(dramatic music)
- [Narrator] This is "CBN News Watch".
- And thank you so much for joining us
for this special episode of"Newswatch: Healing the Divide".
I'm Efrem Graham.
Today we're taking a closerlook at the political,
racial and religious issues causing unrest
and division in our country.
And what better place to start
than with the history of aman whose life was dedicated
to fighting for civilrights for all Americans,
and healing more than twocenturies of racial wounds.
That man is Martin Luther King Junior.
- [Martin] Love has withinit a redemptive power.
There's a power there(dramatic music)
that eventually transforms individuals.
That's why Jesus says,"Love your enemies,"
because if you hate your enemies,
you have no way to redeemand to transform your enemy.
But if you love your enemies,
you will discover thatat the very root of love
is the power of redemption.
- [Reporter] Martin Luther King's message
was more than a spirited sermon.
It was a belief thatdefined his leadership,
and became the crux ofthe civil rights movement.
- This person who was fromthe American Nazi Party,
called his name, andwhen he turned around,
he punched him in the face.
The guys that were there,they were gonna do him in.
And Dr. King said, "No,brethren, wait a minute,
"wait, wait, don't harm him.
"He is the victim of theindoctrination of hate."
- [Reporter] Will you presscharges against this man?
- No, I don't plan to.
- He felt that hate cannot overpower hate.
Only love can.
You gonna fight hate with hate,
you're fighting a losing battle.
(gentle piano music)
- [Reporter] Dr. King's exampleinspired peaceful protests
across the country.
It also exposed decadesof social injustice,
bringing Blacks and Whitestogether for a common cause.
- When American began to see racism,
good hearted people beganto say no, I don't think so,
this is not right, this is not good.
- I just couldn't understandwhy this was happening
to the African American community.
I just didn't understand it.
- [Reporter] Peggy had a uniqueview of racial prejudice.
Her father was Alabamagovernor George Wallace,
the man who ran hiscampaign on this promise.
- And I say segregationnow, segregation tomorrow,
and segregation forever.
(crowds cheering)
- [Reporter] Peggy was 12 when her father,
flanked by state troopers,blocked Vivian Malone
and James Hood from enteringthe University of Alabama.
The move was in defiance ofPresident John F. Kennedy's
executive order to integrateAmerica's schools and colleges.
- And hereby denounced and forbid
this illegal and unwarranted action
by the central government.
- I loved my daddy morethan anything in the world.
I did not want him to standin the schoolhouse door.
But he did.
I just thought it was wrong.
I wanted to go up to these people and say,
"You deserve to be here,you should be here."
But I couldn't.
- [Reporter] The standoffended without incident,
when President Kennedycalled in the National Guard.
But the next time GovernorWallace tried to intervene,
it didn't end so peacefully.
(dramatic music)
On March 7th, 1965, 600 menand women started out on foot
from Selma, Alabama to thestate capital in Montgomery,
to protest voter discrimination.
On the far side of Edmund Pettus Bridge,
they were met and assaultedby state and local police.
(dramatic music)
- They deserved the right to vote.
They were human beings.
- [Reporter] The clash,known as "Bloody Sunday",
left one dead and dozens wounded.
Wallace, who had orderedlaw enforcement to Selma,
had to answer.
- I'm against violence,and I'm just as sorry
that anybody got hurt.
My orders have always been touse a minimum amount of force.
(serene music)
- I would like to thinkthat my father said,
"Do not attack the marchers."
That's what I would love to think.
- [Reporter] Two weeks later,some 25,000 protestors,
led by Martin Luther King andother civil rights leaders,
made the 47 mile trekfrom Selma to Montgomery.
Within two months,President Lyndon B. Johnson
had signed the voting rights act into law,
but hatred was still alive.
(dramatic music)
- [Efrem] Coming up, MartinLuther King Junior died a martyr
for the cause he spenthis life fighting for.
But as we'll see, his legacy lives on.
(dramatic music)
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- [Narrator] It's about the competition.
