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William H. Borders
·
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A Weekly Column By Walter B. Hoye II
Conflict Of Interest
 
In the abortion debate, is there a "Conflict of Interest"within the Black community and among her leaders?
SubscribeUnsubscribeForwardArchivesIssue No.: 2012.009
Personhood: I Am Somebody
"
I Am Somebody
." is a poem written in the 1950s by
ReverendWilliam
 
Holmes
 
Borders
,
Sr.
(1905-1993), Senior Pastor atWheat Street Baptist Church and civil rights activist in Atlantawhere he campaigned for civil rights and distinguished himself asa charismatic spokesperson for the city's poor anddispossessed.
1
In 1971, a bold and unapologetically
Pro-LifeJesse
 
Jackson
 
2
recited his version of the poem on SesameStreet to emphasize the individuality and significance of allpeople, regardless of size, appearance, race, or economic status.The scene took place on the stoop of 123 Sesame Street, involving a large group of children of different colors, who together and in chorus joined in on the nowlegendary "
I Am Somebody
." portions of the poem.
3
Here is the poem as we take a walk down memory lane:
"I am Somebody! I am Somebody! I may be poor, But Iam Somebody. I may be young, But I am Somebody. Imay be on welfare, But I am Somebody. I may be small,But I am Somebody. I may have made mistakes, But I amSomebody. My clothes are different, My face is different,My hair is different, But I am Somebody. I am Black, Brown, or White. Ispeak a different language But I must be respected, protected, never rejected. I am God's child!"
—
Reverend Jesse Jackson recited this poem on SesameStreet in 1971. Yasmin Brown was featured in this episode.
 
Personhood: Understands I Am Somebody
PERSONHOOD IN BLACK AMERICA
is not simply a Pro-Life strategy or tactic thatestablishes legal rights for all human beings at all stages of our development. Thereis a much deeper desire within the hearts of the disenfranchised to be accepted,approved, acknowledged, affirmed and have the attention of the supreme andhighest law of the land as a person than there is a desire to overturn Roe v. Wade."
I AM SOME BODY
."
PERSONHOOD IN BLACK AMERICA
speaks to equal treatment under the law thatwithout compromise or prejudice, recognizes all of us as human beings entitled toan equality, a freedom, a brotherhood, a type of justice that ensures access toentrepreneurship, full and fair employment opportunities, decent housing, integratededucation and culture, health care, child care, clothing and three meals a day."
I AM SOME BODY
."
PERSONHOOD IN BLACK AMERICA
speaks to a day where men, women, boysand girls are "not judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character"
4
and "the tired, poor and huddled masses yearning to breathe free"
5
canlook to a brighter future as they walk through the "
Golden Door 
" of the Americandream."
I AM SOME BODY
."
PERSONHOOD IN BLACK AMERICA
speaks to the heartfelt need for the highestand supreme law of our land to be amended with words so clearly defined that theyare absent of "interposition and nullification"
6
so that a person is a person"regardless of the means by which they were procreated, method of reproduction,age, race, sex, gender, physical well-being, function, or condition of physical or mental dependency and/or disability"
7
unto death."
I AM SOME BODY
."
PERSONHOOD IN BLACK AMERICA
speaks to the need to have the words "wehold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they areendowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life,Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"
8
apply to all human life and not just somehuman life."
I AM SOME BODY
."
PERSONHOOD IN BLACK AMERICA
understands that "the law cannot make aman love me, but it can keep him from lynching me"
9
and because we "think that is
 
Women in the 1963 March On WashingtonWomen in the 1963 March On Washington
pretty important,"
10
seeks to ensure all human beings, from the child in the womb,to the senior citizen facing end of life decisions, to the disabled war veteran areprotected by love and by law."
I AM SOME BODY
."I hope the Pro-Life movement is listening.It's not just about an "all hands on deck" effort to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Personhood: Acknowledges I Am Somebody
"I am a true Christian, for indeed, I practiced the religion of Jesus at pointsbetter than my master from whom I learned it."
—
Reverend William HolmesBorders. This is the last sentence in his poem "I Am Somebody" introduced in 1943.
·
Personhood
is a movement working torespect the God given right to life byrecognizing all human beings as
persons
who are "
created in the image of God
"
11
without exceptions.
Personhood
brings tolight the internationally recognized and welldocumented truth regarding the beginning of our biological development,
12
and bydefinition and design sets the stage for a
complete victory
.
Personhood
defines "winning" in a way that meets the physical,spiritual and emotional needs of men, women and children everywhere and for alltime.
Personhood
understands
I Am Somebody
.
Personhood
gets it.It's time the Pro-Life movement stops fightingPro-Lifers, recognizes that there are differentSpiritual Gifts, but only one Holy Gift Giver 
13
and stand together united for the greater good of all humanity. For one, I believe thePro-Life movement can work together as westand for life. Like
Martin
 
Luther 
 
King
,
Jr.
, "Irefuse to accept the idea that the 'isness' of man's present nature makes him morallyincapable of reaching up for the eternal 'oughtness' that forever confronts him."
14
Imay be poor. I may be young. I may be on welfare. I may be small. I may havemade mistakes. My clothes may be different. My face may be different. My hair maybe different. I may be Black, Brown, or White. I may speak a different language thanyou, but
I Am Somebody
. I must be respected. I must be protected. I must never be rejected. I am a child of God!
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