Senate Sketches # 1081
NOTE: Sen. Hank Sanders has written a weekly column for papers in his legislative district for the past twenty years. These rural, weekly papers lack a web presence, and links to the columns are not typically otherwise available. The column below is provided by Sen. Sanders’ office for inclusion in the Daily News Digest.
Senate Sketches # 1081
By
Senator Hank Sanders
**********************************
The Power of Black History was the theme. The Power of Black History was my subject. It was the Troy University NAACP Founder’s Day Program.
Someone will ask, “Why Black History? Or Why Black History Month?” I hope I answered that question at Troy. I want to share my perspective with you in case you question whether we need Black History/Black History Month.
First, all history is powerful. It tells us where we were, how we got from where we were to where we are. Then it points the way to the future. That’s the power of history.
At Troy, I gave the example of persons being blindfolded with their ears plugged and then taken from Troy to Montgomery and released. They would not know where they were or how they got there. But if they knew how they got there, they would not only know where they were, but see how they can go further. That’s the power of history.
In order for history to benefit us, we have to identify with it. It must be our history. As Black people, we started from a different place, traveled a different route and negotiated different challenges to get where we are now, and faced additional struggle to get to the next destination.
It is hard for us to identify with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and others for each had enslaved Black people. We have to identify with someone who escaped from slavery or succeeded in spite of slavery.
I shared from my personal experiences. I became a lawyer because I read about Thurgood Marshall, the great Black lawyer who won the Brown vs. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision. It made it unconstitutional to separate children by race in public education.
I returned to Alabama because I read about Harriet Tubman. She escaped from slavery but returned to the South19 times to help others escape. When I graduated from Harvard Law School, I could have chosen a much different life up North. The power of Black History brought me back.
I stand up because I read how Frederick Douglass refused to be whipped for something he did not do. He told the overseer, “You will not whip me. You may kill me, but you will not whip me.” He was neither whipped nor killed.
I value the leadership of women partly because my mother was a powerful example. I also value women’s leadership because I read about Sojourner Truth. She was broke from slavery but provided powerful leadership for Whites as well as Blacks.
I talked about how I overcame my extreme meanness. My aunt told me how my mother and my grandmother were as mean as me when they were my age. They both overcame their meanness. The history helped me see how I could overcome mine. That’s the power of Black History.
History tells us that which was inconceivable became conceivable, then possible, then probable, then reality. History tells us that which is inconceivable today will become conceivable tomorrow; then possible; then probable; then reality. It points the way for us to conceive the inconceivable and work to make it a reality.
I shared my belief with those gathered at Troy University that we have many histories: individual; family; group; school; community; state; nation; a people. Each history confluences with other histories make a total. We don’t know how they will come together to make possible the seemingly impossible. That’s the power of history.
History humbles us because we realize we did not get where we are by ourselves. Without the knowledge of history, we are likely to think that we got to this point in time on our own. If I reach higher and see farther, it’s because I stand on the shoulders of those who went before me.
History tells us that the odds are not always what they appear to be. In 1965, it appeared that the right to vote for Black people would not be won because one side had everything - all the laws; the lawmen; the guns; the media; the money; the businesses; the jobs; the majority population; everything. The other side just had singing songs, praying prayers and marching feet. The ones with almost nothing succeeded. The ones with almost everything lost. That’s the power of Black History.
Now on to the Daily Dairy.
Saturday - I spoke to the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Black Farmer’s Conference. I talked with many leaders of the Federation including Ralph Paige, Jerry Pennick, John Zippert, and Jackie Ward. I also talked with others such as Cheryl Bailey of Washington, D. C., Stinson Troutman of Fort Valley State University, and Ernest Marshall of Atlanta. I returned to Selma and worked into the night on Sketches and other matters.