- I kinda put that pressure on myself,
and I think people had expectations.
- [Narrator] It's about overcoming.
- We use this phrase allthe time, "Keep chopping",
keep practicing hard.
- [Narrator] It's aboutgoing the distance.
- You know I think asa father, it's my job,
you know, to lead, just be
the best husband and father I can be.
- [Narrator] Watch "Going theDistance With Shawn Brown",
Saturday night at 7:30,on the CBN News Channel.
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(happy music)
(wind whooshing)(children laughing)
- Hatred, struggle, and eventually healing
came to many associated withDr. Martin Luther King Junior.
But not until long afterthat fateful day in 1968,
when an assassin's bullet ended his life.
That's where we pick up our story
of the murdered civil rights leader.
- Dr. Martin Luther King,the apostle of non-violence
in the civil rights movement,has been shot to death
in Memphis, Tennessee.
Police have issued an all points bulletin
for a well dressed young White male.
- I can't stand to talk about it.
That's how irate I was.
- And I remember saying to my dad,
"Daddy, I just hate Whitepeople, they killed Uncle ML."
He says, "Wait a minute, wait a minute,
"White people didn't kill your uncle."
He says, "White people prayed with us,
"White people march with us,
"White people go to jail with us.
"White people die with us,the devil killed your uncle."
And I remember him sayingthat we have to love,
we to forgive, we have tolove, we have to forgive.
(dramatic music)
- He didn't hate anyone.
He saw this as part ofGod's plan, because he knew
that his life might besnuffed out, at any time,
and he was ready for that.
We were determined to give ourselves to
helping to fulfill the dream.
- [Reporter] Not everyoneclose to Martin Luther
would embrace that dream.
His daughter Bernice,
who was only five when he was murdered,
found herself struggling with anger,
as she entered her teen years.
- I remember distinctly, inmy heart, feeling very angry.
I was angry at White people because I felt
they were responsible.
I was angry at Black people
because I felt like we hadn't done enough
to continue his work.
I was angry at God, 'causeI felt he coulda stopped it.
My anger did turn to rage,and bitterness, and hate.
I literally ended uphating all White people,
and especially White men.
- [Reporter] But as Bernicedealt with her own pain,
Dr. King's message of loveand forgiveness would prevail,
even in the hearts of thosewho were once his enemies.
(screaming)(crowd mumbling)
While campaigning forpresidency in May 1972,
George Wallace was shotfour times at close range
by a volunteer.
The wounds left him permanentlybound to a wheelchair.
But that wasn't the onlychange Peggy saw in her father
in the years that followed.
- He realized that withhis suffering and pain,
how much suffering andpain he must've caused
the African American community.
And he'd talk about segregation,
he'd talk about how wrong he was.
He just wanted forgiveness.
(dramatic music)
One Sunday, he asked his bodyguards,
he said, "I want you to takeme to Dexter Avenue Church."
They took him down there, unannounced,
and they rolled his wheelchairdown that middle aisle,
and he sat there,
and asked that congregationto forgive him.
And they did.(gentle music)
It filled my heart up.
It showed me what loveand forgiveness is about.
This was a very healing moment for him.
- [Reporter] Meanwhile, Bernice'sheart was also changing.
Ever since her father was killed,
her mother, Coretta Scott King,
had refused to give in to hatred.
- And when the Bible says dogood to them that hate you,
bless them that curse you, I saw her bless
those that cursed her, and dogood to those that hate her.
And when she would say,"I don't hold grudges",
I watched when people didvery painful things to her,
that she just didn't holdit, she still loved 'em.
It was just a powerful embodiment
of Christ's spirit in our home.
- [Reporter] It wasn't until an interview
on "The James Robison Show" in 2000
that her healing finally began.
- And in the middle of it, hesaid, "Can I give you a hug?"
(laughing) And I internally,I'm like no (laughing).
You're a White man, no.
My mother taught mebetter, so I said, "Sure".
And he gave me a hug, it wasone of the most genuine hugs
I had ever received.
