Alexander Walters looked out at the members of his new organization and felt a swell of pride clench his throat. His determination to excel had led to this pivotal moment. But it had been a long, hard road.
When he was only seven, he’d been rightfully freed from a fate worse than death – a lifetime of enslavement! Finally able to attend school without threat of violence, he was determined to excel. This passion propelled him to accomplish one important thing that changed the tide of our fight for equality.
While becoming an AME Church Bishop helped develop his oratory skills, he also became noticed by the Black elite fighting racial injustice across America. Spurred by horrible lynchings, Walters did something that helped determine the fate of our community.
He called for over 150 leaders to attend a historic meeting, where they formed one of the first national anti-racism leagues for Black people: the National Afro-American Council, which also became a blueprint for the NAACP.
Like Walters, if we remain determined to excel and build strong communities despite our humble origins, we can empower ourselves, defend our people against white supremacy, and create a path of freedom for others to follow.