By Gretchen Webster
WESTPORT — In a program deeply personal, sometimes humorous and, at times, emotional, Dr. Clarence Jones, a political advisor, personal lawyer and speechwriter for the late civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., entertained and inspired a full house Sunday at the town’s 18th commemoration of King’s birthday at the Westport Library.
“He would have been 95 tomorrow,” said Jones, who marked his own 93rd birthday last week. Jones is credited with writing the first eight paragraphs of King’s iconic, “I Have A Dream” speech, delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 28, 1963, during the March on Washington.
Jones recounted stories of the eight years he spent working with King, from 1960 until King’s assassination in 1968. A surprising fact he revealed was that King delivered the famous speech extemporaneously after the initial paragraphs written by Jones. According to the speechwriter, King was inspired to give the free-flowing speech by singer Mahaliah Jackson, who prompted him from the stage: “Tell them about your dream, Martin.”
Another story Jones told was of a gathering celebrating the birthday of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, who was active with King in the civil-rights movement. At the gathering, King joined hundreds of rabbis to pray, prompting them to all sing together what became an anthem of the civil-rights movement, “We Shall Overcome.”
“He and Heschel stood in the middle of the room and wept,” Jones said. “If you ever hear any of our brothers and sisters are antisemitic — you tell them this story.”
Jones said he worries about growing antisemitism, which spoils King’s legacy. “I am concerned for the first time in my life that this alliance [between Black and Jewish people] that was so rock solid … I’m concerned that it’s being pulled apart by the repetition of antisemitic garbage,” he told the gathering.
He also spoke of the current war in Israel and Palestine, saying that although there are wrongs on both sides, “Jews are fighting for their lives. They are fighting for survival.”
Jones got emotional when he spoke of the intense pressure King was facing prior to his assassination, and that it was Jones’s job to help safeguard the civil-rights leader’s mental health.
“He trusted me,” Jones said. “It was my job to keep him together and I did the best that I could,” he said tearfully.
Jones was welcomed to the event by U. S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who said Westport’s King commemoration brought “people together at a time of division and darkness when we are tempted to lose hope.”
Blumenthal called Jones an icon of the civil-rights movement. “Clarence is more than just a hero. He is a voice and face of justice,” the senator said. “Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”
King visited Temple Israel in Westport 60 years ago during a trip organized by the Westport Weston Interfaith Council, Harold Bailey Jr., the chairman of TEAM Westport, told the audience. The annual celebration honoring King has been sponsored by the council ever since, he said.
The discussion with Jones was moderated by NBC News anchor Craig Melvin, a Westport resident. Also appearing at the event was violinist Kersten Stevens, and U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres of the Bronx, N.Y.
Freelance writer Gretchen Webster, a Fairfield County journalist for many years, was editor of the Fairfield Minuteman and has taught journalism at New York and Southern Connecticut State universities.
Of the many MLK celebrations I have attended in Westport, this year’s was certainly the most impactful to me. While compelling to hear this first-hand account of Dr. King’s life, what most impressed me was the passion and unwavering conviction of Dr. Jones’ beliefs and his ability, at 93, to remain a relevant and vigorous thought leader.
Thank you to the many folks who worked to bring Dr. Jones to this Westport audience. I wish that the talented soloist who concluded the afternoon would likewise be credited here for his powerful gifts.