Sunday - I did Radio Sunday School, Radio Education, and Sunday Review. I participated in Sunday School and spoke at the Greater Hope Baptist Church. I participated in a conference call of general senators and talked with the following: Rev. Ernest Colvin; Barbara Pitts of Alabama New South Coalition (ANSC); Judy McReynolds of Bay Minette; and Senator Zeb Little. I worked until late.
Monday - I talked with the following: Dr. Carol P. Zippert of Greene County; Sumter County School Superintendent Dr. Fred D. Primm; Joyce Bigbee, Norris Green, and Deborah Kennedy of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO); Deborah Anthony of the Legislative Reference Service (LRS); Leslie York of Montgomery; Barbara Evans of Lowndes County; Teresa Burroughs of Hale County; Dr. Paul Hubbert of the Alabama Education Association (AEA); Jackie Thomas Lowndes County Administrator; Yvette Thomas of the Lowndes County Board of Education; Ginger Avery Buckner of the Alabama Association for Justice; Phil Rawls of the Associated Press; and Dr. James Mitchell President of Wallace Community College (WCCS). I traveled to Lowndes County, returned to Selma and had lunch with Lowndes County Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd. I worked into the night.
Tuesday - I worked on a number of matters and still made to Montgomery by 8:30 a.m. to meet with House Education Budget Chair Representative Richard Lindsey. I also had the following meetings: Alabama Legislative Black Caucus; Senate Democratic Caucus; Senate Session; White Hall Mayor John Jackson and others; and Representative Richard Lindsey and Dr. Joe Morton. I talked with the following: Pat Lynch of the Beer Association; Dr. Jack Hawkins and Dr. Geraldine Allen of Troy University; Lobbyist Lamar Higgins; Dr. Dominic Dale; Demarcus Williams, Lionel Rice, and Rachael Fala of the Troy University NASACP Chapter; Dickey Whittaker of the Alabama Association; Ron Jones of the Examiners of Public Accounts; Senator Quinton Ross; and Lobbyist Joe Fine. I traveled to Troy. Spoke on The Power of Black History and returned to Selma.
Wednesday - I was in my Montgomery Senate office early where I worked on several issues. I talked with the following: Senator Bobby Singleton; Governor Bob Riley and others; Dr. Roberta Watts of ANSC; Greene County board member Lester Brown and others; Lobbyist Tom Coker; Perry County Commissioner Albert Turner, Jr.; and Alex McGillis of the Washington Post. I participated in a Senate Constitution and Election Committee meeting as well as other meetings. I returned to Selma for the Radio Program Law Lessons and a series of meetings. I worked into the night.
Thursday - I was at my office before 6:00 a.m. I worked on Black Farmers issues before traveling to Montgomery for a 9:00 a.m. meeting and a 10:00 a.m. Senate Session. I talked with the following: Senator Hinton Mitchem; Senator Myron Penn; Senator Lowell Barron; Senator E.B. McClain; Senator Zeb Little; Senator Roger Bedford; Senator Larry Dixon; Senator Scott Beason; Sharon Wheeler of the President Pro Tem’s staff; Dr. Paul Hubbert; Lobbyist Greg Jones; and Sharon Calhoun of Montgomery. I returned to Selma to have a Valentine’s Day lunch with Faya Rose. I worked on many issues before traveling to Lowndes County where I ate with Lowndes County Education leaders. I received an award from HIPPY at the Lowndes County Board of Education meeting and participated in an ANSC conference call as I returned to Selma.
Friday - I was at work by 6:30 a.m. and in Hale County by 9:05 a.m. I facilitated a Black Belt Action Committee Meeting before returning to Selma. I had lunch with Craig Pouncey of the State Department of Education and worked on various issues. I attended two programs that evening - one involving health and school issues and the other Black marriages. I handled many other matters during the day.
EPILOGUE - We take for granted the power in so many things. That’s why so many of us feel powerless. If we just realize the power of everyday things, we would know how powerful we are. The power of history is one such thing.
Index of Sanders' Senate Sketches
