. The boycott was succesful and ended on December 20, 1956, 381 days after Rosa Park's arrest. Less than a month later, Abernathy's home, as well as the First Baptist Church and other churches in Montgomery were bombed. Abernathy's family was unharmed, as well as Abernathy, who was away at a conference.
This would not be the last time Abernathy or his family would face such terrorism. He was beaten on numerous occasions by angry mobs and racist police officers. He was arrested 44 times in his life, 17 of those times together with Dr. King. He faced death threats on his life and the lives of his family almost daily. At one point, his family's land and car were confiscated, and his family had to repurchase the car at a public auction.
In 1961, Abernathy and Dr. King both welcomed the Freedom Riders on their stop in Montgomery. Abernathy was part of the successful effort to abolish Jim Crow laws in the south, the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Abernathy was also present at the March to Montgomery after the Bloody Sunday Incident in Selma.
On April 3, 1968, Rev. Abernathy introduced Dr. King, when he gave his final speech, I've Been To The Mountaintop. On the next day, April 4th, Abernathy cradled Dr. King in his arms after he was martyred outside his hotel room by an assassin. This did not lead to Abernathy standing down in cowardice. Instead, he pressed on, carrying the legacy of Dr. King by leading the Poor People's Campaign in Washington D.C. Together with poor Black, Latino, White, and Native American people of America, they camped on the Washington Mall for six weeks during late spring of 1968.
The Poor People's Campaign was an all-out effort to improve the lives of all Americans, regardless of race, and squarely aiming at the poverty that still cripples the United States to this day. The Campaign aimed for a $30 Billion dollar Economic Bill of Rights to guarantee full employment, an annual income, and more low-income housing, among other things. This did not occur. However, the Headstart program, as well as the school lunch program for low income students was expanded. The SNAP (food-stamp) program was expanded as well.
Rev. Abernathy would go on to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference after Dr. King's death from 1968 until his own retirement in 1977. He would continue to work for civil rights and for improved conditions for the poor, even building a housing complex for the elderly and handicapped. He died on April 17, 1990. He was 64 years old. Inscribed on Rev. Abernathy's tombstone are the words "I tried."
Tried he did, but succeeded even more so in his efforts. His work led to the enforcement of desegregation, the further repeal of segregation laws, the passing of the Civil Rights Act and the Voter Rights Act, as well as the improvement of government programs designed to combat poverty. Of course though, there is endless work to be done. Today, Abernathy's legacy is being furthered by Rev. William Barber's efforts to begin a new Poor People's Campaign.
Rev. Abernathy's work reminds me that there is a moral imperative to help those less fortunate and to take risks. He was arrested 44 times. He was beaten. He even had his house bombed. Rev. Abernathy suffered those things because he was a man of morals and he strongly believed in making a difference. He stands in contrast to many of our politicians who are cowering in the faces of the poor, bending over backwards to take away health insurance from millions of people in order to give tax breaks to the stupidly wealthy.
Those of you who read this may not be religious, which I respect; but I think we can agree that those who represent us on Capitol Hill and in statehouses across America, ought to look towards Rev. Abernathy's example; as screwing over the poor and the middle class in the name of the rich and wealthy is wholeheartedly unchristian.
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