POINTING A WAY FORWARD
Martin Luther King, Jr. releases a dove from his right hand, his left hand is lifted to the heavens in Atlanta’s monumental sculpture, “Hope Moving Forward.” As he was developing the piece, artist Basil Watson referenced MLK's message: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." The man simultaneously uplifting peace and the open-palmed possibility gives this work its vitality and creates a meaningful expression of MLK’s power to future generations. Lifting is an act of love and endurance. We lift our voices, our children, our prayers to bring future blessings. In his piece, A Letter to MLK Le’Var Howard addresses the man directly from Oregon State Penitentiary: “People from all over the world have come to know your words; you will always be remembered and loved as people come to know you. On my own journey, I found it hard to live up to your inspiration. You never committed heinous acts such as I have. I do try more now than ever.” Powerful words are required to lift a person from a prison cell.
A self-described introvert, Quentin Harris keeps his face still as he listens intently in a group discussion at Oregon State Penitentiary. Q considers everything that has been said before he brings his observations to the group. When he does weigh in (as is the case this week) those thoughts are carefully composed: “Today we are being challenged to be enlightened citizens and teachers on higher laws of American culture. One of the great challenges in the 21st century is to understand the great truths of our history. Then to speak those truths to power.” Q’s ears are tuned after a lifetime listening (and reading) to his ancestors, those prophetic teachers who could see beyond the limitations of the day and left a record for future generations. There is urgency in his message, as Black and Brown men are disproportionately incarcerated; and we know that this suffering extends way beyond to life in the wider culture. How does one digest the wisdom of the elders, and then, pivot to point the way for future generations — particularly from prison? In the coming months, we intend to record some of these pieces to provide readers with a richer experience. Hearing the Prophetic Message is indeed an oration that will be on that list.
Both Q and Le’Var look back to the words and historic actions of their mentors to carve a path forward. Michael Dean Scott found his teachers in a prison cell. Growing up in an unstable family structure, Michael lived without healthy parental bonds to help him navigate the rough water of adolescence. When he arrived in prison, he was filled with intolerance and hate. Michael’s Found Fathers honors three men who challenged his prejudice in an effort to forge him into a man who practices this daily penance: “Be a better man today than you were yesterday. Become a better man tomorrow than you are today.” | TDS