A Very Important Lesson Learned

This morning, going through old email from way back, I found something from six years ago that I had saved, written by the late veteran organizer Hunter Gray. Re-reading it, I’m glad I did. In the email was a story he had written that everyone who is an activist for progressive social change should read and seriously consider. Here it is:

A VERY IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED LONG AGO BY ME — AND NEVER FORGOTTEN

I learned a very important lesson in 1964 in a hot and crowded church one night at Enfield, in Northeastern North Carolina. Our Movement was indeed moving quite well indeed. But it was a very tough struggle against great odds and crises were many. Feelings in that church were high and strong, and when I, the organizer/speaker rose to the podium, I was fired up. Somewhere in my call-to-arms, I began to talk about the County Attorney, Rom [Romeus] Parker, a key foe and, although not one of the thick-as-sand-fleas Klansmen, a very committed segregationist. He was a man of average build, seemed to wear the same dark business suit and tie, and his not-that-old a face was rather heavy and worn.

And one of his legs was badly crippled.

In that church, my focus on Rom Parker and his sins sharpened. The eyes of people glistened. I noted signs of movement, angry tension. Full agreement with my every hot-eyed word.

And then, I began to mimic Rom Parker’s crippled gait. I jerked back and forth in front of the crowd — noting the considerable resonance this pantomime…