Say Thank You to Your Unsung Heroes and Sheroes

I recently read the book,"Living in the Shadows of a Legend: Unsung Heroes and ‘Sheroes’ who Marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,” by Deric A. Gilliard. The book is a written documentary featuring interviews and personal insights from 20 unsung heroes – black, white, Jewish, male and female – of the civil rights movements directed by Dr. King in the 1950s and 1960s. These individuals played critical roles in bringing about the passage of the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The book is inspiring in so many ways. It inspires me to be dedicated, fearless and sacrificial for those issues in which I choose to support. It inspires me to learn more about the civil rights movement of the past and of today. It inspires me to apply the lessons learned from those that were in the trenches such as: united we have power, work with a passion and apply well thought-out strategy to your endeavors.

Most importantly, something that I have tried to apply in my own life was affirmed in the book and that is we can do great and sometimes life-changing work without being in the limelight.

I applaud and say thank you to each person highlighted in the book: John Thomas, Robert Nesbitt, Anne Braden, Henry Twine, Clay Evans, Kat Twine, Hosea Williams, Alice Tregay, Robert Hayling, Nimrod Reynolds, R.B. Cottonreader, Albert Turner, J.T. Johnson, Albert Sampson, Willie Bolden, JoElla Stevenson, Betty Magness, Lula williams, Willy Leventhal and Tom Houck.

I also say thank you to all of the other unsung heroes and sheroes that are part of the Civil Rights community that were not highlighted in the book. Futhermore, I am going to make a point of saying thank you to the unsung heroes and sheroes in my personal life. I am blessed to know so many individuals that have and are currently making a difference in this world by being heroic-like mothers, fathers, friends, ministry leaders, young people, employees, mentors, community leaders and more.