MLK Celebrations Welcome New Generations

AmeriCorps Weekend of Service and Awareness

by Vic Martinez

While waiting for the UT marchers to arrive, I ran into a friend of mine at the Capitol on Monday, January 16. Throngs gathered to honor MLK, so it was by chance that my former colleague was able to pick me out of the crowd. Ironically enough, I had randomly photographed him and his son earlier. We both taught at Fulmore MS in the early 2000’s. While reminiscing about the folks we knew, his son James walked up on us and greeted me, shaking my hand.

**Cooper Askins, James and three other Children**

Waiting for the UT Marchers’ arrival.

That’s when it struck me. MLK Day has truly become intergenerational! We are extending Martin’s dream of freedom, equality, justice and peace to our children and grandchildren.

The march started at the MLK statue on UT’s East Mall, arriving at the Capitol for speeches and entertainment, then off again, marching farther east to commemorate and culminate MLK Day at Huston Tillotson University.

**A Mixed Crowd**

Seniors, youngsters and everybody in-between came to the Capitol to honor a great human being. In this photo, people are listening intently to the *I Have a Dream* speech.

Home Sweet Home

For some AmeriCorps members, the MLK celebrations began on Saturday with a Gospel service and Pie Social at Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church on W. 11th in the heart of Clarksville. My wife Christina and step-son Volma Overton III, as well as my AmeriCorps brothers and sisters and maybe a hundred other people from around Austin partook in the Gospel service. The pews were full.

The Singing Preachers performed Gospel in this historic sanctuary. Their Gospel songs touched the churchgoers to the core and had us all singing, clapping and shaking it to the glory of Jesus. Amen!

The Singing Preachers of Austin is a Gospel Quintet from Austin, Texas. The Group members are all Austinites: Pastor Chance Taylor, Minister Nathan Pleasant, Minister Tyrone Mann, Deacon Joe Cleveland and Deacon James Earl Jones. They have been involved in the Austin Christian fellowship and worship community for many years.

The Pie Social

At the end of the gospel service, the pews emptied and everyone retired to the social center down below and the pie social commenced. There was a variety of pie served with coffee, waters and tiny tubs of vanilla Blue Bell ice cream. Every imaginable pie was offered: from apple, pecan, cran-apple, key-lime, chiffon, cherry as well as other delicious creations. They were homemade or store bought. A few of them were silently auctioned to lucky bidders; the rest were served on paper plates and gobbled up by the folks attending.

*AmeriCorps/Imagine Art group photo after too much pie: (seated) Kate, Dave, Sheena. (standing) Lacey, Nancy, James S., Erin, Dani, Vic. (missing, but present) James A.*

A Testimonial by Lacey Richter

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Sweet Home Baptist Church Peace through Pie Social, complete with delicious pie & even better Gospel Music that made me both electric & weepy, listening to my own St Luke UMC Pastor give an amazing & inspiring Sunday Sermon on how We Lack Nothing & Have All We Need at Any Given Moment to Carry Out Our Unique Mission & Callings from God, followed by a very special tour of a historic site in my neighborhood: The Haskell House in honor of MLK Day. The Haskell House has a vital & interesting history, as does my West Austin neighborhood of Clarksville & surrounding areas, as it was predominately African-American-populated until gentrification took over .. like ALL of Austin. (Please take the time to read up & further familiarize yourself with it here: http://www.clarksvillecdc.org/historic-landmarks)

taken from Lacey Richter’s Artist Newsletter 1/23

The Hezikiah Haskell House

In the spirit of the “beloved community”, Lacey Richter an AmeriCorps artist-in-residence at Imagine Art arranged a field trip on MLK Day to the Haskell House. Participants could later take a walking tour of the neighborhood. The Purpose was to understand and appreciate the essence of Clarkesville, which is a stone’s throw away from IA’s studio.

A classic example of Cumberland style architecture, the Hezikiah Haskell House is a restored late 19th century structure built between 1875 and 1879 by freedmen. Below are some photos that were taken to commemorate AmeriCorps’ visit.

**Waiting to Come-in**

Group of AmeriCorps artists-in-residence getting ready to enter the Haskell House on Jan. 16, 2023.

**Making an Important Point**

Docent Mary Reed, a board member on Clarksville Community Development Corporation, explaining the history of Clarksville residents’ plight and the will to keep their community alive.

**AmeriCorps in the House**

AmeriCorps Director Rick Hernandez with members Larry Yanez and Dani Bailey.

**Tiara and Chris**

Posing among photo portraits.

Drawings done by Larry Yanez of the Haskell House (top) and another Clarksville neighborhood house.

Reflection of the Hezikial Haskell House by Larry Yanez Sr.

One precious memory of the Clarksville tour is the historic Hezikial Haskell House (circa 1875), located at 1703 Waterston Avenue.

Mary Reed, the docent at the Haskell House, explained that owning the original houses led Clarksville residents to run their businesses and lifestyle successfully.

One house on West 10th posts a sign of “Black Lives Matter”. That sign is a symbol that black people’s lives are important to us all.

Extra Info from Haskell House

**Pauline Brown**

She was a founder, and served for many years as President, of the Clarksville Community Development Corporation (CCDC) formed in 1978 to provide some affordable housing for lower income residents displaced by "gentrification." She died August 27, 2009.

**Singling out RuthAnn**

RuthAnn Brown, daughter of Pauline Brown and sister to Paulette (*Pumpkin)*, was a legendary personality and a force to be reckoned with. She had a powerful way of connecting with people, regardless of age, color, neighborhood or persuasion. From the basketball court, to the school bus, to the playground, RuthAnn was a true ambassador of unity, throughout her childhood days at Matthews Elementary, through O’Henry Junior High, and well past Stephen F. Austin High School. She passed away on October 21, 2017 at age 52.

**Seymour Washington**
**by Lacey Richter**

*As we were looking at old photographs framed on the little house museum walls, it was pointed out that one gentleman by the name of* ***Seymour Washington*** *lived in this area for years & was a* ***horse-shoer****. Our knowledgeable tour-guide began to talk about the ‘****hippies of Austin****’ in the 70’s…& before I could say it, she beat me to it with the words ‘****Townes Van Zandt****’ falling from her mouth.*

I chimed in that he had lived in the neighborhood, which she was about to say, & that there was an amazing documentary on Townes (Heartworn Highways https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dXUH29Yr4fA) depicting him singing one of his quintessential sad songs, his very first one actually, while a gentle round-faced African American man sat beside him weeping. (I’ve seen this scene many times while watching the documentary with one of my ‘friends for life’ & ‘former bandmates’ (..who knows, one day the band may get back together..) who greatly appreciates all things Texas & music-oriented.) This was the horse-shoer SEYMOUR. There was another photo of Seymour sitting in a starched white button-up & suspenders enjoying a pull-tab Lone Star. Out of all the important details of the tour, this ‘connection’ with Seymour & Townes & Freedom & MLK & Dreams (& my Angel of A Friend Pumpkin whose beloved Mom Pauline Brown paved the way & was A Force in preserving aspects of the historic Clarksville people & area who I get to Walk With in All Senses The Word, & who is now a part of Imagine Art), my/our very neighborhood & community & the Legacy we as unique individuals are creating, contributing, & hopefully one day leaving resonated the most & sandwiched into my heart, spurring the little gold nougats & sparks in it. I Want to Make A Mark & Leave A Mark. A Lacey Rae one & Authentic one. And make my Maker proud .. & M¥self.