Bryan Rodriguez (Director of Diversity and Economics teacher), Rev. Kyles
On May 7, Cate School was honored by a visit from Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles, a pastor from Memphis, Tennessee, who was with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the night King was assassinated. Kyles addressed the Convocation audience of students and faculty in the Hitchcock Theater, weaving a powerful story about his experiences during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. His intimate knowledge of the final moments of Dr. King's life had served as the inspiration for an Academy Award-nominated documentary called "The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306," produced by Cate alumna Margaret Hyde and viewed by the entire school this past January. Reverend Kyles' deep belief in the power of the individual to bring about social change struck a chord in every member of the audience. "You can kill the dreamer," he said at the end of the evening, "but you cannot kill the dream. The Dream is still alive!"
"As someone who lived through that awful historical moment--who awoke to radio reports of the assassination--
"The Reverend was absolutely amazing; it is rare to see someone so passionate about his/her work. He sparked the inspirational fuse in our minds and our hearts. It was certainly a moment that will never leave me." - Rohit Goswamy, Cate junior
"For me, hearing the stories of Rev. Kyles connected me to the legacy of courage and dreams." Edderic Ugaddan, Cate senior
About Rev. Kyles (from the historymakers.com)
"The Reverend Samuel "Billy" Kyles was born in Shelby, Mississippi, on September 26, 1934. A longtime leader in the civil rights movement, Kyles has been pastor of the Monumental Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, since 1959."
About "The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306" (from www.witnessroom306.com)
"On April 4,1968, the Revered Samuel “Billy” Kyles stood beside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee and bore witness to his brutal assassination. Through Rev. Kyles’ recollections of those fateful moments and the days leading up to them, “The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306” helps us remember why Dr. King made that fateful trip to Memphis, and takes us inside the last hours of his life.
"With moving testimony from civil rights luminaries such as Maxine Smith and Dr. Benjamin Hooks as well as other contemporaries of Dr. King, “The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306” is a poignant retelling of a crucial turning point in the civil rights movement and a vibrant reminder of Dr. King’s impact on the movement and our nation."
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
