By Joe Rembert,

Pastor of New Beginnings Christian Center

During my last visit to the barbershop, Mr. Tolbert wanted to know who I was working for when I prayed on the capitol steps in Montgomery. He reminded me that I was the only black there. Mr. Tolbert is a man that I have deep respect for, although I began to wonder why he had that question on his mind. During a political season in Selma, it could be for numerous reasons.

I am glad that the question was posed because it has caused me to reminisce about several events of the past.

The dedication of the restored state capitol building came at a time when the Confederate battle flag waved over its dome. Representative Alvin Holmes had called for all black folks to boycott the ceremony. A black lady sang the National Anthem and several blacks played in a military band. A few black politicians stood afar off. I was the only black division chief, who also happened to be a member of the clergy. I was asked to do the invocation. My friend, Dr. John Ed Mathison, who was pastor of Frazer United Methodist Church, did the benediction. A secretary for the program chairman called to ask me to fax my prayer for the commission’s review. I told her that I could not fax my prayer because I had not prayed yet. A thinly veiled sense of anxiety exuded from the caller.

The day came for me to offer my two-minute prayer. I wish, now, that I had written it. I remember thanking God for living in America and the state of Alabama. I also remember asking the Lord to bless us with a love that would allow the sons of slaves and the sons of slave owners to unite under the blood-stained banner of Jesus, our Christ, that Alabama could become a better state. Since that time, Rep. Holmes has shared that spot with several governors, four of whom were Republicans.

After the program, several onlookers, black and white, told me that the most significant things said that day, were said in my prayer. I have called the Department of Archives and History, and the Alabama Historical Commission, to see if either saved an audio or video record of the program.

Nine years earlier, I stood on the capitol steps with SCLC and prayed for justice for Maggie Bozeman and Julia Wilder. These two educators were arrested and convicted of voter fraud in Pickens County and were given much harsher penalties than whites convicted of the same thing. Greene County SCLC president Spivey Gordon informed National SCLC president, Dr. Joseph Lowery that Rev. F.D. Reese was present and recommended him to do the prayer. However, Dr. Lowery rejected that proposal, reminding Mr. Gordon that when the KKK threatened to kill him before we reached the capitol steps, I marched in front of him to prevent his death.

I remembered so many things. I remembered continuing to travel with SCLC for the extension of the voting rights act, when other black leaders turned back after the television cameras left.

I remembered going to bed with my Bible and gun when I lived in Scottsboro, because as chairman of the non-partisan voter’s league I helped defeat a candidate who said that “He didn’t need the n—– vote to win” and the KKK threatened to kill me. I remember Mrs. Louise Tolliver being shot in the leg as she walked next to me after Bible Study at the Church during that turbulent time. I remembered being the only black sailor in my barrack while serving on the Island of Guam and hearing the N-word yelled out as I slept.

However, I also remembered the vast majority of whites who openly condemned the two cowards who displayed such hate. One came and asked for forgiveness. It was given swiftly.

I’m putting my recollections in a book because I can’t tell it all here. I try to forget all of the distortions and downright lies dumped in the Selma community by self-consecrated leaders and poverty pimps who attack anybody who has a thought of his own. I try to always remember that no matter what it looks like, my God is in charge of all things. Keep hope alive, Selma.