Dr. J. David Jackson

Columnist

 

There are times when tragedy brings clarity in life. It could be a health issue, tragic loss or loss attributed to an act of nature. Leaders sometimes refer to these times as defining moments or crucibles. Warren Bennis “coined these experiences that shape a leader after the vessels medieval alchemists used in their attempts to turn base metals into gold.”

Sept. 11, 2011 was a defining moment for New York City and the country, when terrorists crashed jets in to the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Penn. In the midst of this tragedy, I witnessed people of all races caring and helping one another. Flags all around the country were flown at half-mast. Churches around the country reported attendance increases for subsequent Sundays. What happened? One thing for sure in this crucible or defining moment, people’s former roles and status became obscured. A distillation or purification process emerged from these events that brought clarity to the true values of people, which included love and empathy for one another. This happened in Tuscaloosa when a tornado struck that left a trail of devastation, leaving many people desolate and discouraged.

The recovery process was miraculous as people from all over the country came to extend love, consolation and assistance. People who never had a need to work together, came together with a purpose to restore some normalcy to Tuscaloosa.

Events such as 9/11 and the tornado in Tuscaloosa, instill urgency in people. As a result, people become more concerned about their similarities than their differences. Leaders emerge like a conductor of an orchestra who facilitates the actions of dissimilar people into a harmony of restoration rivaling a great symphony.

What will it take in Selma to bring together a group of discordant tunes to create a great symphony rivaling Beethoven’s ninth symphony?

Historically, Selma has had it crucible moments; times when the priority was what was best for Selma and all citizens; times when similarities outweighed the differences and times when people worked together for a common good. However, the downside of crucible moments is a tendency to return to business as usual until another event occurs that sends a resounding signal that things are not back to business as usual. Proactivity is key; we should always act on life before life acts on us.