Dr. Rev Gil Caldwell Honored
Civil Rights Advocate Gives Monmouth U Founder's Day Convocation
Civil Rights advocate and local Asbury Park resident Rev. Dr. Gil Caldwell was honored this weekend by his alma mater – Boston University.
Caldwell, who first met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1958 while he was a student there, was one of three people to receive the University’s 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. The honor has only been bestowed to close to 400 of the University’s over 300,000 graduates.
The 83-year-old actively participated in the 1963 March on Washington, the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer, the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March, and the March in Boston protesting public school segregation, 1968 Poor People’s Campaign.
The retired United Methodist Church minister, who has pastored congregations in Boston, New Haven, Brooklyn, Harlem, Chester, Pennsylvania and Denver, moved to Asbury Park eight years ago with wife of 58 years, Grace.
“A question in these my ‘sunset years’ – how can I best share my Civil Rights Movement history and my present involvement, without appearing to be self serving,” he’s shared with members of the city’s Dialogue Group. “Each time a young person says to me, “I want to shake the hand of someone who shook the hand of Martin Luther King”, tears form in my eyes.”
The Dialogue Group is comprised of area residents committed to addressing the issue that face the city’s diverse population.
“The Dialogue Group has become so important to me and for me,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell has become a vocal leader in the community, advocating for what he calls the intersection between the civil rights movement of the 1960s and today’s LBGTQ rights movement.
The accolade comes on the heels of honors by Second Baptist Church and by last month’s proclamation of recognition by The Asbury Park City Council.
Second Baptist Church, which Caldwell calls his adopted local congregation, honored him for his community service.
The governing body recognized Caldwell for his tireless efforts to bring about change by sparking awareness in support of racial, sexual orientation and gender equality, said Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn.
Through his unceasing resolve and commitment to advocate for the equal rights for all Asbury Park residents and the nation, he has been outed as being so supportive of our community and for that I personally, and I think many other people are, so grateful, Quinn said.
On Wednesday, Caldwell will deliver Monmouth University’s Founder’s Day convocation, in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s visit to the Long Branch campus a half century ago.
A part of the their Jack and Lewis Rudin Distinguished Lecture Series, the 3 p.m. event places a spotlight on the nation’s continued struggle with civil rights and equality.
A reception for all guests will follow the event at the University’s OceanFirst Bank Center. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required by calling 732-263-5400 or via e-mail at rsvp@monmouth.edu.
Below is an interview conducted with Caldwell after the Asbury Park City Council honored for him community leadership.
Sun: What brought you to Asbury Park?
Caldwell: My son Dale lives in New Brunswick. We wanted to be nearby and he suggested Asbury Park would be a good place to come.
Sun: What local issues drew your immediate attention?
Caldwell: I got involved with participating on the issues that affect the west side even though I don’t live on the west side. I was a part of the of the Ministerial Alliance when I first came here and was part of the activist movement in support of the Jersey Shore Rescue shelter for the homeless. There was resistance for them being in Asbury Park. I joined the protest marches, we persisted and achieved our goal.
Sun: Can you speak to your advocacy for LGBTQ rights?
Caldwell: I’ve been, for a number of years now, a straight advocate for gay rights. I found myself, as an African American clergyman, that I was at place where they were not. I’m a Christian who lives his life with the bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. For some people I’m too pro black and for some I’m too pro gay. That has not been a deterrent.
Sun: Is there an edict or mantra that your prescribe to?
Caldwell: Martin Luther King Jr said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” That has driven me, not only out of self, injustice as an African American man, but it is why I am an advocate for gay rights and women’s equality.
Sun: Do you see a clear path to addressing true equality?
Caldwell: With our justice efforts, we tend to operate in silos. It just seems to me, we must realize that we are all family — in the ilk of the [1971] Sly and the Family Stone’s ‘It’s a Family Affair.’ Relative to what Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in terms of gay rights, we are living separate lives. In this country, white persons have no knowledge of black lives and black persons have no knowledge of white lives. It was Martin Niemöller, a German pastor who opposed the Nazi regime, who said, [paraphrasing] When the came for the Socialists, Trade Unionists, and the Jews, I did not speak out…when they came for me there was no one left to speak up.
In accepting his accolade from the Asbury Park City Council Caldwell said:
“My prayer is that all of the persons, and groups, and sections and factions, the young, the not so young, in this great little city by the sea – Asbury Park – will in our discussions, debates, and decision making, demonstrate a unity and love that makes what was thought to be impossible, become possible. We owe that to ourselves but more importantly we owe that to those who will be here long after we are gone.”
[Photos, in part, courtesy of Dale Caldwell]
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