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Albany State University Commencement Address
December 10, 2011
…preliminary notes…:
I came to this moment thinking deeply about this 21st century university which had not forgotten its own history and led by a courageous President and staff, made the decision that Albany State had something else to say about its role toward its students who stepped out as leaders of a local movement against systemic and deeply imbedded racism expressed through a legal system of segregation.
For me, December 10, 2011 will always be the Commencement Services for the Class of 2011; numbering more than 400, of whom the Deans and Faculty made clear that each had been deemed successful in fulfilling the requirements of their particular degree.
This day will also ring deep in my heart and deep in the hearts of all who struggled for freedom in Southwest Georgia. December 10, 2011 will be the day that this school, in a visionary collective effort, extended its mission back a half century. We, a new class of December 1961, were welcomed to come forward within a 21st century fold that had remembered that many of us might still be walking among the living. And we came–many moving upright, steady and unsteady; with cane, wheelchair, honored and blessed to be 21st century witnesses of that struggle. Also, we moved with memory of those known to have passed across the line, and those we were not able to find, yet we carried all of them within our hearts and being as we moved into the circle opened to invite us in again….
(singing)
I’m your child, remember me
I’m your child, remember me
Oh Lord, remember me.Remember me, remember me
Oh Lord, remember me.
I like very much the idea of Commencement coming at the end of a process. The lesson being: You have finished, now — you can begin.
Let us acknowledge as we step beyond this particular ‘ending moment’; we have already been party or causational to many beginnings….
Each one of us have been involved in learning, experiencing, testing; operating as a vital component of an organism created to orchestrate a rigourous journey of advanced learning.
You are in some ways the person you were when first you entered this place–and hopefully in many ways you are changed by the works and skills you mastered here.
This faculty and administrative staff declare you ready to move from this place, this position–to begin a new phase of offerings to your community, your country, your time….
We the class of December, 1961, know that there was no Commencement Ceremony in our school year in December at the end of what was then the Fall Quarter. However, our expulsions during that month because of our leadership in building a local Movement against racism; keep in mind that segregation, immoral as it was–was a legal system; our actions against that system–and our expulsion by our school administration created a December, 1961 class.
Photo credit: Albany State University.
Words are inadequate to express our deepest gratitude and respect for President Everett Freeman and his administrative team–first, for the vision to create this moment; second, for putting together a programmatic structure that made the initiative an intrinsic part of the current programs of the campus.
To the Student Government of 2011/12; we have been held by the strength and seriousness you brought to this effort. Most of us are of your grandparent generation and we are humbled by the clarity of your support.
As a historian, I need to acknowledge that this campus has reached out to us before.
At the 20th observance of the Albany and Southwest Georgia Movements, then President Billie C. Black, who led the effort to rebuild this campus after a devastatingly destructive flood, held a dinner on this campus in our honor. Although, he was not present, he had a letter read welcoming us to this campus and sharing that his administration was not resonant with the treatment we had received in 1961. President Portia Shields also hosted me as Convocation Speaker during her administration. These actions expressed that we were remembered and that there was a wound in the fabric of the school because of what had happened to us here.
President Everett Freeman brought a stronger intention to this history. As a part of his mission he invited Charles Sherrod, head of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Southwest Georgia Project to share his life’s work with a new generation of students.
To the class of 2011, most of you are younger in years than your 1961 colleagues: may your life span stretch longer–well beyond this Commencement beginning.
May you tell your children, your grandchildren not only about us and what we did; but about this 50 year stretch from 2011–calling us forward within the circle that is the Albany State University Community.
A note about the reach itself–a half century reach–qualitatively distinct, conceptually based in scholarship: research, dialogue, teaching, and production.
Dr Racquel Henry’s efforts to locate and communicate with each of us; the creation of a web site, the teaching of courses…: I knew this was different when I heard the story of Miss Albany State 2010 interviewing Miss Albany State College of 1961–expelled as a member of the class of December, 1961. This queen elect made what happened to the 1961 queen, Miss ASC, a part of her platform. Then I heard that at her coronation there might also be a second crowning. I told my friend Annette Jones White, Miss ASC, 1961, that if it happened, I would be present.
