DECATUR, Ala. — As we close out Black History Month, we get a look at how Calhoun Community College’s campus in Decatur, honors leaders from the past and present.
FOX54 News’ Keneisha Deas spoke to Civil Rights expert and author, Dr. Rolundus Rice.
“Our history is like grass growing through concrete. No matter how much you heap on top of a people, we still find a way to sprout through the concrete regardless of the other circumstances and factors,” said Rust College Academic Affairs VP, Rolundus Rice.
From his own words, ‘placenta to purpose’, Dr. Rice empowers students after having to overcome obstacles of his own. “Regardless of your discipline whether it’s Math, Science, History, English, Music, you can take that tool and change the world.”
Felicia Gill said Rice inspired her son, ten years ago, when Rice spoke at the now-closed Concordia College, a Historically Black College, in Selma. “He inspired not only my son; he inspired other young men from Concordia College, Alabama back in those days, and I’m sure they have gone on to do great things too as well.”
“I think that all of us are here for a purpose, for a reason, for a season and to know that my story touched one person, that’s one less student who will end up in jail,” said Rice.
“So many times for Black History and for the Civil Rights movement we hear the icon names of Dr. Martin Luther King or Ms. Coretta Scott,” said Calhoun- Decatur Dept. Chair of Mathematics, Ernest Williams Sr.
Rice’s new project will focus on a leader who marched alongside Dr. King and Ms. Coretta Scott.
“My book, 'Hosea Williams: A Lifetime of Defiance and Protests', published by the University of South Carolina Press, is about King’s belligerent barrel-chested lieutenant who was responsible for 'Bloody Sunday' and the Selma to Montgomery March. So for so long, he has been marginalized. So my book hopefully will place him in a historical context where he belongs,” said Rice.
As we pivot from Black History Month to Women’s History Month, United Women of Color Huntsville remembers that March in Selma.
The organization and other local groups will commemorate the 57th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’ with a virtual presentation this Sunday at 6 p.m.
Executive Director Angela Curry shares the importance of women’s roles in movements like the Selma March.
"We have always been active. We have always been civically engaged. Even when we weren't allowed to vote, because voting is just one aspect of civic engagement. But when you think about the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and we all saw Rosa Parks as the face, but there were so many women helping to orchestrate and run the logistics," said Curry.
The event will be streamed live on United Women of Color Huntsville's Facebook page.