It’s been 50 years since prejudice and violence culminated in “Bloody Sunday” — when police officers used tear gas, nightsticks and whips against African-American protestors in Selma.
The peaceful protestors, including Martin Luther King Jr., were attempting to march from Selma to Montgomery on March 7, 1965, to demand equal rights for African-Americans. But the actions of that day changed the public’s perception of Selma — a perception of racism and narrow-mindedness that continues despite many positive changes to the contrary.
Jerry W. Light Sr. moved to Selma five years ago to serve as pastor of First Baptist Church, Selma, but he did so with reluctance because of the city’s reputation. What he found in Selma, however, was entirely different from what he had envisioned.
“For the five years I have been here, I have been frustrated with the constant barrage of negative statements about Selma,” Light said. “The national media gives the appearance that Selma is encapsulated in a vacuum in 1965, forever to be portrayed as an evil, racist community.
“Selma is not perfect but it is not what it used to be.”
The faith community in the area recently decided to help set the record straight with a unity march of their own.
It started with a phone call from Juanda Maxwell, a member of Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Selma, to Light in December 2014. The two churches already had a cooperative and supportive relationship, so the conversation moved quickly into action.
‘Heartfelt concern’
“Juanda shared with me her heartfelt concern for Selma,” Light said. “She said that Selma was filled with so many people who are friends and neighbors, yet the world perceives Selma as a place of racism and hatred. … [She] suggested that we have a march with the community of faith.”
Light, Maxwell and several ministers from various denominations began meeting weekly to brainstorm and plan the unity march. Each week the group grew, reaching almost 30.
Light said, “I have witnessed personally how the heart and soul of this city deeply desires unity, community and reconciliation. … We, together, planned this event as a statement of our own faith that through Jesus Christ all barriers can be broken.”
Involved in the preparation was Jack Alvey, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Selma. A relative newcomer to Selma in August 2014, Alvey was interested in the unity walk because of the imbalance between perception and reality in Selma.
“I understand the outside attention that Selma gets and that’s not the same Selma that I know,” Alvey said.
And so Maxwell’s vision of what could be resulted in the “One Selma: Coming Home United in Faith” march held March 1, one week prior to the nationally televised 50th anniversary commemoration of “Bloody Sunday” that included special remarks by President Barack Obama.
Both the March 1 and March 7–8 events were held at the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge, famous as the symbol for the 1965 march.
During the “United in Faith” march, more than 2,000 people gathered on the Selmont side of the bridge and walked across the bridge into Selma accompanied by the blast of “shofars,” horns used in Jewish services. As they walked participants sang African-American spiritual songs like “Down by the Riverside.”
The march was led by a banner-like quilt made by women in the community as a sign of the city’s commitment to unity. It was made from 176 fabric squares representing churches, businesses, individuals and the history of Selma and stretched 11 feet wide.
At the foot of the bridge participants gathered for a prayer vigil.
Light said, “There were people from every corner of Selma — young and old, rich and poor, of every cultural and religious background. All were happy to be together. That is the Selma that I have come to know and to love.”
For Alvey the march was a celebration of what God has already done in Selma. “It’s a way for people to celebrate the civil rights movement in Selma” and reach out across denominational lines to fellowship as one city, he said.
One may even think of the march like a wedding, Alvey said. “It’s a celebration but you also are preparing for a commitment to one another.”
Maxwell added, “Because it’s the first time that so many (ministers) from all parts of the community have come together we’re anxious to stay together.”
Light agreed, noting the importance of leading congregations in the drive for continued unity.
“Our goal as a group of ministers is to heal the wounds of the past and bring Selma back to spiritual wholeness. We believe that according to Acts 1:8, Selma is our Jerusalem. Therefore it is our responsibility to do all that we can to better our community.
“Our purpose is to bless the family known as Selma and to bring all Selmians to a constant, insistent and unified future.”
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