As we prepare to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, one local teacher with a special connection to Dr. King is teaching children what his life and message really meant. Paula Young Shelton is the daughter of Dr. King’s close friend Andrew Young, and grew up knowing him as “Uncle Martin.”
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1 sharon // Mar 30, 2008 at 4:03 pm
I marched with Dr King in the 60’s from Bethleham Baptist Church in McKeesport, Pa. I was around 11 years old, My Mother was concerned about possible violence and forbade me to go to the march, I went anyway, it was the most profound moment in my life, I lined up next to Dr King, barely able to realize what the march was about in it’s entitrety but,,, I knew it had to do with me, my people and my furture, as we proceeded down Walnut Street to City Hall I saw men with guns on roof tops on both sides of the street, I came to terms with death that day,Dr Kings said to all the children surrounding him to not be afraid, I thought these roof top gun pointers were going to kill all of us because we were black, as we arrived at City Hall I heard the most profound words spoken that day that stirred my spirit,, words I looked up in the dictionary when I got home, I told my family of all the splendor of that day, that day took root in me, that day has seen me through so many of life’s perils, it was that day that gave me the spirit of faith,hope, belonging, purpose, expectation and the standard to live my life by. Lets not forget to walk in love,peace and example because we know not when someone needs to recall a positive example needed to survive a situation or life itself .
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