Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of El Paso, Texas

Amplifying the Legacy of Dr. King

News

Statement on Shootings in Buffalo, NY | mlkelpaso.org

by Leave a Comment

The shooting of 13 innocent individuals last Saturday in Buffalo, New York, is another example of the seemingly endless violence committed against people of color in our country daily.

A volatile combination of assault weapon accessibility, misguided ideologies of hate, domestic terrorism, and tactics of white genocide adopted by an eighteen-year-old resulted in the deaths of ten Blacks and three wounded.

The teenager accused of killing Blacks in the Buffalo supermarket massacre posted a rambling white supremacist manifesto that spewed a racist philosophy and outlined step-by-step plans to exterminate Blacks in the U.S. On behalf of the El Paso MLK Committee, we offer our sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this horrific tragedy.

We pray that God will strengthen, encourage, and uplift you during this extremely difficult time. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness.” We pray the El Paso Community will continue to align itself with local law enforcement agencies, faith-based groups, school administrators, school districts, parents, organizations, and entrepreneurs to eradicate the threat of violence.

Humbly submitted,
Bishop Albert J. Mays, Jr., MA. ED, ED (c), D.D.
President
MLK Committee

December Reflection

by Leave a Comment

“The essence of life’s most precious treasures is: How are you serving others in your community?”

According to Gary Zimet, CEO of Moments in Time (the mid-1960s), King wrote the note after someone asked him what he believed was the meaning of “Love.” The note reads, “Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos. He who loves is a participant in the being of God.”

Currently, we are faced with a host of uncertainties to include the rise of the Omicron variant, political, social, economic, educational, and healthcare challenges. However, during this Holiday Season, I invite you to focus your attention on serving others. I have learned the phrase “the disease of introspection,” which means when we focus inward all the time, it becomes unhealthy and can be detrimental to our mental and physical health. But when we concentrate outwardly on other people, we feel better about helping someone. An article by C.S. Lewis states, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” Therefore, we cordially request you join the MLK Committee in demonstrating Love to the hopeless, compassion to the wounded, and kindness to the underprivileged.

God bless you all and Happy Holidays!

Albert J. Mays, Jr.
President

In Memoriam: Pastor Jack D. Fields, Sr.

by Leave a Comment

On October 29, 3:00 p.m., I received a disturbing text message indicating Pastor Jack D. Fields, Sr., has transitioned to be with the Lord Jesus Christ. I felt distraught and devastated because I have known Pastor Jack D. Fields, Sr., since 2009.  Pastor Fields is highly respected throughout the El Paso and surrounding communities as an anointed preacher, teacher, pulpiteer, prayer warrior, liturgist, and community leader.  Pastor Fields is most admired for bringing spiritual transformation, personal integrity, social responsibility, and the gospel message of salvation and conviction as Senior Pastor, Visitors Chapel A.M.E. Church, El Paso, TX.

Pastor Fields and I have appeared on some El Paso Community platforms, which he modeled and emulated some MLK attributes to include self-confidence, intelligence, strong verbal propensity, perceptual aptness, critical thinking and reasoning. Pastor Fields’ leadership motto is, “If God Can’t Do It, It Can’t Be Done.”

On behalf of the El Paso MLK Committee, we convey our deepest condolences to the family members, extended family members, and Visitors Chapel A.M.E. Church.  2 Corinthians 5:8 states, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”  Rest on Pastor Jack D. Fields, Sr., we will see you in the morning.

The POC for this letter of correspondence is the undersigned.

Warm regards,
Albert James Mays, Jr.
President
MLK Committee

Remembering General Colin Powell

by Leave a Comment

Greetings, Retired Gen. Colin Powell, the first black secretary of state, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, FORSCOM Commander, V CORPS Commander, and statesman stated in an April 3, 2018, CBS Morning Interview, “The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will never be forgotten.”  Furthermore, Secretary of State Powell stated, “Dr. King lifted the burdens of Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Asian Pacific, and other nationalities.”  Secretary of State Powell modeled Dr. King’s attributes by exhibiting racial harmony, racial equity, racial equality, and racial diversity as Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff and a U.S. Army General Officer.

During his tenure, all military service members were provided professional development opportunities and advancements in ranks.  Secretary of State Powell wrote numerous bestseller books and articles. One book that comes to my remembrance is “The Powell Principles” (The McGraw-Hill Professional Education Series) December 2002, which details the decision-making habits, success strategies, and keys to Powell’s unprecedented success that include 1) Walk the talk; 2) Be a dis-organizer; 3) Let change lead growth; 4) Check your ego at the door; 5) Push the envelope; 6) Trust those in the trenches; 7) Prepare to be lonely, etc.

In 1985, I served with General Powell during his tenure as V CORPS Commanding General.  I was a U.S. Army Sergeant assigned to 41st Field Artillery Brigade in Babenhausen, Germany.  General Powell periodically visited units throughout his command and exhibited a strong leadership presence, which enhanced the morale of Soldiers and Officers.  Additionally, in January 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, General Powell made a famous priceless quote, “Move it or lose it.”  On behalf of the El Paso MLK Committee, we salute Secretary of State Colin Powell, and our prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

Warm regards,

Bishop Albert J. Mays, Jr.

SGM-R, USA
President, El Paso MLK Committee