He lamented the wars in Ukraine, “rancor”, in the world, and expressed hope for peace.
This sermon was part of a series of events that will mark Young’s birthday this week and continue his long fight to ensure equity and inclusion.
Former congressman, United Nations ambassador, and Atlanta mayor wore a tie in the colors of Ukraine’s flag. He said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine kept him awake at night with concern for the future of the world.
Young was attacked while marching in support of civil rights in 1964. He was right beside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was 39 when King was assassinated on August 13, 1968.
He said that he had never experienced so much anger, hatred, bitterness, fear or potential calamity in his life. He offered hope by citing instances during civil rights movements when King was willing to concede defeat, only to find great success.
Young spoke from the podium of Atlanta’s First Congregational Church. This is his home church since 1961.
Four days of events were launched by the service, which included a walk for unity as well as a gala to raise money for economic development. Young’s birthday theme is “peace & reconciliation”, and organizers claim that one of their goals in inspiring younger generations.
Young stated Wednesday that he hopes people will be “awakened by the tragedies surrounding them.”
He said, “I hope our nation can heal class division, race division and difference between haves and have nots and all other dividing factors that divide us. Sometimes let us forget that all of us are the children of God.”
Young, who is nearing 90, draws inspiration from King, his former friend and colleague.
King used to say during the civil rights struggle that “we probably won’t make it until 50,” Young recalls in a January opinion column in The Atlanta Journal Constitution. “But those who are able to must make it to 100 because there is a lot to do.
Young is one of the last remaining members of King’s inner circle. Young was the executive director of Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights organization King founded.
Young was the first Black person elected to Congress from Georgia since Reconstruction. He was later made ambassador to the United Nations by President Jimmy Carter. His tenure there ended in 1979 after a scandalous meeting with members from the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Young was the mayor of Atlanta from 1980 to 1986. He is widely credited with elevating the city’s standing. Atlanta hosted the 1988 Democratic Convention and the 1996 Summer Olympics. Young’s international reputation helped Atlanta beat other cities to host the games.
Billy Payne, who was responsible for organizing the event, stated that “There wouldn’t have been the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia” without Andrew Young. Payne said, “He saw the Olympic effort as the potential to bring our community together in such a way that could be a shining example for all of the rest of the globe.”
Payne spoke in February on a Zoom conference that was held to promote Young’s birthday events. Ernie Suggs (author of a book about Young) was also present and described Young as someone who “is everywhere, know everybody.”
Suggs stated that each chapter in a person’s life could be a complete life.
On Thursday, the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) walk will start at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. This park is a legacy from the 1996 games. As part of the event, a statue of Young will also be unveiled.
A new exhibit on Young’s life at the Millennium Gate Museum in Atlanta will be open Friday. Suggs’ book, “The Many Lives of Andrew Young”, will also be available to purchase. It contains stories Young shared with photos, as well as an introduction by Carter.
The gala will be held on Young’s birthday.
Young admitted to thinking about death as he nears 90. In January, Young told David Axelrod, an ex-strategic in the Obama administration, that King would often joke about death. King was calling it the “ultimate democracy.”
Young stated that Young told him, “You don’t have any control over where or how you die.” “Your only option is to choose what you are willing to sacrifice your life for.
