Tribute to Dr. Douglas Conner
by Brother Rogers
Our community has suffered an irreplaceable loss with the death of Dr. Douglas Conner. As we mourn his passing at his funeral today, we should remember not only that he is now in a better world, but that he made a better world for all of us.
Dr. Conner was a true American hero in the mold of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We honor Dr. King with a national holiday for what he did for America. Dr. Conner did for Starkville what Dr. King did for America. Dr. Conner was our community’s leading warrior against poverty and inequality, and the racism which lingers behind those conditions. He was truly a giant among us.
He would be the first to say he did not do it by himself. But every worthy cause needs a leader, and that leader was Dr. Conner. His moral courage, strengthened by his Christian faith, allowed him to prevail against those in powerful places who advocated massive resistance to racial equality.
It is impossible to imagine where Starkville would be today had Dr. Conner not prevailed. His achievements made possible so many positive things which today we take for granted: strong public schools, shared political power, fully democratized local government, the rise of a multiracial middle class, and a university which serves all our state’s citizens.
The Apostle Paul said his mission was to bring Jesus to the Jew and the Gentile. Following this model, Dr. Conner had a vision of white people and black people living, working and learning side by side – together – as equals. He viewed equality not as a synonym for sameness, but as an expression of mutual respect and appreciation.
Dr. Conner was the voice of reason in race relations in our community. Our mayor put it succinctly, calling him a “gentleman.” He was calm, deliberate, intelligent, and he always had a smile on his face. My wife pointed that out to me. She said, “Did you ever notice that Dr. Conner was always smiling?”
His smile was an indicator that he harbored no bitterness toward those who had denied blacks the opportunity to share fully in the “self-evident truths” of the Declaration of Independence. Instead, his focus was on the future, and he was an advocate for reconciliation.
The following words which eulogized the late Senator Robert Kennedy also apply to Dr. Conner. “Some people see things as they are, and ask why. Others see things as they should be and ask, why not.”
Dr. Conner saw things as they should be and dared to ask “why not.” Every man, woman and child in this community, whether they know it or not, is better off because he did. We are fortunate that he passed our way, and we will miss him dearly.
Brother Rogers is the facilitator of the Race Relations Team and assistant director of the Stennis Center for Public Service.
Our community has suffered an irreplaceable loss with the death of Dr. Douglas Conner. As we mourn his passing at his funeral today, we should remember not only that he is now in a better world, but that he made a better world for all of us.
Dr. Conner was a true American hero in the mold of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We honor Dr. King with a national holiday for what he did for America. Dr. Conner did for Starkville what Dr. King did for America. Dr. Conner was our community’s leading warrior against poverty and inequality, and the racism which lingers behind those conditions. He was truly a giant among us.
He would be the first to say he did not do it by himself. But every worthy cause needs a leader, and that leader was Dr. Conner. His moral courage, strengthened by his Christian faith, allowed him to prevail against those in powerful places who advocated massive resistance to racial equality.
It is impossible to imagine where Starkville would be today had Dr. Conner not prevailed. His achievements made possible so many positive things which today we take for granted: strong public schools, shared political power, fully democratized local government, the rise of a multiracial middle class, and a university which serves all our state’s citizens.
The Apostle Paul said his mission was to bring Jesus to the Jew and the Gentile. Following this model, Dr. Conner had a vision of white people and black people living, working and learning side by side – together – as equals. He viewed equality not as a synonym for sameness, but as an expression of mutual respect and appreciation.
Dr. Conner was the voice of reason in race relations in our community. Our mayor put it succinctly, calling him a “gentleman.” He was calm, deliberate, intelligent, and he always had a smile on his face. My wife pointed that out to me. She said, “Did you ever notice that Dr. Conner was always smiling?”
His smile was an indicator that he harbored no bitterness toward those who had denied blacks the opportunity to share fully in the “self-evident truths” of the Declaration of Independence. Instead, his focus was on the future, and he was an advocate for reconciliation.
The following words which eulogized the late Senator Robert Kennedy also apply to Dr. Conner. “Some people see things as they are, and ask why. Others see things as they should be and ask, why not.”
Dr. Conner saw things as they should be and dared to ask “why not.” Every man, woman and child in this community, whether they know it or not, is better off because he did. We are fortunate that he passed our way, and we will miss him dearly.
Brother Rogers is the facilitator of the Race Relations Team and assistant director of the Stennis Center for Public Service.
