I really think this is an important cause, and I’d like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It’s free and takes just a few seconds of your time.

Thanks!
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Yours is an excellent project. Kids were key to the movement. I think particularly of high school or junior high ages but e en younger important too. They were important to adults as motivation — to make things possible for the coming generation — and also, by tneir daring, shaming adults to act.

You say White southerners proudly declare themselves “Yellow-dog Democrats,” meaning that if the Democratic Party nominates a yellow dog for office they will vote for the dog before they vote for a Republican candidate. ”

Truth – Democrats declared that they would rather vote for a “yellow dog” than vote for a Republican, because the Republican Party was known as the party for blacks.

You left out the fact why they wouldn’t vote for a Republican.

I choose to remember Marv as the elder statesman of the Minnesota Freedom Riders. And no wonder – he came to the bus station relaxed, witty and honest, full of conviction and passionate about everything from voters rights to ending wars. His sense of humor never failed to break the ice.
I choose to remember Marv as the jailbird with whom I spent my 19th summer in Mississippi, enjoying the Southern hospitality of the Parchman State Prison.
I choose to remember Marv as an orator. He told stories of his youth with a novelist’s charm and advocated for peace with the persuasiveness of the pulpit.
I choose to remember Marv as a generous mensch. His progressive politics held no trace of the mean spirit or selfishness found in Tea Party circulars.
I choose to remember Marv as a marcher. You could count on seeing him on the picket lines whenever there was a gathering to promote the cause of peace.
I choose to remember Marv as a teacher. He never missed an opportunity to tell friends and new acquaintances alike about the causes he championed.
As Marv became ill, and the strength of these traits ebbed away from him one by one, he continued to speak truth to the powers that be, never weakening in his resolve.
But his dedication, compassion, and courage will not be erased because I choose to remember Marv.

Gene Uphoff
March 2012

I am one of the realizations of the “King’s Dream”. I am a Nurse. I have had a quality education, a stable career for 25 years, health insurance, able to care for my family. I have also made an impact within my family, friends and community. I would like to see a move to teach children regarding the struggles, contributions and impact the black nurse has made in America. Some Nurses who have impacted our culture are Harriet Tubman, So Journer Truth, Betty Shabazz, Mamie O. Hale, Mary Eliza Mahoney, Jessie Sleet Scales, Mary Seacole, Mabel Keaton Staupers ,Susie King Taylor ,James Derham (first black Male Nurse)who later became a Doctor, Mary Morris Burnett Talbert- I read that her efforts lead to the establishment of the NAACP. Black Nurses still have a responsibility to heal her people and improve the health of her culture. Proposed project is to have created a piece of artwork that will help tell the story of the value of the Black Nurse throughout history. I am asking for others to help increase the awareness of the need for Nurses. Thank you again for all of the messages you send us .Thanks for including us as a part of your family.

I had a conversation with a well-known artist. Vinnie Bagwell. I told her of my passion for nursing and desire to see a piece of artwork depicting the black nurse struggle, accomplishment and contributions to health care. I believe we should find a way erect a statue in honor of AUC Spelman for opening the first black nursing school and honor the black nurses work over the years at the center of AUC. if not the AUC center somewhere visible for our community as a reminder and to increase interest and awareness of the need for more black nurses in the field. Thanks for review. Elizabeth 770/334-1053

Here is my response from Ms. Bagwell:

I appreciate your passion for nursing and its noble history. (My mother is a retired nurse.) There are many ideas that come to me that must stand in line for quite some time and others that will never be realized due to the cost of making this artwork. This is one of the reasons I pursue making public art. It gives me the opportunity to make art and realize my visions, and it’s commissioned work.

If you know of some institution that might be interested in funding your idea, I would be honored to design something for such an endeavor. Otherwise, stay tuned.

With gratitude,

Vinnie

P.S. Please check out her artwork and you will see how powerful it is and how it just might impact the interest in nursing.

Thanks for your commitment then and Now!