Today, I marched through Selma for my second Jubilee weekend. One year ago, I sang in a diverse choir at Brown Chapel, and absorbed the remarks of John Lewis, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson. That bright Sunday morning, the sun peered through the stained glass windows, and shined right onto a young African American teenager who stood up in her pew to interrupt John Lewis' talk. She asked if she could say something to Congressman Lewis, and even though someone tried to stop her breach of protocol, she insisted on continuing her sentiments. As someone whispered to Mr. Lewis that the spirit was moving her, he let her continue.
She thanked Mr. Lewis for his courage, and for everything he did during the movement as a young man, and told him that if not for his actions, she would never have the opportunities that she has today.
She then walked up to the front and gave him a hug. The service continued. This small gesture was reminiscent of the days of the civil rights movement mass rallies--they sang when the spirit said sing and they spoke when the spirit said speak.
This time around, I marched once again down Selma's Martin Luther King Boulevard, up Selma Avenue, and onto Broad Street, which leads to the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The sun beat down on our heads, and I listened to a young journalism major from California share about her interest in social justice. She talked about her recent experience with interviewing Los Angeles Skid Row transients, and marching next to her reminded me of old photos that I've lost myself in, of the everyday people who came to Selma in 1965 to make a difference.
Mostly young people, these marchers saw injustice and pursued this opportunity to fight for a cause. This year, as I sat among 400 SCLC members in church, I was reminded that Bloody Sunday wasn't a march with thousands of marchers like the March on Washington, but one of just 200 dedicated freedom fighters. These individuals stepped outside the doors of Brown Chapel, and trodded beyond the warnings of danger to that Edmund Pettus Bridge, because sometimes it only takes a few to provoke an enormous impact. Sheyann Webb shared that participating in this march as a young child left the greatest imprint of any event in her life. I understand now, more than ever, that no matter how young or old a person is, no matter how light or dark their skin color, and no matter what their level of education, a person with both conviction and courage to stand for the right thing can help spark a change that would be worth interruping church for.
Welcome!
Welcome to the Freedom Foundation “blog” – a place to read everyday stories from everyday people who volunteer for the Freedom Foundation. These are the stories that are the life of the events, programs and efforts of the Foundation.
Some people criticize us for the faith we have that makes us believe we can make a difference. Others ridicule the idea that change is possible. But it is stories like these that you read below and then thousands of others that remind us that making a difference in just one person’s life is worth it.
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out.
If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down,
picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
“I made a difference for that one.”
These are our “Starfish Stories”.
Some people criticize us for the faith we have that makes us believe we can make a difference. Others ridicule the idea that change is possible. But it is stories like these that you read below and then thousands of others that remind us that making a difference in just one person’s life is worth it.
The Starfish Story
Original Story by: Loren Eisley
One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed
a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out.
If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”
“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?
You can’t make a difference!”
After listening politely, the boy bent down,
picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
“I made a difference for that one.”
These are our “Starfish Stories”.
