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Judge tells African-Americans to tell their stories
Conservation Officer Sgt. Steve James served as master of ceremonies. The event was attended by CCADC members, as well as a number of public officials. Special music was provided by the Pine Chapel Youth Choir. Jackson Mayor Richard Long was one of the public officials in attendance. During his comments to the crowd he said, "It is incredible that another year has passed since we celebrated Dr. King's birthday. Forty years ago he was taken away. I think it says a lot that this community, state and nation continue to celebrate his life." Speaker for the event was Judge Marvin W. Wiggins, who serves in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry and Wilcox counties. In his second term, Wiggins is the youngest African-American Circuit Judge in the state of Alabama. He received his master of law from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., his juris doctor from Howard University in Washington D.C. and a bachelor of science from Alabama State University (ASU) in Montgomery.
Judge Wiggins is also involved strongly with his community and in the church. He serves as the chair for the Clearinghouse Blackbelt Faith Based and Nonprofit Initiative Programs, the Hale County Community Enrichment Society Inc. and the Fourth Judicial Circuit Community Corrections Programs Inc. He has received numerous awards and recognitions throughout the years. During his speech, Judge Wiggins talked about moving beyond celebrating the message of Dr. King by beginning to fully realize it. "This day has to be more than a celebration," he said. "We must move beyond these two hours. This must be an ongoing celebration, daily. "We can't play the race card any longer. Ours is not a race problem anymore. Our problem is a black problem. Until we wrestle with that problem, we will be in the same situation." Wiggins told the older African- American generation that they need to tell their stories to the younger generation. "Your children have more amenities than you have and do nothing with it," he said. "It is time to start dreaming ourselves and make our dreams become a true reality. "Our neighborhoods are still just as violent and the dropout rate among our young people is still high. Sixty-six percent of those incarcerated, nationally, are African-American. Forty-four percent of those incarcerated in Alabama are African-American. That's 26 percent of the state's population. "His (Dr. King's) dream has to become a reality. Our children will not succeed until we come together and solve our problems--black and white. Dr. King talked about the American dream. The key to our survival, besides Christ, is in education. If we do not educate our children and force them to go to school we are headed back to the way it used to be. If we don't find a way to do something positive to contribute to the community we are headed back. "We have made too many sacrifices to go back. We need to make that count. Tell our young men to pull up their britches. The reality of black America is we want our children to be successful and our neighborhoods to be safe. "We forced America to give us equal rights. It's time to join hand-in-hand and take this country and build our communities. We need to realize Dr. King's dream and be determined not to go back. We have to be real with each other and confront the race issue. "We are going to have to do better if we are to make Dr. King's dream a reality. You have to force your kids, like your parents forced you, to stay in school and get an education. If we don't do better, they cannot do better. "Let's not be offended by what is said or done. We need to learn to turn the other cheek, black or white. We can make a difference in our communities if we stand together and improve the quality of education. "We must find a way to get back into the church and get our children back in Sunday school. Share your testimony with your kids. Let them know that times will be hard and there will be criticism, but, it's not what they call you, it's what you answer to." Johnnie Byrd, CCADC chairman, echoed many of Judge Wiggins' comments. "We've got to learn in Clarke County to stop fighting against each other," he said. "I believe a man should stand for something. If he doesn't, he will fall for anything. It doesn't cost anything to be nothing, but it costs sacrifice to be something. We need everyone to work together to make our communities better." During the program special recognitions were presented to Rosie Bumpers Howze and Annie Deloris Morris. Howze was recognized for being the first African-American district court clerk and chief magistrate in Clarke County. Morris was recognized for being the first African-American administrator for Clarke County.
Following the program, CCADC Vice Chairman Tyrone Moye expressed his appreciation on behalf of the organization to all those who worked to make the event a success and to everyone who attended. "Without their support we could not be successful," he added.
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