Ingram-Thurston: Make 2022 the year of doing more for the community
Looking out at the new year that lays before us, you can almost feel the cool air of motion as life’s revolving door compels us forward.
As a columnist, I am compelled as well.
What riper time to conquer thought than at beginnings and endings? A brand new calendar lies before us. All our lives we can tirelessly seek to have control over the in and outs of life, but really, it is the in-between that should capture our attention.
That is why this year my goal is to be concerned with what we do in the “middle.” We are about to celebrate a life who left a vivid, rich legacy on the world as he worked towards peace and equality.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. entered “in” to our world on Jan. 15, 1929 and was violently taken out of this world on April 4, 1968 by an assassin’s bullet.
This humble Baptist minister found within himself the passion to become an inspirational leader in the American Civil rights movement from 1958 until his death. King worked to advance civil rights through non-violent and civil disobedience, as he was inspired by his Christian beliefs and the non-violent activism of Mahatma Gandhi.
Most remembered for his stirring “I Had A Dream” speech, given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, King’s legacy continues to be relevant today. When legendary actress Cicely Tyson heard of the murder of Martin Luther King Jr., she fell to the floor and hugged herself as her body throbbed with grief.
Though Tyson had not known King personally, she had been touched deeply by his words and example.
As I read Tyson’s autobiography, I think of the many times I have been profoundly affected by the acting of this woman that I’ve never met.
Tyson entered the world on Dec. 19, 1924 and departed “out” on Jan. 28, 2021. Though Tyson had to fight hard for her right to work in her craft, this once poor teenage mother became a star of stage, television and screen. Tyson’s legacy of acting spanned seven decades. She began her groundbreaking performance in such plays as “The Blacks,” where she gave some of the first, honest portrayals of the humanity and reality of Black women in the United States.
Recapping her career near her death, Tyson observed,” I am the sum total of each one of the women I played, these parts told how they were able to survive the times, and the way in which they did it all made me a stronger person and allowed me to truly believe that all things were possible.”
Belief. Dreams. Legacy. Strength. Qualities that are useful for that period between in and out. Another recent celebrity death, Sidney Poitier, made me think of them once again.
I had a crush on him when he played the teacher in “To Sir With Love.” I was touched by him in “Lilies of the Field.” felt angry with him in “They Call Me Mr. Tibbs” and “In the Heat of the Night” and intolerance with him from “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?”
This beloved actor came into the world on Feb. 20, 1927 and left us on Jan. 6, 2022. In 2002 he was given an honorary award by the Oscars in recognition of his remarkable accomplishments as an artist and a human being.
Imagine, an award for the quality of human being you became. Sidney Poitier was more than an actor. He taught humanity with film as his medium. Upon hearing of his death, President Joe Biden said: ‘‘With unflinching grandeur and poise, his singular warmth and depth and stature on the screen, Sidney helped open the hearts of millions and changed the way America saw itself.”
What does it take to create in ourselves the heat needed to keep our motors running through hard times, the humility to wear well the good times, and the goodwill to live the dash in between with hope and feet forward, always in motion?
In the musical “Evita,” Eva Peron admits that it is hard to maintain momentum when you are the one you are following.
The famous book about our first astronauts referred to them as having “The Right Stuff”. What exactly does that mean? For ourselves, our family, and for our communities, asking ourselves these questions might help us find ways to live out this brand new year more productively, and happier while improving life for others around us. So instead of promising to quit eating gluten this year, we can try more doing, learning and becoming.
In our community we need not look far for inspiration. In last week’s column by John Spevak we read about the rich legacy of Colleen Menefee.
Her obituary is a voluminous testimony of unselfish giving. Her actions, her ideas, her energy and dedication to see her ideas carried out to reality was contagious.
I worked with her over the years on many projects and she was a born motivator. One way to begin our new year could be to follow Spevak’s suggestion to make a donation to the Rotary Club towards the purchase of two benches at the library.
Friends of the Library, a group that Menefee was very active in, is seeking new members. For all of those saddened by the death of beloved comedian Betty White, who was known to be an enthusiastic animal lover, why not send in a donation to your animal group of choice or consider adopting a shelter animal?
These are small, baby steps of positivity. While we are “in,” why not use the heck out of those years? Let’s walk this year together looking forward.