Posted: Monday, January 21, 2013 5:55 am | Updated: 11:56 am, Tue Jan 22, 2013.
Posted on January 21, 2013
A mixture of people from different ethnicities gathered together with a similar vision: creating a beloved community in Bucks County.
The Bucks County Committee on Interracial Harmony, Interfaith Community of Lower Bucks, Bucks County Human Relations Council and The Peace Center gathered as one and held two simultaneous events on Sunday.
Natalie Kaye of Bucks County Committee on Interracial Harmony led the event at the Bristol Senior Center in Bristol Township. And Barbara Simmons of The Peace Center led the event at Doylestown Presbyterian Church in Doylestown. It was the first time the groups held a simultaneous event.
The event was held to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Join the Dialogue to Create a Beloved Community brought about 40 individuals from various ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds to the Bristol center. Together they discussed how to create the beloved community.
The kind of community that Dr. Martin Luther King envisioned in his speeches. One without racism and hate.
Bucks County Commissioner Diane Marseglia opened the program and brought a proclamation from the community of Bucks County, declaring Jan. 20 Beloved Community Day in Bucks County.
“People say racism doesn’t exist anymore because they can’t see it,” said Marseglia.
The dialogue was broken up into groups of about seven individuals of different ethnicities, discussing their individual visions of what a beloved community is.
Also, the aspects they already see in their community that are beloved and how to create a beloved community.
According to Kaye, the Bucks County Committee on Interracial Harmony has held events to honor King for more than 20 years. But people stopped coming so they decided to partner with the others to create the simultaneous dialogue.
“I hope the event will be a springboard for other events to create a beloved community in Bucks County,” said Kaye.
Sandra Herman of Bensalem used a salad bowl as a reference as her vision of a beloved community. The mixture of different colors making a better community.
Others viewed a beloved community as safe, respectful and prosperous. Not prosperous in wealth, but with food, clothing and shelter. Celebrating differences without violence and looking out for one another.
The exchange of dialogue is meant to send individuals back to their communities with views of how to bring people of all races together peacefully.
Brother HasibAbdur-Rahman, of Zubaida Foundation in Yardley, believes that learning about other ethnicities is a step in the right direction.
“We have to have interfaith dialogues so that we understand each other,” said Abdur-Rahman.
Keith Jones, facilitator of one group, noted that issues were never addressed in the areas that had racism issues before.
“Diversity efforts were not supported because people didn’t see past their own backyard,” said Jones. ”If people would sit and listen to each other they would see we are alike — not so different.”
“We all need each other,” he said.
It is a concern for many of the members of the groups that the younger generations are not a part of the peace-making process.
“Interracial harmony needs activities to involve the youth to keep it going,” said Clarence Hayes Jr., founding pastor of A New Direction Ministries in Penndel.
Retired Pennsbury Elementary School teacher Nancy Tickel of Middletown hopes to build a community based on King’s beloved community.
“I hope to get answers, how to get the community to accept everyone,” said Tickel.
Marion Snipes, board member of the Peace Center and member of Interfaith Community, hopes to enlarge the community of safety and peaceful relationships between people.
“If you don’t do this, there is no chance to overcome the problems,” said Snipes. “If one person has a chance to overcome racism it is worth it.”
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