Rev. Dr. Albert Paul Brinson reflects on his friendship with the King family
Last month’s celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. provided employees with a personal touch. The Rev. Dr. Albert Paul Brinson, a close friend of the King family, offered an emotional and motivational message that reminded those gathered in Medical Alumni Hall that all of us “are affected by the life, work and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."
(Ralph Ciampa, STM, director, pastoral care, (left) and Al Black, MBA, chief operating officer, (right) present Rev. Dr. Albert Paul Brinson with a plaque honoring Brinson's dedication to following Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream)
“I come to you as one who speaks of family,” said the 73-year-old former civil rights leader. When Brinson was eight years old, his father left his mother and family. Martin Luther King, Sr. became his surrogate father and Martin Luther King, Jr. an older brother figure. Brinson recalled a conversation with King Jr. in 1963 about whether to pursue seminary studies and become a minister. “I said, ‘I am just not good enough to be a preacher,’.” King Jr. replied, “You’ll never be good enough. I’m not good enough. It’s about being used by God, not about ourselves.” Within two hours, Brinson was ready to leave his teaching job in an Atlanta public school to join the seminary. Two years later, both Drs. Martin Luther King Sr. and Jr. ordained Brinson as an American Baptist Minister.
Brinson said he would come and go as he pleased at the King home. “I would turn the key and ring the door bell twice and they’d know it was me.”
At the celebration, Brinson read a biblical story of the Good Samaritan, in which a Jewish man is beaten by robbers and left nearly dead by the side of the road. After being ignored by a priest and a Levite, the man was cared for by a Samaritan. “My heart bleeds sometimes for people who have been left along life’s road,” said Brinson.
He referred to HUP employees as “good Samaritans” carrying out King Jr.’s values. “The caring ministries you do here, you become models for others.”
Adding to the event’s celebration were a powerful rendition of “What the World Needs Now” by Tamika Patton-Watkins of Administration and an interpretive dance by Rodney Talley to Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.”
Brinson recognized our nation’s achievements for civil rights and fairness, but noted that there is still work to be done. “We shall overcome,” said Brinson. “Shall is not a word of completion, it is a word of movement.”
Brinson said he would come and go as he pleased at the King home. “I would turn the key and ring the door bell twice and they’d know it was me.”
At the celebration, Brinson read a biblical story of the Good Samaritan, in which a Jewish man is beaten by robbers and left nearly dead by the side of the road. After being ignored by a priest and a Levite, the man was cared for by a Samaritan. “My heart bleeds sometimes for people who have been left along life’s road,” said Brinson.
He referred to HUP employees as “good Samaritans” carrying out King Jr.’s values. “The caring ministries you do here, you become models for others.”
Adding to the event’s celebration were a powerful rendition of “What the World Needs Now” by Tamika Patton-Watkins of Administration and an interpretive dance by Rodney Talley to Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.”
Brinson recognized our nation’s achievements for civil rights and fairness, but noted that there is still work to be done. “We shall overcome,” said Brinson. “Shall is not a word of completion, it is a word of movement.”
