“Minute by minute. Hour by hour. As you lose your history. You lose your power.” – The Origin of Things by Listervelt Middleton.
The one thing you never allow anyone to borrow is a book. Those that you read and truly cherish always have at least one line, passage, or thought that is worthy of perpetuity.
Someone stole my book of quotes by Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, the late past president of Morehouse College, but these words are etched in my psyche.
This is not verbatim, but he said, “It does not matter in life that you are happy, but that you Do the Right Thing!!!”
My subscript adds, “Because if you Do the Right Thing, happiness is the least of what you will have.” Sir Ossie Davis was the picture of happiness, joy, and a well-spent life.
Let history correct me, but I am sure that Raiford Chatman Davis was the most extraordinary man who ever came out of Cogdell, Georgia. He attended Howard University and was a surgical technician during his four years of service in World War II. But for almost 60 years, he was wedded to his lovely Ms. Ruby Dee. Their love for one another cast them in the fray of the civil rights struggle.
If you know Black History, then you know that Paul Roberson was one of our most varied talents. Except for the fact that Ossie did not lend his baritone to the Opera, he, too, did it all. Mr. Davis was an actor, director, producer, screenwriter, playwright, author, and historian.
His legacy of social activism spanned the best of our history. From William Edward Burghardt Dubois to Spike Lee, his friendships were forged in “the struggle.”
And that is significant because many of our talented warriors retired after the battle of Jim Crow. Ossie knew to his death that racism did not die in the desegregated restrooms of the South.
Ossie Davis’ was the voice of our conscience and our insight, literally and figuratively.
He eulogized Malcolm as our “Shining Black Prince.”
When Dr. King died three years later, they called on him again.
When Spike Lee needed to cast a drunk to add depth to his movie “Do the Right Thing,” he also called on Ossie.
Sir Ossie Davis was the voice of UNCF that will forever remind us, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste!!”
Ossie Davis raised money for the Freedom Riders, sued in federal courts for voting rights, co-emceed the 1963 March on Washington with his wife Ruby Dee, and protested the “War” in Iraq during his last years.
If it was up to your government, you might never know that some of our most significant civil rights leaders were movie stars, musicians, and celebrities. But that’s why we must write and publish Black history.
Listervelt Middleton was right, because minute by minute and hour by hour, if we allow the racists to hide our history, we will soon lose our power!
Quit Playin’!
Read a book, and if you have one of mine, return it!
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