Taking a short break from business to be inspired

Rev. Otis Moss III

If you want an annual opportunity to be inspired, let me strongly recommend to you the Leadership Awards Luncheon put on by the Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Commission. Extremely well-attended (more than 500 people this year), the event features a keynote speaker who rarely fails to either bring the audience to tears or to its feet — most of the time, both.

Held the week before Dr. King’s birthday holiday, the lunch this year featured the Rev. Otis Moss III, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. He has won numerous preaching awards and is an expert in reaching the so-called “hip-hop generation.”

Rev. Moss’s message this month was one of humility. “The trouble with those who act like they pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, is that there was someone before them who had no boots — and certainly didn’t have any bootstraps,” he said.

He called Dr. King “the greatest American prophet,” but said even Dr. King stood on the shoulders of those who came before him. In particular, Rev. Moss cited minister Vernon Johns, who immediately preceded Dr. King as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

WATE-TV's Tearsa Smith was master of ceremonies

Moss told how Johns would publicize his sermons before he gave them, upsetting the local establishment. Some of his sermons: “Is heaven segregated?” And, “Is it legal to lynch blacks in Montgomery?”

Ironically, Johns also made his conservative black congregation uncomfortable because, despite an impressive education and increasing national acclaim, he would sell watermelons and greens from his garden outside the church after Sunday services.

Finally, the deacons asked him to leave and he was replaced by someone they thought more aristocratic and less radical — Martin Luther King, Jr.

A few other insights from Moss’s speech:

• “When Martin Luther King Jr. was alive, they called him ‘the most dangerous man alive.’ Now that he is dead, it seems that everybody marched with him!”
• “Your proclamation can be bigger than your location.” Meaning, he said, that you don’t have to be in New York or Los Angeles to deliver a powerful message. You can deliver it from where you are.
• “No one can do you better than you.” In other words, be the best “you” you can be.

Every year, Moxley Carmichael buys a table at this luncheon and we often invite our staff members to fill it. We consider it an investment not only in our community, but also in our own development as we take a short break for some inspiration.

Award winners were Dorothy Bennett for advocacy; Mark Isom of Premiere Building Maintenance, for business; and Bob Kronick for education.

More than 500 attended the luncheon at the Marriott.

Former City Councilman Rob Frost, left, now considering a race for mayor, visits with County Commissioner Dave Wright, center, and City Councilman Duane Grieve.

Drew and Angela Starke pose with City Councilman Marilyn Roddy, a mayoral candidate, right.

From left, Sheryl Rollins, Madeline Rogero, and Tank Strickland. Rogero also is running for mayor.

Sam Anderson, left, and Mark Padgett, yet another mayoral candidate at the lunch

At the Home Federal table were president and CEO Dale Keasling and Christa Bibbs, assistant manager of the Magnolia Avenue branch.

Knoxville Mayor Dan Brown, left, and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett

Jonida Robinson, left, and Ellen Robinson

At the Rural/Metro table, from left, school board member Kim Sepesi, Rob Webb, and Darlene Kitts

County Commissioner Mike Brown and Jolie Bonavita, who runs Commission's office

Seated, Scott Frith, left, and Greg McKay, both of the Knox County Election Commission. Standing is Municipal Judge John Rosson.

At the Urban League table, from left, Jim Nichols, Lonnie Jones and Drew Starke

From left, Charley Sexton, Gavin Baker and Michelle Henry, all of Moxley Carmichael. Michelle works at the Urban League, as well.

More folks from Moxley Carmichael, from left, Lauren Christ, Scott Bird, Shaun Fulco and Julie Bernal

Be prepared! That's the motto of Moxley Carmichael Vice President Ellen Robinson. We all made use of the tiny bottle of Tabasco she always carries in her purse!

Here is the full-page ad we ran in the luncheon program. I think our design department did a great job on it, don’t you? Love the message from Dr. King.