I love C-Span, especially Book-TV on the weekends.

On shows like BookNotes and Q&A, they interview some amazing people, and the videos are kept in the c-span online library for retrieval. A number of these people look like they could be part of my family, and I am particularly interested in how they have faced the challenges that inevitably come with that look.

For the most part, these are people of uncommon faith as well as accomplishment.  Their actions have helped cause rain to fall in many dry places.

I hope you find them as inspiring as I do, and will pass the word on to others – especially young people.

1)          Here’s Chaplain of the United States Senate, Retired Admiral Barry Black, a native of Baltimore and an amazing story of accomplishment, through the power of faith, despite coming from what many would consider an “at-risk” background.

If you also find it inspiring, please share your thoughts.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/289560-1

2)         An inspiring woman is World War II army psychiatric nurse Ora P. Hicks, who has had an amazing career, in which she faced obstacles that would have made a less courageous person whine or quit.  She is of my mother’s generation of women of the African diaspora, whom racism did not deter, and who aspired to be the best they could be.  Born 12th in a family of 16 sisters and brothers, in rural Louisiana, she has lived and worked all over the United States and abroad, and achieved what few of her contemporaries have. 

Let me know if you find this as inspiring as I do.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/215003

3)        I have already cited Byron Pitts‘ Step Out on Nothing, see my posting on 6-17-10 for more on it, and here’s the link to the C-Span video: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/291073-1 

Not Yet Featured on C-Span

4)        An older book, but one of my favorites is, Take the Risk, by Dr. Ben Carson, available on audiobook or hard copy.  A great read with very fascinating stories about his neurosurgery, but a how-to on risk-taking, and a story of faith, dedication to the needs of others.  This is my favorite of Dr. Ben’s books. 

Please share what you think of it.

5)         Then there’s Warren L. Maye‘s Soldiers of Uncommon Valor, a history of blacks in the Salvation Army since its inception in the United States.  The book chronicles the development of the black presence in the originally British organization, alongside the advancement of black citizens in the United States. 

Many people are aware of the presence of African-Americans in the historically black churches – AME, AME Zion, Baptist, even Pentecostal.  Few are aware of their history in predominantly white evangelical or holiness denominations, such as the Salvation Army, Church of the Nazarene, and many others.  Blacks have played and continue to play a critical role in these organizations, taking courageous and difficult stands that have helped keep the orgaanizations true to their avowed purposes.

I’m inspired by the many years of painstaking research Warren has invested to bring us this important document.  I’m hoping that more of us will be motivated to document our history in similar organizations, and recognize the value of our contributions. Here’s a link to the book’s facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60041911740

Let Warren know what you get from it.