At eight years old in Selma, Alabama, Sheyann Webb-Christburg experienced the civil rights movement firsthand. More than 50 years later, the work is not yet done.
That's what she told more than 700 people who attended the Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast and Day of Service at St. Cloud State University on Monday morning.
Webb-Christburg was eight years old when she met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and when she participated in the first attempted march from Selma to Montgomery, known as Bloody Sunday.
King left an indelible mark on her mind, she said, and even though the events of the civil rights movement seem far away, there is still work to be done.
"You must know the struggle is not over," Webb-Christburg said. "Racism still rears its head to disarm people of their identity and respect."
Webb-Christburg was playing with her friend outside a church in Selma when something unusual caught their eyes: Cars had driven up, and out stepped a group of men.
The girls approached the group, and one man started talking to them.
He asked their names, how old they were and how they did in school. He continued to talk to them as they moved toward the church. The man invited them into the church, found chairs for them and talked with them until the meeting started.
In that short time, he taught the two girls, "What do you want? Freedom. When do you want it? Now."
That was Webb-Christburg's first experience meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
King would keep coming back to Selma for mass meetings, and Webb-Christburg wanted to be there when he did, she said.
But the most traumatic experience of her life, she said, was participating in the Bloody Sunday march. Her parents warned her not to go, but Webb-Christburg had already made up her mind. She left a note for her parents explaining why she had to go before she left for the protest.
When she arrived at the meeting location, adults warned her not to go on the march. But she was determined.
Protesters had been told to keep their eyes straight ahead during the march, to not look at the people lining the sides of the street trying to distract them. Webb-Christburg still recalls people throwing things and calling out bad names.
When the protesters reached the bridge, she looked down at the bottom to find hundreds of police officers with tear gas and dogs. It was there that events grew violent.
People were beaten and tear-gassed. People were crawling, crying and bleeding, Webb-Christburg recalls. "Racism unleashed its brutality on us."
That's the day Webb-Christburg truly understood what the civil rights movement was all about, she said, and it has never left her heart or her mind.
King taught her to never be afraid to face her friends or his enemies with courage, Webb-Christburg said. He taught her never to hate, and that love conquers all.
Webb-Christburg often questions how far we've come. There was much blood, swea, and tears shed on that bridge, Webb-Christburg said, but "we still have a long way to go."
Society is facing many of the same challenges as back then, Webb-Christburg said, and the greatest need is to come together in unity, as human beings. Instead of pulling each other back, society needs to push each other forward.
She encouraged the audience to serve and to never let any one person or situation tear them down.
"There is someone, somewhere, who can benefit from your contribution to this world," Webb-Christburg said to the audience. She told them that everyone brings special talents and abilities to the world.
After Webb-Christburg's keynote speech, participants were led in a community dialogue at each table.
One attendee, Shannon Smith, had read work by Webb-Christburg before, and showed up to hear her speak. "It was great," Smith said, "to hear about her experiences in person."
Others, such as Maria Elena Gutierrez, who attended the event with her daughter, showed up to make connections, bring their ideas to the table and hear others' ideas.
At the end, attendees were invited to participate in service day activities that included preparing meals for the hungry, making birthday signs for residents at senior centers or making blankets for homeless shelters and hospitalized infants.
As for Webb-Christburg, she left the audience with a clear message. Remember those who have paved the way and the shoulders we constantly stand on, she said, because "we've got to act. We've got to do something."
Follow Clairissa Baker on Twitter @clairissabaker and email her at cmbaker@stcloudtimes.com.
Join the Conversation
To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs