June has to be one of my favorite months of the year. The weather is sunny and warm, the humidity has yet to set in and the nights are good for sleeping. It’s the time for graduations, and it’s such a joy to see the caps, gowns, white dresses and young men in their suits and ties.
Congratulations to all of the eighth-graders who completed graduation exercises at the Ella Baker School. Their individual essays, which they read as part of the ceremony, were done with poise and a dash of elan. Principal Laura Garcia, teachers and staff, you done good.
While I told you of the celebration of anniversaries at the Riverside Church, led by the Rev. James A. Forbes Jr. and Bettye F. Forbes at the renewal of their 50th wedding anniversary, I didn’t tell you about the “Love Story, Yes, June 13, 1964: Beginning A Love Everlasting.” And it goes like this: “It may not have been love at first sight when Jim Forbes first laid eyes on Bettye Franks that day during choir rehearsal in Rankin Chapel at Howard University, but it was the beginning of an attraction, fascination and a spark of hope that he might get to know that beauty queen from San Antonio, Texas. Close friend ‘Dex’ Delaney [no relation] made the introduction, and the exchange of brief greetings was their only contact until six years later.
Both Jim and Bettye had graduated from Howard and had landed employment in North Carolina—Bettye as a music teacher at South Ayden High School and Jim as pastor at the Holy Trinity [United] Holy church in Wilmington, N.C. Was it only happenstance that night in September of 1963 that both were in attendance at a church convocation in Goldsboro, N.C.? This is where the 50-year romance began—right there in the church.”
It was offering time, and the ushers led each section to walk to the table with their offerings. As the people were walking to the table and then back to their seats, James Forbes saw this stunningly beautiful young lady returning to her seat. When his section was invited to the table, he went up with his offering but did not return to his seat. He boldly walked over, sat down next to Bettye Forbes and asked, “Don’t I know you?” They were not sure until the congregation sang the doxology.
As James Forbes sang the baritone part of the “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” Bettye Forbes asked, “Weren’t you in the choir at Howard University?” James Forbes said, “Yes,” and later Bettye Forbes said, “Yes” when he invited himself to dinner.
After a few months of courtship, Bettye Forbes said, “Yes” again when James Forbes asked her to marry him.
The opening prayer, statement of purpose and declaration of intent were performed by the Rev. Robert Seymour. Seymour first met James Forbes in 1962 in North Carolina, where an interracial exchange between the churches was underway. In conformity with the Civil Rights Movement, a Black pastor was sent to work with a white congregation and a white pastor was sent to work with a Black congregation. The two pastors were James Forbes and Seymour. They have been friends ever since.
The program also featured words of wisdom given by Helen LaKelly Hunt and Harville Hendrix, better known as “love therapists.” The two confessed to having spent many years trying to figure out what it takes to have a “joyful marriage.” They summed up the answer by stating, “You want to make your partner feel safe.” They continued, “When we say derogatory things to one another, putting each other down, ridiculing and criticizing, what we’re doing is making the other person withdraw and put up defenses to protect themselves from the hurt and feelings of being ‘less than’; we don’t feel safe. Conversely, the key to having a joyful marriage is to be kind and find loving ways to express our feelings to one another.” Amen.
The Harlem Cultural Archives (HCA) and Jazzmobile honored the legacy of one of Harlem’s greatest, Billy Taylor, with a street naming ceremony. The southeast corner of the Riverton Houses at 138th Street and Fifth Avenue is now officially named “Dr. Bill Taylor Way.” Taylor, along with his wife and children, were longtime Riverton residents, so it is most fitting that this particular corner should bear his name.
The ceremony was attended by Taylor’s wife, Teddi, and daughter, Kim Taylor-Thompson, along with over 100 friends and admirers. Testimonials about Taylor were given by former Mayor David N. Dinkins, Jazzmobile CEO Robin Bell-Stevens, Magee Hickey, Geri Allen, Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright, Bobbi Humphrey, Rep. Charles. B. Rangel, T.S. Monk, Christian Sands and Riverton Tenants Association President Randreta Ward-Evans. Also in attendance were state Sen. Bill Perkins and Councilwoman Inez E. Dickens, whose office was responsible for the creation and installation of the sign.
Jazz greats Winard Harper, Chip Jackson and Danny Mixon had the crowd rocking, with several folks dancing to Taylor’s music. Everyone was reminded to continue to support Jazzmobile and Jazz, “America’s classical music.” The actual sign was unveiled at the end of the event amidst resounding cheers. HCA Co-Executive Director Glenn A. Hunter was the master of ceremonies.
Diversity Sunday was held at the 9th & Coles Tavern with a benefit for the Matthew Shepard Foundation and a special tribute to Victoria Martin. Though Shepard and Martin never met, they both shared a passion for life and the equality of all people all over the world.
Shepard, the son of Judy and Dennis Shepard, was born in 1976 in Casper, Wyo. In high school, he moved with his family to Saudi Arabia while finishing his high school education at the American School in Switzerland because there were no American high schools in Saudi Arabia at the time. After moving back to Wyoming, shortly after midnight on Oct. 7, 1998, Shepard was brutally beaten to death because he was gay. That horrible incident was the catalyst for the activist movement that, more than a decade later, would push the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The act is a federal law against hate crimes directed at lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people.
Martin was director of diversity at AIG for the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asian Pacific regions. It was her job to manage global diversity initiatives impacting talent, workplace climate and the marketplace throughout these regions. She died suddenly last February as a result of a blood clot in her lungs.
Both Shepard and Martin are fondly remembered as two who strived to replace hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance.
Until next week … kisses