On Monday January 15th we will celebrate the 95th Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King is probably one of the most quoted people in our history and the leader of the Civil Rights Movement which grew strength after the march on Washington DC in August of 1963 when he delivered the famous, I have a Dream Speech. I am taking this moment to remember Dr. King and to thank him and the King family for all they have given to fight injustice and stand for the dignity of all people.
When we are asked who our heroes are we will often name someone famous like Dr. King or Mae Carol Jemison who was the first Black Female astronaut to travel into space on the Endeavour Space Shuttle but usually it will be a famous sports figure, actor, or singer. As you all may have figured from my writings my first hero was my mother, Phyllis King. As a young child I would idolize all those famous people I see on television. As I grew into an adult, I would look at those people who had what I thought I desired which was fame, money, and recognition as my heroes. There is nothing wrong with having the things I just mentioned but for me that focus drove me in a direction of ego and selfishness. As I have matured, I want to tell you who my true heroes are. You will not see them on television or at a concert. Most of them are not rich. They are heroes to me because despite their circumstances they continue to move forward and not only change their lives but the lives of others.
I met a young man recently who is on his recovery journey. He has dedicated his life to helping others. He has this personality and smile that draws you in. You cannot help but like him. He is a hero to me because he continues to fight his battle with substance use but, in that battle, he has committed his life to help others and make a difference in a community he calls home.
It is the young kids with intellectual and physical disabilities that compete in basketball and track at Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton, Massachusetts. They compete as hard as any athlete I know. The drive to never give up. The drive to say, “yes we can”, when other say “No you Can’t.” The shear joy they show when they make a basket or when the cross the finish line and then turn to cheer on their competitors is nothing but amazing. When I am discouraged and want to give up, they are the example for me to push forward. The Wahconah Unified team are my heroes.
I met two amazing women from Springfield, Massachusetts. They formed the Springfield Family Doulas (Springfield Family Doulas – Our nurturing runs as deep as our family roots.) Their names are Laconia Fennell and Tanita Council. They are not just amazing Black women. They are amazing people period. Their commitment and dedication to the maternal health for women of color is truly amazing. If you do not know what a doula is I would recommend going to their website.
The thing that impressed me was their mission.
“Our mission is to empower, educate, support, and advocate for women and their families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period with compassion during this beautiful transition in their lives.”
We have all probably heard that black women are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth than other groups. One of the things that the Springfield Family Doulas is doing is running a group in Pittsfield at Berkshire Medical Center called the Community Birth Circle to support women of color not only though birth and pregnancy but also in parenthood. Their willingness to come from Springfield to the Berkshires shows their dedication to addressing the challenges faced by women of color not just in their community but other communities across the state.
If you are interested in joining the Community Birth Circle or know of anyone who would benefit please email: springfieldfamilydoulas@gmail.com
These are just a few of the amazing people I have come to know over the last few years. They help me to keep moving forward. When I feel like giving up, they are my “No”.
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
Charles Redd RN
Dignity Freedom Fighter
Dignity Freedom Fighter 