Today, millions of Americans from all ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, and gender identities are participating in a day of service across this great nation. They are inspired by the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., affectionately known as the "Drum Major for Peace." These individuals embody the spirit of goodwill, striving to improve their communities, serve their neighbors, and uphold our shared humanity.
The attached short video clip celebrates an unsung American hero—someone who followed Dr. King’s call to action but is not as widely recognized as figures like Congressman John Lewis. This hero was an 18-year-old from Buttermilk Bottom who recognized injustice and resolved to make a difference.I met Charles Person several years ago. A lover of jazz music, he felt a natural connection to our church, which has long embraced jazz in worship. In fact, we were one of the first churches in Atlanta to do so—a tradition we quietly celebrate, known only to those familiar with our story. As I came to know Charles, I realized how deeply connected his journey was to our worshipping community—a community of "firsts," just like Charles himself.
The Church of the Incarnation was the first integrated church in the city of Atlanta, led for many years by the Rev. Albert “Kim” Dreisbach, Jr a devoted advocate for justice and a Freedom Rider. Charles Person, an original Freedom Rider, found a kindred spirit in the activism of Rev. Kim, who also served as Associate Director of the Episcopal Society for Cultural and Racial Unity (ESCRU). If the two ever met we are not sure. JoAnn Brown a fellow Freedom Rider recalls, In May 1961, ESCRU organized a prayer pilgrimage—a Freedom Ride—from New Orleans to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. This multiracial group of clergy traveled by bus, stopping in Jackson, Mississippi, where 15 of the 28 priests were arrested, jailed, and sentenced to four months in prison for entering the bus terminal as an integrated group.
Charles Person knew firsthand the brutality of the segregated South. The remaining clergy continued their journey to Sewanee, Tennessee, to pray for the University of the South, continuing their pilgrimage for justice. Rev. Kim was among the 28 clergy, and his leadership connected our church’s history with Charles’s own activism.
As we celebrate Dr. King today, let us also honor those who followed the Drum Major for Peace. Say their names and remember their sacrifices, for now more than ever, we need advocates for peace and justice.
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