CLF | Return of A King: Remembering the Life and Legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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THE RETURN OF THE KING

Just past noon on January 15, 1929, a son (whose original birth name was Michael, later to be legally changed to Martin), was born to the Reverend and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Sr. in an upstairs bedroom of 501 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia.  It was in the surroundings of the “Sweet Auburn Avenue” childhood home, church (Ebenezer Baptist Church) and neighborhood that the humanity of Dr. King was fostered and the legacy of the civil rights movement forever preserved.

In the wake of the recent discussion of the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial on the “Mall” in Washington, DC, our young men had the opportunity to visit, engage, and reflect upon the National Historic Site of Martin Luther King, Jr. After traveling up Auburn Avenue and passing the historic offices of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the important civil rights organization Dr. King helped create, the CLF Summer Institute group parked in the visitors’ lot just off Johns Wesley Dobbs Avenue.  The young men began their visit to the historic site by walking down the Civil Rights “Walk of Fame”, standing in the footprints of great civil rights figures like Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Dr. Andrew Young, to name a few.  As they next passed the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, they discussed his legacy and the impact of his adherence to nonviolent civil disobedience on Dr. King.  As the group entered the visitors’ center maintained by the National Parks Service, they were immediately drawn to the unforgettable “March of the Civil Rights” movement display which highlighted various Southern locations involved in the struggle for equality.  South Carolina locations were prominently displayed and they included: Rock Hill (site of well-known sit-ins and a historic encounter between SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) student leader and Freedom Rider John Lewis (now a United States Congressman, D-GA) and a member of the KKK; Orangeburg (site of the Orangeburg Massacre and student protest that included the activism of James Clyburn (now a United States Congressman, D-SC) and Columbia  (state capitol that prominently flew the Confederate Flag and the location where segregationists Governors James Byrnes and Strom Thurmond ruled from).

Upon exiting the visitor's center, the group passed the International World Peace Rose Garden and then turned to visit the MLK Center for Nonviolent Social Change. It was that they viewed the Eternal Flame which symbolizes the continuing effort to realize Dr. King’s dream of the “Beloved Community,” which was his vision for a world of justice, peace and equality for all mankind, the Reflecting Pool and the Freedom Walkway that leads to the crypt of Dr. and Mrs. King and the Chapel of All Faiths. The group next made its way to the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Jackson Street.  We ended our tour at the birth place and childhood home of Dr. King.

After visiting the National Historic Site, the group traveled just a few minutes away to the campus of Morehouse College (Morehouse is one of two black colleges in the country to produce Rhodes Scholars, and it is the alma mater of many prominent African-Americans, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Theologian Howard Thurman, filmmaker Spike Lee, actor Samuel L. Jackson, former CEO of Godfather's Pizza and Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, Olympic gold medalist Edwin Moses, former Bank of America Chairman Walter E. Massey, the first African-American mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson, former Secretary of Health and Human Services Louis W. Sullivan, and former United States Surgeon General David Satcher, among others).  The MLK Chapel served as the backdrop of an important introduction of the CLF Summer Institute participants to Morehouse Junior/Presidential Ambassador Chavis Jones.  Chavis is a product of Spartanburg, SC, having attended Carver Junior High School and graduated from Spartanburg High School.  He shared a message of hope, inspiration, and relevance to the group of young men.  Chavis, who was recently selected as a member of the CLF 2012 Fellows class, is an inspiration to all young Black male.  As a dream major for justice, the valuable time Brad shared with group on the campus of Morehouse College will be forever remembered and cherished.  Thank you, future Attorney, Politician, Reverend Chavis Jones.

We ended the day by having a moment of respite and refreshment at the world of Coca Cola and the Georgia Aquarium.  A full day for the group and the 2011 CLF Summer Institute!