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By GRACE LEONHART
NC Picayune Editor
Brother Ron Majors was born and raised in California, but settled in Prescott and has seen many changes in the lives of blacks since Dr. Martin Luther King orated his many speeches.
“I graduated from high school in Long Beach, Calif. In 1965 and back then, it was a separate society between blacks and whites, but not like it was in the Southern United States,” Majors said. “There were some places you, as a black person, would not be served and when Disneyland first opened, police would stop black people going back and forth to work.
“Black people couldn’t buy homes in certain areas, and couldn’t hold certain types of jobs. Integration was already in place in public schools because Long Beach was a Naval town and there were so many ethnicities there.”
“In California, in that time period, there was racial unrest,” he said. “Both Black Panthers and Black Muslims were strong and both taught civil disobedience. The Black Panthers carried weapons and neighborhoods were protected. I remember clothes and food were given to those in need by the Black Panthers.
“This was also the time when men like Dr. King, George Farmer, and Medger Evers had a large voice for the Black communities, and they were preaching non-violence. There were also great men like John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Malcolm X who wanted to help people help themselves. They wanted to help young people embrace education.”
King is famous for his quote “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of a true education.”
Speaking of education, Majors said that “so much Black history was not told in the textbooks. Blacks were not only slaves, but cowboys and soldiers, who fought for both the North and South in the Civil War.”
“Dr. King was a part of a whole for all people and a true humanitarian,” Majors said. “There is some progress in reference to race relations, but not as much as Dr. King would have liked if he were alive. The treatment of Blacks is better now, and I believe races are coming together. A lot of people have overcome their differences. Everyone in the community should be involved in the community to improve the community.”
“There are problems in the Black community such as fighting over the colors of handkerchiefs, and streets people live on,” he said. “The world today has lost a sense of family, the spirit of being in this together and respect for leadership, and the value of human life. Integrity and honesty are also fading and our nation is starting to turn its back of their creator. Computer games are violent and that is affecting society, and children are low on the priorities list now.”
“Dr. King was a voice for all people, not just Blacks. He had a bigger view than just for Blacks,” Majors said. “I don’t think Dr. King expected to live to see things change, but he persevered, which is what everyone has to do to make this a better world.”
By GRACE LEONHART
NC Picayune Editor
Brother Ron Majors was born and raised in California, but settled in Prescott and has seen many changes in the lives of blacks since Dr. Martin Luther King orated his many speeches.
“I graduated from high school in Long Beach, Calif. In 1965 and back then, it was a separate society between blacks and whites, but not like it was in the Southern United States,” Majors said. “There were some places you, as a black person, would not be served and when Disneyland first opened, police would stop black people going back and forth to work.
“Black people couldn’t buy homes in certain areas, and couldn’t hold certain types of jobs. Integration was already in place in public schools because Long Beach was a Naval town and there were so many ethnicities there.”
“In California, in that time period, there was racial unrest,” he said. “Both Black Panthers and Black Muslims were strong and both taught civil disobedience. The Black Panthers carried weapons and neighborhoods were protected. I remember clothes and food were given to those in need by the Black Panthers.
“This was also the time when men like Dr. King, George Farmer, and Medger Evers had a large voice for the Black communities, and they were preaching non-violence. There were also great men like John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Malcolm X who wanted to help people help themselves. They wanted to help young people embrace education.”
King is famous for his quote “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of a true education.”
Speaking of education, Majors said that “so much Black history was not told in the textbooks. Blacks were not only slaves, but cowboys and soldiers, who fought for both the North and South in the Civil War.”
“Dr. King was a part of a whole for all people and a true humanitarian,” Majors said. “There is some progress in reference to race relations, but not as much as Dr. King would have liked if he were alive. The treatment of Blacks is better now, and I believe races are coming together. A lot of people have overcome their differences. Everyone in the community should be involved in the community to improve the community.”
“There are problems in the Black community such as fighting over the colors of handkerchiefs, and streets people live on,” he said. “The world today has lost a sense of family, the spirit of being in this together and respect for leadership, and the value of human life. Integrity and honesty are also fading and our nation is starting to turn its back of their creator. Computer games are violent and that is affecting society, and children are low on the priorities list now.”
“Dr. King was a voice for all people, not just Blacks. He had a bigger view than just for Blacks,” Majors said. “I don’t think Dr. King expected to live to see things change, but he persevered, which is what everyone has to do to make this a better world.”
