July 26th
From Ed Chasteen
Brother John asked me to come today. John Anderson is his name. He’s a professional storyteller. And our song leader at all Human Family Reunions. This is to be the First Annual Bike-Feed, designed to call attention and raise money for the food pantry that Mom runs for her church. I call her Mom. Most people call her Queen Mother. Hardly anyone calls her Maxine McFarlane. She’s a force. In her family. Her church. In the community.
We meet in front of the Bernard Powell statue that stands at the corner of 28th and Brooklyn, at the entrance to Spring Valley Park. Bernard was a community activist in the 1960s. With his charismatic personality and his trademark slogan-Ghetto to Goldmine-Bernard was making a difference. When he was shot and killed, his life became a catalyst for Mom’s Social Action Committee. Her work through SAC produced the statue of Bernard Powell and brought together a wide cross section of Kansas City leaders to address inner city problems.
We are here today for a 10-mile bike ride through the heart of Kansas City. On this Saturday morning traffic is light. We ride for a few miles in the shadow of the recently completed Bruce R. Watkins Expressway. Bruce Watkins was a popular and effective political leader. He almost became Kansas City’s first black mayor. The road that bears his name was more than 20 years in the making. It’s beautiful and efficient. The scars it left will be visible for a long time.
The view of the Kansas City skyline as we come upon it from Hospital Hill on this bight morning is awesome. Then onto 18th Street past the Jazz Museum and the Negro Baseball Museum and to Mom’s Church, Barker Temple, at 17th and Highland. The church moved to Raytown two years ago when high rise apartments were built next door.
Then we are back at the Bernard Powell statue. A crowd has gathered. Prayers and preaching and singing and a few words from those who rode bring to a close an inspiring morning together. The spiritual presence of Dr. King is felt among us and given voice by several who address us. We go to our scattered homes in Greater Kansas City thankful for our time together, promising to come again next year for the Second Annual Bike-Feed. And in the intervening year to live higher and more nobly.
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