Black History Month, observed every February, is exactly four months away. But in light of all that is going on in the world to those whose skin has been kissed by The Son, every day that we feel His warmth is reason to celebrate. It is one thing to teach about the achievements and roles of African Americans in U.S. history, the race we continue to run. It is another to know an actual achiever and to bear first hand witness to her taking the baton. I had the experience of the latter– of learning from the life of Airickca Gordon-Taylor.
Born on October 2nd 1969, Gordon-Taylor celebrated her 50th birthday last year. Her life’s work, however, spanned generations as she dedicated herself to carrying on the legacy of those who came before her as well as hoping to lessen the load of those to come, “Remembering the Past and Educating the Future.” From the time we met in 6th grade, proud was an understatement in explaining how she felt about the fact that she was the cousin of the late Emmett Till. In August 1955, at the age of 14, Emmett was murdered after being falsely accused of flirting with a White woman in Money, Mississippi. His mother Mamie Till Bradley, held an open casket funeral exposing “not only Emmett’s body, but U.S. racism, the barbarism of lynching and the limitations and vulnerabilities of American democracy.”
If Till’s brutal death “helped energize the civil rights movement,” Gordon-Taylor’s life was certainly the charger. As an adult, and with her pride turned into purpose, Airickca became a civil rights activist. In 2009 she named her foundation after Till’s mother, calling it the Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation. In February of 2020, she was instrumental in the effort behind the passing of the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act. Every day in between she fought for the value of life.
In this era of “I can’t breathe,” Airickca’s work refused to let us forget the horrible and habitual acts committed against people of color. As an advocate, educator and public speaker, she resuscitated the need for legal and lasting change until her very last breath. For that, I celebrate her. As a teacher, she taught me the definition of “the twinkling of an eye,” and to consider placing a comma (grace) instead of a period (giving up) in relationships. For that, I appreciate her. As a human, she showed me the importance of fighting– yet forgiving, of airing things out. For that, I thank her.
Happy Heavenly Birthday Airickca.
“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with The Lord.”
–1 Thessalonians 4:17
*chicagotribune.com
*wikipedia.org