And that sounds probably for most people,
so simple and trite, butit was very powerful,
because it began my healing process.
- [Reporter] Anothermilestone in that healing
would come in 2015, on thesteps of Alabama State Capital,
Bernice and Peggy stoodside-by-side, as thousand gathered
to commemorate the 50thanniversary of the march
from Selma to Montgomery.
- [Bernice] Being able tojoin as sister to sister,
to Peggy Wallace, years later,
for me, it was like amoment of redemption.
- I hugged her, and I said,"I love you, Bernice."
And she said, "I love you, Peggy."
And I thought at thatmoment about that line
that Dr. King spoke about,one day down in Alabama,
I hope that White girlsand little Black girls
can hold hands, like sisters.
And I thought Dr. King and my father
must be up there going howwould we know that it would be
our daughters that held hands, as sisters,
down in Alabama.
(gentle music)
- [Reporter] Much has been accomplished
through the work andsacrifices of so many people.
And while there's still more to be done,
the solution is always the same.
(gentle piano music)
- Only love can develop sensitivity
in another person's mind and heart.
- It will never be legislatingmorality to such a point
that people would do what is right,
unless you change theheart of the human being.
When that heart is genuinelysurrendered to God,
then we can learn andfind what my uncle called
"the strength to love".
It's who we are and how welive and lead our lives,
that causes true transformation.
Dr. King changed people,not just by his words,
he didn't preach stuff thathe didn't live, he lived it.
If we have to learn to hearthe truth of God's message,
and live it, and embody it,because that's the light
that the world desperatelyneeds right now,
it needs the spirit of Christ.
People know the name of Jesus,they don't know his spirit,
and we must become his spirit.
- [Martin] It is an overflowing love,
which seeks nothing in return,
is understanding createdredemptive goodwill for all man.
Theologians would saythat it is the love of God
operating in the human part.
When one rises to love on this level,
he loves men, not because he likes 'em
but he loves every man,because God loves them.
- Powerful lessons on the love that comes
not from man, but from God.
(dramatic music)
Up next, we're gonna see Dr. King's
"I Have a Dream" speechliterally lived out,
in the lives of two men who discover
a surprising connectionin their family trees.
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- [Narrator] Life is betterwith a good night's sleep.
Get your free DVD or bookletof "Protect Your Sleep".
- [Announcer] As the worldwatches from the outside.
- It's a big diplomatic tug ofwar here in the Middle East.
- [Announcer] Go inside thestory with "Jerusalem Dateline".
- Israeli archeologists aretalking about a discovery
that could change the thinkingabout the Temple Mount.
- [Announcer] Join CBNJerusalem bureau chief
Chris Mitchell, and getthe biblical perspective
on the events shaping the world.
- What starts in Israel thenends up going to other places.
- [Announcer] Watch "Jerusalem Dateline",
Friday night at 9:30 onthe CBN News Channel.
(gentle music)
- [Narrator] Life, it'smeant to be lived, fully.
Jesus said it, "I came to give you life,
"life to the fullest."(happy music)
Life in your family,
life in your finances,
life in your body, mind, and spirit.
Life in your everyday.
(wind whooshing)
At cbn.com, we're takingwhat Jesus said seriously.
We're here to help you discover life.
Life, live it fully, cbn.com.
(wind whooshing)
(dramatic music)
- At a time of so muchracial division in America,
we wanted to bring you a story to inspire.
Two ministers from totallydifferent backgrounds
show us why the churchis uniquely designed
to lead the nation toward racial healing.
Our Amber Strong brings us the story.
- [Amber] The United States of America,
the world's great melting pot.
Each person arriving to this country
with a unique family historyof how their ancestors
put an imprint on their lives.
Yet with all that diversity,we're often more connected
than you might imagine.
Matthew Lockett is thegreat grandchild of farmers,
and a pro-life advocate.
- He would actually makea joke out of it, my dad,
and he would say,
"I guess we're just a bunchof mutts from Kentucky."
