Hi beloved.

It’s March… which means it’s time for March Madness!

A few years back, Jennifer Hudson sang One Shining Moment to commemorate the pageantry of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

It conveys the gallantry of those who have the courage to contend and compete.

Their ups and downs.

Their tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

The thrill of their victories.

And the agony of their defeats.

But did you know that, as Black people, we’ve also had One Shining Moment. You can read about it below.

But first, click on Jennifer's picture to watch her sing her butt off.  Then keep scrolling for the rest of our story.

Knees On Our Necks

Prior to 1956, Blacks in the South hadn’t been able to break free from the merciless domination of racism and white supremacy.

We were held firm in its’ vice-like grip.

We were fearful... and rightfully so.

We feared being fired and having no way to survive.

We feared having our homes and churches burned to the ground by white mobs.

We feared lynching.

We feared being mutilated and hung from a tree... while crazy savages took pictures and cut off our toes and fingers as souvenirs.

Only a fool wouldn’t be afraid of the terrorism our ancestors faced.

But then… like Neo in the Matrix… a woman of courage stepped forward.  She was... The One.

Her name was... Rosa Parks.

It’s important to know that courage is not the absence of fear. 

As Eleanor Roosevelt said, courage is feeling fear and doing it anyway... because something else is more important.

A woman who isn’t afraid to be lynched isn’t courageous. 

She’s crazy.

But Rosa wasn’t crazy. She was courageous.

And when she said, I’m not moving… 

Everything changed.

Fifty thousand Black people in Montgomery found their courage too.

They got their backs up... because no one can ride your back unless it's bent.

And, as one, they decided to boycott the bus system.

No… no… that’s wrong. My bad.

They didn’t decide to boycott.

They committed to boycott.

There’s a difference.

If you decide to jump off a cliff, you’ve only made a decision.

But when you actually jump…

There's no turning back.

You’ve made a commitment.

Because of their dogged commitment, the boycott didn’t last for just a week… which is what most white people were predicting.

Or a month…

Or several months…

Or even a year…

It lasted for 381 days!

And it would have lasted longer if that's what it took.

Like the Israelites marching around the walls of Jericho, Black folks in Montgomery boycotted until the walls of segregation came tumbling down.

The boycott was led by a 26-year-old pastor who was new in town.

His name?

Martin Luther King.

Martin was the tip of the spear in what would become the Civil Rights Movement and change our nation. 

For the first time in our history, Black people stood up to white supremacy in the South... and won.

Below... a young Martin boards a bus at the end of the boycott.

Do you know what’s truly amazing?

Our ancestors staged a boycott that lasted over a year… without any of our modern communication tools.

That means no television, email, text messages, Facebook or Twitter.

Even with vastly superior technology, we couldn't pull something like that off today.

We're not together enough.

I'm just keeping it one hundred.

Here’s something else to ponder.

At the very beginning of the boycott, Martin Luther King said something that was eerily prophetic.

One day, right here in Montgomery, 

When the history books are written, 

Somebody will have to say, 

There once lived a race of people,

A black people, 

A people with fleecy locks,

And with black complexions,

A people who had the moral courage…

To stand up for their rights. 

And by doing so, 

Thereby injected a new meaning,

Into the veins of history,

And the veins of civilization!

Wow!  If that doesn't put shivers in your liver... I don't know what will.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott was our One Shining Moment.

But it was just the beginning.

Because many more would follow.

More Shining Moments?

Yes, indeed.

To see a few, watch the video below. Jennifer sings her butt off again… but this time with a twist. I think you’ll appreciate it.

Watch it... find your own courage... and then go make a ruckus.

Make your own One Shining Moment.

Are You a Sharer?

It ain't no fun if the homies can't have none.

~ Snoop Dog

If you are and would like to share "One Shining Moment" with a friend, you can by clicking on the link below and copying and pasting the URL.  

Once again, thank you for taking this journey with your fellow readers. 

It's just one story from the greatest story never told. 

If you have a story of your own that you'd like to share, send it to me at the email address below. I'd love to hear it.

Or, if you have comments, expressions, or feedback... feel free to hit me up at b.johnson@ethnicexpressions.com

Until next time,

Brian