Goodnight & Godspeed Gracious Lady

Yesterday I sat and watched the funeral of Coretta Scott King that was held here in Atlanta.

And all I can say is when I pass on, I want my family and friends to gather and remember me (on a much smaller scale of course) the way she was remembered yesterday.

It was a true celebration of her life and calling.

Laughter and tears mixed together as four presidents, religious and civil rights leaders and family, friends all eulogized this great lady and the music, oh my word the music! There had to have been at least 10 different choirs singing, all of it moving, spiritual, deep.

As I sat and listened to speaker after speaker pay tribute to this woman, I learned so much about her as a woman, a mother, a friend, a quiet woman of force, a true "steel" magnolia.

I owe her and her husband a debt of gratitude for their impact on my life because the civil rights movement was about equality for ALL, not just the back minority and I think that message caused a social reordering that spilled over and empowered the womens rights movement of the 70's.

Coretta's legacy for me is not that she was merely the wife of a great man, although that role was one of great importance. It was that she continued on with her husband's work and vision, when I think personally, I would have withdrawn from public life.

So thank you Mrs. King.

Thank you for your part in helping me have all the opportunities I have today.

Thank you that you never, ever stopped trying to bring about the realization a better world.

Thank you for making a difference.

Goodnight and Godspeed.