Myrlie Evers-Williams, wife of slain civil rights activistMedgar Evers, spoke to a crowd of University of Memphis studentslast week, giving her perspective on the black people's roles insociety today as well as in the past.
Evers-Williams spoke about the journey of being the wife of anactivist to becoming a community leader herself and focused on thestruggles of black people during the civil rights movement as wellas the struggles black people still face today. She also gave herthoughts on how to overcome these obstacles in "A Night ofEnlightenment," co-sponsored by Kappa Eta Chapter of Alpha PhiAlpha Fraternity Inc., Student Activities Council and the NationalAssociation for the Advancement of Colored People, last Wednesdayin the Rose Theatre.
Maxine Smith, former Memphis secretary of the NAACP and therecipient of the National Civil Rights Museum's Freedom Award forthe contribution to the Memphis civil rights movement, was alsopresent as Evers-Williams recalled the social changes she saidwould not have occurred without the great works from people likeSmith.
"We have been friends long way back and served on the nationalboard of the NAACP together," Smith said. "We were sisters in the(civil rights) movement."
Evers-Williams recalled being born with two different namesgiven to her -- "colored," which was then accepted by black people,and "nigger," which was not.
"If they (white people) called me nigger, we would fight becauseit was derogatory," she said. "We would have to point to our kneesto help them say correctly (the pronounciation) of negro, which ispronounced 'KNEE-grow,' so we could have some dignity to who weare."
Often, black people connect the past with the present,Evers-Williams said, stressing that she is proud to be fromancestors who helped build this country although they were not paidfor what their contribution.
"Embrace your history," Evers-Williams said. "Someone in thecommunity in which you live has played a major role in themovement."
Evers-Williams also stressed the importance of the black votebecause of the sacrifice, humiliation and struggle many blackpeople made to get their voices heard in their communities and inthe nation.
"Voting is so critical. People lost their lives to allow us tovote," she said. "When we have people who represent us in the(elected goverment) offices we don't want because we did not vote,if we fall by wayside, it's our fault."
Evers-Williams also said that although the black commuity hascome a long way, there is still work that is needed in today'ssociety.
"Success is a part of planning and making your surroundings workfor you," she said. "Be prepared to be able to run those roles whenopportunity presents itself to you.
"Keep a goal and a vision. Pull on those from generations of thepast to walk the walk and step up and be counted in themovement."
Students seemed enthused by Evers-Williams speech.
"I was eager to learn from a woman's point of view," saidWilliam Clark, a senior physical education major. "Addressing realissues from a black woman's perspective is alwaysenlightening."
