The skanner., January 11, 2012, Page 39, Image 39

H OnOring D r . M ArTin L uTHer K ing , J r .
Occupy
continued from page 6
from all walks of life are included.
Chavis has received the endorsements of civil rights icons
the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Other clerical rep-
resentatives involved are the pioneering African Methodist
Episcopal Bishop Vashti McKinzie; Dr. Carroll A.
Baltimore, Sr., president of the Progressive National Baptist
Convention; and Bishop John Bryant, senior Bishop and
presiding prelate of the Fourth Episcopal District of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Chavis says he is also working with student leaders on
campuses of historically Black colleges and universities
around the nation, an effort led by Morehouse College stu-
dent President Steven Green. “We couldn’t afford to have a
generation gap or a culture gap between older Blacks and
tion was overturned in 1980. Amnesty International called
the group “American political prisoners”.
After 50 years of involvement in the civil rights move-
ment, Chavis says the key battle ground of the Occupy the
Dream movement will be the mindset of African-
Americans.
“There comes a time and place when all of us have to do
something in terms of being active. And January 16 is an
opportunity. It’s a national holiday for Dr. King.
Everybody’s off work that day. What are we going to do?”
he says. “One way to recognize and be grateful for the lega-
cy of Dr. King is move from the monument to the move-
ment. …Now that we have the monument, it’s time to rekin-
dle the movement that the monument represents.”
There comes a time and
place when all of us have to
do something in terms of
being active.
— Benjamin Chavis
younger Blacks,” he said.
The new movement was announced Dec. 14 at a press
conference held at the National Press Club. Independent
journalist David DeGraw, largely credited with leading the
Occupy Wall Street Movement was at the conference wel-
coming the ministers, noting that Chavis’ life has been “a
battle”.
He is correct that Chavis is no stranger to struggle. He
was a member of the group known as the Wilmington Ten,
arrested during school desegregation protests in
Wilmington, N.C. in 1971 and charged with firebombing,
conspiracy and arson. The group got international attention
as they served nearly 10 years in prison until their convic-
There is deep down within us an
instinct. it's a kind of drum major
instinct - a desire to be out front, a
desire to lead the parade, a desire to be
first…we all have the drum major
instinct…
There comes a time that the drum
major instinct can become destructive.
And that's where i want to move now. i
want to move to the point of saying
that if this instinct is not harnessed, it
becomes a very dangerous pernicious
instinct…
(Jesus) said in substance… "Oh i see
you want to be great. You want to be
important. You want to be significant.
Well, you ought to be. if you are going
to be my disciple, you must be." But he
reordered priorities. And he said, "Yes,
don't give up this instinct. it's a good
instinct if you use it right… Don't give
it up. Keep feeling the need for being
important. Keep feeling the need for
being first. But i want you to be first in
love. i want you to be first in moral
excellence. i want you to be first in
generosity."
Martin Luther King Jr. The Drum Major
Instinct. 1968
January 11, 2012 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Martin Luther King Edition Page 15