Local Civil Rights Activist Remembers Dr. King
By Cherri Gregg
Philadelphia (CBS) – Even though Monday is the official King Holiday, Sunday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s actual birthday. To reflect on the day, a local civil rights activist to talk about Dr. King, the man.
Longtime activist and NAACP Board Member Donald "Ducky" Birts worked with Dr. King during the 1960's.
"I was raising funds in Camden and in Philadelphia for Dr. King when he comes around."
Birts says one of his fondest memories of King was his humility.
"He didn't have an ego. He would tell everybody to put your ego in your back pocket when you come in a meeting and give your heart, mind and soul to what we are trying to do. He said the ego would be detrimental to our people."
Even though there is recent controversy surrounding Dr. King stemming from the Broadway play, "the Mountain Top," which portrays the leader as someone who smokes and uses foul language, Birts says King was a good man who laid his life on the line for his people.
"Dr. King wasn't perfect. The man gave his life to the world. He was on the front lines for the race and for our county. I miss him and wish he was here now."
