In 1962, at the age of 15, I participated in the civil rights movement in Huntsville, Alabama. College students, junior high and high school students marched day-to-day for several months, up and down the sidewalks of the city of Huntsville, carrying picket signs, singing freedom songs and old-time gospel songs.

 

We would go into all of the restaurants in the city and sit down at counters and tables to be served meals. Some of the local churches on Church Street would prepare food for us. After we ate we would go back out and start again. It was almost like a job that we had to do. Our parents never said we could not participate, and we were the only people in our neighborhood participating.

 

My sister Frances Sims was one of the first two people to get arrested. The policemen would not arrest the young demonstrators, so we continued to march after the policemen would take a group away. We put in a lot of hours of marching, singing and sitting in eating establishments.

 

We were at Ashby Auditorium at Oakwood College when Dr. Martin Luther King spoke there. We would lead out in songs for people to join in. I have film footage of this event. The film footage was done by Dr. Sonny Hereford, a medical physician in Huntsville.

 

Dr. King also spoke at First Missionary Baptist Church, at that time located on Church Street in downtown Huntsville. During these times Dr. King was never filmed by Dr. Hereford, he was asked not to. Neither when he spoke in Ashby Auditorium Oakwood College (now Oakwood University).

 

We were sometimes threatened by the employees of the businesses. People would put purses and shopping bags in the seats to keep us from sitting down but we would ask them to remove them. We never showed any fear when we marched mainly because we did not know how serious the situation was. We were made aware of things that we could do or have at this time in our lives, after that it was no turning back.

 

Looking back, I know now it was God protecting us that kept us safe. At that time I did not know Him, and I did not realize the danger we were in. Huntsville was never filled with a lot of violence at that time. People would blurt out things at us, but we never said anything back to them. We just continued to sing and march. We did not know this was how they felt.

 

1) Crisis management and why prepare;

2) Essential documents and tools for effective crisis management;

3) Eight organizational steps; and

4) Resources and references for crisis management.

 

Federal Emergency Management Agency, www.ready.gov   

 

By Jyremy Reid

 

The university held its First Chapel/Academic Convocation on August 22 in the University Church. Faculty (dressed in full regalia) and staff members alike lined up in the church to participate in the event.

 

The line was led by Dr. Timothy McDonald, Provost and Senior Vice President, who gave the invocation. President Dr. Leslie Pollard and USM President Christopher Readus welcomed the audience of Oakwood University students back to their First Chapel service.

 

Oakwood stands within the tradition proclaimed by our founder, Mrs. Ellen G. White, who was a strong voice in the establishment of this institution. She said, "In regard to this school here in Huntsville, I wish to say that for the past two or three years I have been receiving instruction regarding it...All that is done by those connected with this school, whether they be white or black, is to be done with the realization that this is the Lord's institution..."

 

With these spoken words of Mrs. White, Oakwood has taken them and put them into full effect. This especially applies to our recent victory in the "Retool Your School" Campus Improvement Program sponsored by The Home Depot® in May of this year. Dr. Pollard and Ms. Kisha Norris, Executive Director of Advancement and Development, both welcomed representatives from The Home Depot to the stage. They shared the Administration's enthusiasm for OU's next monumental project.

 

Dr. Pollard gave the address entitled, "Standing with the Stone." He encouraged the students to stay strong in their studies and to never become fragile. Dr. Pollard's words rang with wisdom throughout the sanctuary and every ear that listened would be wise to heed them.

 

The Aeolians sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" under the direction of Jason Max Ferdinand. Then an anointing service was conducted in which a few students and faculty were anointed with oil to dedicate themselves for the upcoming year. Dr. Garland Dulan and Senior Pastor Carlton P. Byrd gave prayers of dedication after the anointing, and the recessional proceeded thereafter. The future of Oakwood University is definitely looking bright, and with God's help we are moving forward.