Day 8: We STILL have a long way to go....

Good Day, (for Friday May 13, 2011)

Today I attended the “Baseball and the Civil Rights Movement” Roundtable Discussion at Ebenezer Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta. (sponsored by Georgia Power and the Atlanta Braves)

This would be my first visit to this historic church and it definitely was a beautiful church. I met such great legends as……

Hank Aaron (famous MLB player and known for breaking Babe Ruth’s home run record) and

I was too excited! I havent met too many legends in my life!

Ernie Banks ( a former Chicago Cub Shortstop/1st Baseman and MLB’s 1st Black Manager ) . 

I got his autograph too! YAY!

The forum consisted of the following people:

Arte Moreno: first Hispanic to own a major sports team in the U.S. (Anaheim Angels Baseball Team)

Dolores Huerto: Founder of the Stockton chapter Community Service Organization (CSO)

Marc Morial: former mayor of New Orleans and President and CEO of the National Urban League

Darrell Miller: Major League Baseball player and Vice President of Youth Facility Development at MLB.

Gloria Gaynor: recording singer (famous for I Will Survive)

Brigadier General Bryan T. Roberts: decorated military officer (serving in the US, Germany, Iraq and former Director of Integration at the Pentagon)

Moderated by Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree (He taught President and First Lady Obama) 

 

They spoke on race relation within the United States (in terms of sports, education, politics and even within our own communities).

One topic they spoke on, which I think is SOO important, is the NEED for our communities to be accountable for our children’s welfare and well beings. 

It is soo important that we START leading by example and STOP blaming  and waiting for others to correct the problem.

Owner of the Atlanta Braves

This is the best I could do! LOL. This is the discussion panel with Professor Ogletree in the middle.

Now don’t get me wrong...... I believe in holding our government officials and programs accountable for their responsibilities. BUT at the same time…..our communities (parents, families, church, etc) must be held accountable for their part too.

GREAT example

My grandmother wasn’t the must educated person (in terms of degrees) but she always made sure I got the help I needed when I was struggling in a class. 

If we couldn’t find any assistance within the school system….we  would search elsewhere to get the help I needed. 

(and please let me emphasize the word ‘WE’! My grandmother and I were a team. I was just as accountable for my education and she was !)

THIS is the type of stuff I’m talking about!  

ACCOUNTABILITY

Darrell Miller, former MLB player

The forum was definitely great and insightful. But I think the most memorable part of the forum was the portion where Darrell Miller answered the question “Who inspired/ inspires him?”

Miller responded that his parents were very inspirational to him and did a great job with raising all of their children (4 of them being professional athletes in 3 different sports). 

However he recalled his 9th grade teacher that helped him with his valedictorian speech (for his middle school graduation ceremony). 

He revealed that he suffered from a bad speech impediment and was extremely nervous about his upcoming speech. His teacher took the time to practice with him for over a month. 

When he finally did his speech…..he was FANTASTIC! 

As Mr. Miller told the story…he got soo chocked up with emotion that he couldn’t even finish the end. All I could do is shed a tear because it was soo moving. (I shed a tear then and I’m shedding one now as I retell this story)

Mr. Aaron with the Brigadier General panelist.

It just shows you that there are a lot of unsung heroes out there….who touch our lives in such a way that they, and sometimes WE at the moment, don’t realize it!

S0.... this post is dedicate to those Unsung Heroes: 

 You continue to be more then 'just accountable' to your communities…but you go beyond the call of duty to enrich lives. 

Thank you! 

Day 8 Lesson: Be an Unsung Hero! (because at the end of the day...its not always about you!)