A Dream Derailed
Foreword by Evangelist Alveda King
Director of Civil Rights for the Unborn
Rev. William (Bill) Owens, Sr. and his wife, Dr. Deborah Owens, are asking very serious questions. What happened in and to black America over the last half a century? Are we worse off than we were during the days of the 20th century civil rights movement? Does most of the black community truly understand what they are voting for? Can we give education a chance? Is there hope for the black family in the twenty-first century? Before you prejudge this timely treatise as just another telling and retelling of what went wrong, keep reading.
Together, Bill and Deborah have a long and proven track record of identifying and then addressing problems and issues of a practical, moral, and spiritual nature; acting as change agents for a better quality of life. I’ve been blessed to work with both the man of God and his helpmate, the educator, for several years, during which I’ve witnessed first-hand their tenacity and capacity for gaining results and sowing seeds of hope and transformation where others have quit and turned away from the task at hand.
Bill and Deborah are devoted and dedicated Christian parents and grandparents who are committed to transforming our communities into safe havens for not only their family, but for the families of America. Even though destruction is looming over our lives, there is hope for America. By sharing not only testimonials, but case studies and best practices, the Owenses have crafted a “rescue manual” for black America. In applying the principle of, “putting your own mask on first,” as most airlines advise passengers in case of an emergency, they are bringing a message of hope and a strategy for strengthening black America. In doing so, they cause the reader to understand that a stronger “Black America” is good for helping to bring about a “Great America.”
There is an important question at the heart of this book: What happened to black America and the dream of a “Promised Land” that motivated the civil rights activists? From a personal perspective, I would answer by saying that taking prayer out of public schools and the public square happened. I would say that legal abortion happened. I would say that the redefinition of marriage happened. Many of us know what happened. Now, as we read along the paths that Bill and Deborah have tried and tested, we can ask, “What happens next?” without having to hang our heads and run for the nearest shelter.
Instead, we will find ourselves compelled to roll up our sleeves and join the battle that is still ahead. There have been some significant victories, most recently with the success of the forty-fifth President of the United States, who is making great progress in the areas of the economy, the sanctity of life and the safety and security of our nation. However, we cannot sit back and rely on the president, and people like Bill and Deborah Owens to do all the work.
In my Christian circles, we have a saying: “Get up. Get busy doing something for the kingdom of God.” That’s what Rev. Bill Owens and Dr. Deborah Owens are doing. This book begins with a question about a dream derailed and ends with a challenge. I’d like to end with both: Will we read their book and put it away on the shelf? Or will we engage or reengage in the battle?
God bless you.
Evangelist Alveda King is a Christian catalyst for civil rights and spiritual victories. She is the Director of Civil Rights for the Unborn for Priests for Life, a news and media contributor, an author, singer/songwriter, and producer. Her legacy as a member of the family of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (daughter of civil rights activist parents Rev. A. D. and Naomi King) connects her to her 20th and 21st century civil rights work where she has continued in service for over half a century.