And I was present: I witness the full coronation of Miss Albany State University 20l0; then, fully crowned and sashed, she left the stage and returned with Annette Jones White. She placed the ASC 1961 sash across her chest, the tiara upon her head, and gave her flowers-- we were, many of us, in tears. Those of us witnessing this very special extension knew we were moving in a new time, where leadership found the courage to support healing in a way that extended a welcome.
Each one of us have traveled a personal journey that has brought us to this moment. The ceremony is called Commencement for a reason–we all step out from this place on new ground we have not yet walked.
There is much expected of us and there is so much to do. We move forward in times of great challenges….
Some of our cities have encampments–citizens raising questions about the economic, social crisis facing our society. The Occupyers call for justice. As you—our colleagues of 2011 move forward, the economic crisis is planet-wide….
This is a time of challenge calling for strength and determination. More than ever, now is the time to draw lessons from the legacy of our people who refused to accept “low”, who refused to stop looking and working for a new day. We are all the descendants of those who died throwing life forward–so much so that we are here today….
(singing)
I don’t know how my mother walked her trouble down
I don’t know how my father stood his ground
I don’t know how my people survive slavery
I do remember that’s why I believe.I don’t know why the rivers overflow their banks
I don’t know why the snow falls and covers the ground
I don’t know why the hurricane sweeps thru the land every now and then
Standing in a rainstorm, I believe.I don’t know why the angels woke me up this morning soon and
I don’t know why the blood still runs thru my veins
I don’t how I rate to run another day
I am here still running I believe….My God calls to me in the morning dew
Power of the universe knows my name
Gave me a song to sing and sent me on my way
I raise my voice for justice I believe….
If there is anything you take from this joining of your wonderful achievement with this half century collegiate cluster–let it be that we stand here grateful to be remembered.
We would do it again, not for glory as this is glorious, but because it needed doing, we stepped out against that which threatened our lives and our futures….
All of us from 1961 are not walking with you today–some of us did not survive the experience of being blunt force soldiers ramming our lives against the legal system of segregation. It did fall, but some of died then and some later; some we would count among the wounded “walking dead.”.
I say this to acknowledge that as we return to be in this special place and moment we carry our sisters and brothers with us.
There were those who came to this place: Charles Sherrod, Cordell Hull Reagon, joined by Charlie Jones, SNCC Field Secretaries, who helped to organize, train and move with us. Rev. Charles Sherrod found home in this place and is with us today.
On a tour a few years ago by bus, some of us traveled to Dawson Georgia, as we got near we were escorted by a police car, the officer was African American, we came into the City Chambers and were introduced to the civic leaders; they were African American–logical because the population is predominantly African American. We met Lucius Holloway, African American, veteran, who in a case brought by Albany Attorney C.B. King, African American, had won the right to vote in any place that set up for registered voters to vote. It is one thing to win the case and to have the right; it is another to practice. Lucius Holloway, instead of going as was the expected practice, to the basement, walked into the room and voted in a booth historically set aside for white voters. There were white men with bats and ax handles in the room. After Mr Holloway voted, turning to face these racists, he broke into a run in one direction and as they headed that way, he feinted and shot out another door and ran until he got home and had the first of 3 heart attacks.
At the recent celebration of the Southwest Georgia Movement held on this campus, Lucius Holloway was present to talk about the lesson. They do not always take your life when you stand for what is right. Sometimes they do, but today we stand as your half century classmates urging you to take the risks that call us forward into new territory–sometimes you will live to tell your grandchildren and your great grands about your journey.
As we, the class of December ’61, move on, we are watching and waiting for your work to catch hold in this new time.
It is already hard and challenging–
Step by step–move forward
If you are blocked,
Step to the side–move forward…
Know when to find temporary shelter when the storms are too intense–
…and at the first break of light– move forward….
Thank you and congratulations to us all….
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