FORT WORTH (WBAP/KLIF) – The City of Fort Worth is hopeful a historic event from the past can help shape the future.
A historical marker was unveiled Monday morning at General Worth Square commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s only visit to Fort Worth in 1959. The civil rights leader was invited to Cowtown by the late Vada Felder, a local activist and first African American to graduate from Brite College of the Bible. Felder befriended King at a church meeting in Nashville and invited him to deliver a sermon in Fort Worth later that year. King spoke at the historic Majestic Theater at 1101 Commerce Street. On that occasion the theater was integrated when African Americans were, for the first time, allowed to enter through the front door and sit in the lower seats.
The new marker is part of the Heritage Trails walking tour in downtown with 26 free-standing bronze markers depicting the people, places and events that shaped Fort Worth’s history.
“He spoke a message of hope,” said Reverend K.P. Tatum, who officiated the dedication. “And it was a message that said it’s a great time to be alive because you can be a part of that change. And that’s what we need today. When the government is shut down and people are picking both sides, we need someone to bring hope to us.”
Text of the Marker:
“A Great Time To Be Alive”
On October 22, 1959, The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., pastor, civil rights leader and president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) made his only visit to Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Vada Phillips Felder, local educator, activist, and friend of Dr. King’s had invited him to Fort Worth when they both attended a church conference in Nashville. Upon his arrival, Dr. King was greeted by African American community leaders. He also experienced some anger, hate and bomb threats. He stayed upstairs in Vada Felder’s home on Stewart Street, and attended a reception at the Bellaire Drive West home of the Revs. Alberta and Harold Lunger, Professor of Social Ethics, Brite College of the Bible (now Brite Divinity School) at Texas Christian University. That evening four hundred people were in attendance when Dr. King spoke at the historic Majestic Theater at 1101 Commerce Street. On that occasion the theater was integrated when African Americans were, for the first time, allowed to enter through the front door and sit in the lower seats.
In 1954 Vada Felder was the first African American to graduate from Brite College of the Bible with a Masters of Religious Education. She was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church for over 50 years, authored Christian Education materials, founded and operated United Christian Leadership School, and taught in Fort Worth’s James Guinn Elementary School and at Bishop College. She said that Dr. King’s visit “…gave us courage. He taught us that we could stand up and do what was right – and do it in peace”.
It was truly a great day to be alive in Fort Worth, Texas.
Sponsored by Dr. Gary Lacefield
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