- [Amber] Will Ford isthe descendant of slaves.
He travels the country, sharinga message of racial healing.
- They didn't think they wouldsee freedom in their time,
so they pray for thefreedom of their children,
and the next generation.
- Two men on two very different journeys.
But their worlds collided
when they attended aprayer meeting together.
- And I show up at the Lincoln Memorial,
because of this dream, Idon't know why I'm there.
I didn't really even knowthat much about prayer,
but that was the first placethat Will and I came together.
- [Amber] They attended achurch service later that night.
That's where Ford shared the story
of his ancestors prayer kettle,
a pot used by slavesto muffle their voices
during secret prayer meetings.
That led to a deeper conversation,
which resulted in a friendship,
and an unexpected partnership.
- [Matthew] We just started running around
the country together, anddoing prayer meetings.
- The Lord said this to me,
he said if I heard thesilent whispers of slaves
underneath kettle pots,how much more so do I hear
the silent screams of babiesbeing aborted in this nation.
- [Amber] Over the next decade,
they spread a message of life and love,
love for the man next to you,
regardless of race, andlove for the unborn.
But the story doesn't end there.
Lockett says there was somethingabout that first meeting
he just couldn't shake.
- He shared the part ofthe story that shocked me,
that this kettle had beenhanded down to Harriet Lockett.
- [Amber] Years of research
led them to a stunning discovery.
- My oldest known family member
was a man named Isaac Lockett.
The only Locketts at thattime period, in Virginia,
was Matt's family.
And so after doing fourmonths of research then,
and another whole year of research,
we learned through empiricalevidence Matt's family
is the family that owned my family.
- [Amber] And that revelation
led to some difficult soul searching.
- Matt's family owned our family,
and I had to wrestle with that,
because we had storiespassed down in my family
about slaves who were beat to death,
for simply going fishing without asking.
And I really had toforgive, from my heart,
Matt's family for owning my family.
- [Amber] Lockett says
it was a learning experience for him too.
- There is many times,particularly with White America,
there can be an attitude that you know,
these issues are discussed,and the history of slavery,
even the pain, the lingeringpain of that to this day,
there can be a negative attitude
that just kinda dismisses it,
and says look, you weren'tthere, I wasn't there,
get over it.
There was a very real, lingeringpain associated with it,
generationally, and nowthat pain had a face,
and it was the face that I love.
- [Amber] That discoverycould've torn them apart,
and ended their ministry.
Instead, it strengthened their resolve.
- [Will] God is using a united church
to heal a divided nation.
- Lockett and Ford sayevery part of their story,
even the tough parts, are by design.
They say there are no coincidences,
even down to the locationof that first meeting.
- From the former slaves,
and the sons of former slave owners,
will they be able to sit down together
at the table of brotherhood.
- [Amber] It was here,almost 55 years ago,
that Dr. Martin LutherKing Junior delivered
his "I Have a Dream" speech.
Lockett and Ford believethey are living examples
of that dream fulfilled.
And that allows them totravel the country together,
sharing their dream for the church.
- I think what God is shoutingto America right now is this,
what storyline do you wanna be a part of?
The healing or the hurt?
The blessing or the curse?
- [Amber] Two men fromtwo different backgrounds,
sharing a surprising connection,
and pursuing a common missionof unity, life and healing.
Amber Strong, "CBN News", Washington.
(dramatic music)
- [Efrem] When we comeback, a blues musician
develops an unlikely friendshipwith a member of the KKK.
(gentle music)
- I am Regent's first ROTC registrant.
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- Meet the pastors whoare preaching the gospel
in a fresh, fearless way.
I'm Roberto Torres-Cedillo,join me each week
for "Next Gen Voices"
And watch God transform a generation.
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- And welcome back.
As we've been showing youtoday, racial tensions
still exist in America.
But many are working toheal that lingering divide.
Our Caitlin Burke bringsus the story of one man
who is taking on the issue,in his own unique way.
(happy piano music)
- [Caitlin] Playing musiccomes as naturally as breathing
for 58 year old bluesmusician Daryl Davis.
