In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Dr. William Reid, the pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Bristol, VA joined the staff and students on January 21, 2020 to discuss the life and legacy of Dr. King, while sharing his own story, and offering motivation and inspiration along the way.
As a young boy growing up in the small town of Anniston, Alabama, Pastor Reid was fortunate enough to share an experience that few among us have had. Traveling from Atlanta, GA to Birmingham, AL, Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other Freedom Riders stopped to share a meal and spend the night in Pastor Reid’s family home. He explained that one of the biggest reasons for the success of the Civil Rights movement is the fact that it was non-violent. Dr. King did not speak a message of hate, nor a desire for revenge for the treatment of his people. Instead his goal was to bring everyone together, regardless of race.
“Each of us is unique,” he said, “and we all have different strengths. If all of us share what we know with other people, and they share their knowledge with us, we can all reach a new level of success.” He went on to say that we cannot begrudge someone who is different from us, but to use our differences to help us grow. Dr. Reid received a tremendous round of applause from students and staff alike, and we are all looking forward to the next time Dr. Reid returns to Blue Ridge.