by James Melson | Oct 19, 2023 | 2023, Weekly Reflection
For almost two weeks, news about violence and death in Israel-Palestine has dominated daily media reports. One of the most horrific stories was about an explosion at the Al-Alhi Hospital in Gaza that reportedly killed hundreds of civilians who had gathered at the...
by James Melson | Oct 12, 2023 | 2023, Weekly Reflection
I was supposed to be in Israel-Palestine this week. Two days before our group was scheduled to leave the US for Israel, Hamas attacked Israel and the trip was cancelled. Ever since then, horrific images and news accounts continue to pour out of both Israel and Gaza....
by James Melson | Oct 5, 2023 | 2023, Weekly Reflection
For baseball fans, October brings the excitement of the Major League playoffs culminating in the World Series. Seventy years ago in early October, there was a much different baseball story unfolding in Birmingham, AL. On October 8, 1953 an interracial All Star team...
by James Melson | Sep 27, 2023 | 2023, Weekly Reflection
The old black and white pictures from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s seem like ancient history especially to those who were not alive at the time. The picture posted above is representative of widespread resistance to public school desegregation...
by James Melson | Sep 21, 2023 | 2023, Weekly Reflection
Last week many people around our nation paused to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL. Four Black girls were killed and over 20 people were injured. To this day, it remains one of the most horrific acts...
