Former Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson Honored During Black History Month Celebration

The following news release comes courtesy of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens:

“There is no limit to how much you can achieve if you don’t worry about who gets the credit,” Kenneth A. Gibson told a crowd of nearly 2,000 who gathered at First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) on Sunday to thank him for his historical significance in their lives.

Gibson, the first black mayor of a major northeastern city and the first black president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, was mayor of Newark from 1970 to 1986.

Lauded for his calm, pragmatic leadership style and for unifying a city torn apart by race riots and political corruption, the emotional Gibson tribute was launched with reenactments and other tributes from FBCLG youth and the music and arts ministry. With echoes of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?” still ringing in the air, Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr., FBCLG senior pastor, noted how important it is to pay tribute to people while they are alive to accept the appreciation.

“I just can’t tell you how humble I am that you see the significance,” Soaries said, before introducing other current and former New Jersey mayors and political representatives who also attended. Later, Soaries emphasized the political climate that made Gibson’s win even more extraordinary, including the fact that Newark had become predominantly black by 1966 when Gibson first ran for office but lost, facing heavy opposition from other black leaders who preferred the status quo.

“On the night he won there was dancing in the streets but a police officer was so angry that a black man would now run the city, he pulled a knife on me and held it in my back,” Soaries said, noting that he was at the time an 18-year-old college student who had come to Newark to help register people to vote. “Because of Mayor Gibson, Prudential decided to stay in Newark. Public Service kept its headquarters in Newark.”

Others also spoke of the strong foundation built by Gibson, who was called a trailblazer, pioneer, dynamic leader and history maker. Gary Williams read a tribute from U.S. Senator Cory Booker, who also served as mayor of Newark. Soaries sent regrets from Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson, who was unable to attend due to the flu, and introduced former Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer.

“We know that you made it possible for me to stand here, for President Obama to lead for two terms,” said Reva Foster, chair the New Jersey Black Issues Convention (BIC), who presented a proclamation. “Sixteen years he and his family sacrificed so that we can have what we do today…. (It’s been) thirty-four years of BIC standing on your shoulders, and 32 organizations around the state that want to say thank you, sir.”

Camden Mayor Dana Redd, who spoke on behalf of the 20 or so current African-American mayors in New Jersey, said that Gibson “demonstrated what leadership looks like” and inspired generations.

Gibson noted how impressed he is with today’s black leadership, including Soaries who he called “a leader without competition.”

“We were born in Enterprise, Alabama and when we got to Newark, they didn’t know what to do with us young black folk,” Gibson recalled. “I was eight years old in third grade and teachers didn’t know what to do with us. I came out of a little school house in Enterprise and ended up teaching half the class.”

While Gibson praised young people and encouraged them to remember the giants upon whose shoulders they stand, he also said African-Americans, in particular, must always vote.

“I listen to the people in this country today who are struggling with craziness and I say to them, we struggled to get the right to vote,” Gibson said. “There is no reason we shouldn’t always register and vote. We all stand on the shoulders of giants and I’m very proud to have been able to continue the legacy they left for us. And to you, young people, don’t ever forget there is no limit to what you can achieve if you don’t worry about who gets the credit.”

Soaries closed the service with a powerful sermon on “turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones,” drawing parallels between what Elizabeth had to go through before giving birth to John the Baptist and Gibson’s struggles. “Each of us lives with a smile in one pocket and a tear[drop] in the other.…There’d be no value in joy if there was no presence of sadness. You can’t have victory without struggle,” Soaries preached. “God has the capacity and the desire to turn barren into blessings, to turn tragedy into triumph. That’s what this man from Enterprise, Alabama represents. That’s what Elizabeth teaches us.”

The Gibson tribute was part of the FBCLG Black History Month and 80th anniversary “Living the Legacy” celebrations. The full service was live streamed and is available under Sunday Worship February 19, 2017 11:20 a.m.: http://media.thechurchonline.com/fbclg/index.php

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com