President Nelson Mandela paid a heavy price to stand against apartheid while campaigning for human justice and human dignity. His message still resonates though his weary, battle worn body has gone the way of those gone before him.
Long may we remember his courage, his fortitude and his gentle smile; none of which was ever tarnished during the years of his battles, oppression, incarceration, and the restorative years following his release. Ninety-five years of life is a fitting testimony to the strength of character of this legendary statesman.
A portrait hangs in my home. In the frame, poised between his fellow champions Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, Mandela smiles while Martin is solemn and Malcolm is stoic. To be able to radiate joy in times of conflict is a gift. To experience their three different expressions, the combined epitome of the human dream of freedom is simply amazing.
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| King, Mandela, Malcolm |
President Mandella now takes his place in history. He will be missed. The world has lost a great leader.
Dr. Alveda C. King grew up in the civil rights movement led by her uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She is a pastoral associate and director of African-American outreach for Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries. Her family home in Birmingham, Ala., was bombed, as was her father’s church office in Louisville, Ky. Alveda herself was jailed during the open housing movement. Read more reports from Dr. Alveda C. King — Click Here Now.
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