- Well I business playingmusic professionally full time
since 1980, when I graduatedcollege at the age of 22.
- [Caitlin] Throughmusic, Davis has formed
some unique friendships.
- That's Sam Phillips, the manwho discovered Elvis Presley.
Chuck Berry, the boxerJoe Frazier, Dolly Parton.
- [Caitlin] And also unlikely ones.
- And that was the head ofthe Maryland Ku Klux Klan.
- How did you get to be friendswith members of the KKK?
- I just happened to be, in 1983,
country music had made aresurgence in this country.
So I was the only Blackguy in this country band,
and consequently, the only Black guy
in many of the places where we played.
- [Caitlin] One place wasThe Silver Dollar Lounge
in Frederick, Maryland.
After a performance, aWhite man stopped Davis
as he walked off the stage.
- And he says, "You know Ireally like your all's music."
And I said, "Thank you," I shook his hand,
and I don't drink but Iwent back to his table,
and I had a cranberry juice with them.
And then he makes the remark,
when the waitress bringsmy cranberry juice,
he clinks my glass and cheers me
and he says, "You know,this is the first time
"I ever sat down and hada drink with a Black man."
Well now I'm thinkingwow, what's going on here,
this guy's really havinga night of firsts.
And I said, "Why," again I was naive,
and I wasn't trying tobe facetious, and I said,
"Well, why is that?"
He stared at the tabletop,and didn't answer me,
and he had a friend sitting next to me,
and he goes, "Tell him,tell him, tell him."
I said, "Tell me."
And finally he says, "I'm amember of the Ku Klux Klan."
- [Caitlin] Since age10, when first confronted
with the realities of racism,Davis pondered one question,
how can you hate mewhen you don't know me?
His unlikely KKK connection
inspired him to start getting answers.
- Some years later, when I decided
I was going to write a book on the Klan.
- [Caitlin] His research often put him
in some dangerous situations,
but it also led to an unexpected change
in the relationship he sharedwith certain Klan member.
- I would ask them questions,
and they would answer the questions,
but they wouldn't ask for my opinion.
And then over time, you know, I would say,
"So what do you thinkabout," blah, blah, blah,
and they said, "Well Ithink," da da da, da da da da.
And then they would say,
"Well what do you think about it, Daryl?"
Oh wait a minute, all ofa sudden I have value?
- [Caitlin] Davis sayshe's convinced 25 members
of the Ku Klux Klan toleave the organization,
simply through friendly conversation.
- And when they did so, theygave me their robes and hoods.
That's just not done.
This uniform represents White supremacy.
And you're taking it off,and giving it to a Black man?
- As a new generation of AfricanAmericans enter adulthood,
their fighting racism their own way.
Rather than trying tochange one mind at a time,
as Davis has done, thisactivist generation
is using social media to reach the masses.
Some in the Black Lives Matter movement
have been critical of Davis,
saying he's defeating their purpose
with his relational approach.
- The fact that I would sit down
and spend so much time with the enemy,
when I should be devoting my time
to changing the system of White supremacy.
- [Caitlin] Davis believesthis younger generation
has the right intent,although their methods
can taint the mission.
- You need a multi-prongattack, from the front,
from the side, from the back,
through the rear window, whatever.
You don't change the system
without changing thepeople behind the system.
Okay, that's why I'msitting down with them,
and I've had success.
- [Caitlin] Caitlin Burke, "CBNNews", Baltimore, Maryland.
- And that concludes thishalf hour of "CBN Newswatch".
Remember you can always findmore of our exclusive coverage
of the issues you caremost about, at cbnnews.com.
We'd love to know what youthink about the stories
you've seen here todayon this special edition.
You can do that byemailing newswatch@cbn.com.
You an also reach outand touch us on Facebook,
on Twitter, as well as Instagram.
Hope you have a great day,we'll see you right back here,
same time tomorrow, goodbyeeverybody, and God bless.
(dramatic music)
