In the midst of a violent carjacking attempt on my mother Mrs. Naomi King, widow of slain civil rights activist Rev. AD King, and the death of my mentor of 28 years, Pastor Allen McNair, founder of the prominent Believers' Bible Christian Church and Million Man March, I say remain steadfast and undaunted.
Last weekend my Mother Naomi King was accosted in a carjack attempt, and my pastor and mentor Allen McNair died. Meanwhile, the should be helpful Million Man Marchers were in D.C. chanting "down with America and the Blue Klux Klan." If not for the grace of God and the wisdom and sanity taught by mother, Pastor McNair, Daddy, Granddaddy and Uncle MLK, I would have given way to despair. Still I encourage everyone to remain prayerful and undaunted.
In her media release and open letter, Mother writes to her attacker: "I love you, I forgive you . . . You did not scare me . . . You frustrated me . . . As a loving mother, when I looked into your eyes, I thought — you have been misguided."
Mother goes on to say that "while there must be justice for the violent attack upon her person and property, we must seek solutions and opportunities for our youth so that others don't choose this hopeless path that her attacker sought. This is the mission of the AD King foundation founded in her husband's and my father's honor."
I agree with Mother. We must care for the young, the sick, the elderly and downtrodden. This is the loving message of Jesus.
I was amazed but not surprised when Mother said: "Thinking of the attack, in a way at least what happened to me brings attention those who need a voice. Now we must act."
This is the message of our family, our King Family Legacy; Christ centered faith hope and love, translated into powerful nonviolent conflict resolution.
Finally, as the weekend recedes and the challenges of today emerge, let us be encouraged, overcoming evil with good; forgiving one another and loving God, ourselves and others; learning to live together as brothers and sisters lest we perish as fools.
Dr. Alveda C. King grew up in the civil rights movement led by her uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She is a pastoral associate and director of African-American outreach for Priests for Life and Gospel of Life Ministries. Her family home in Birmingham, Ala., was bombed, as was her father’s church office in Louisville, Ky. Alveda herself was jailed during the open housing movement. Read more reports from Dr. Alveda C. King — Click Here Now.