(click on link to view video)
* IN HONOR OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER WHO FOUGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS IN THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA REVEREND. DR. RAYMOND R. WILKINSON *
“I see a Beautiful City and a Brilliant people Rising from this Segregated abyss. I see the lives for which I lay down my Life, Peaceful, Useful, Prosperous and Happy. I see that I hold a Sanctuary in their Hearts, and in the Hearts of their Descendants, Generations hence. It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever Done. It is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever Known.”
TO VIEW A PIECE OF HISTORY CLICK ON THIS RARE HISTORIC VIDEO FOOTAGE OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA’S BRAVE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER, THE REVEREND DR. RAYMOND R. WILKINSON (1923-1993), KNOWN ALSO AS THE (REV.R.R. WILKINSON) PREACHING AT A NAACP CIVIL RIGHTS RALLY MEETING ON MAY 25TH 1963 WHILE FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM, JUSTICE, EQUALITY, INTEGRATION, AND DESEGREGATION! WHILE SERVING AS PASTOR OF HILL STREET BAPTIST CHURCH FOR 33 YEARS, REVEREND RAYMOND R. WILKINSON WAS ALSO PRESIDENT OF THE NAACP CHAPTER IN ROANOKE, VIRGINIA FROM 1959 TO 1969. REVEREND. RAYMOND R. WILKINSON SPEARHEADED THE CHARGE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN ROANOKE, VIRGINIA DURING THE 1960S CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. ALSO IN 1960 THE REV. RAYMOND R. WILKINSON ESTABLISHED A BIRACIAL COMMITTEE MADE UP OF BLACK & WHITE PREACHERS AND DOCTORS WHO’S MAIN PURPOSE WERE TO DESEGREGATE AND INTEGRATE DEPARTMENT DRUG STORES AND LUNCH COUNTERS IN THE CITY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA AND ACHIEVE EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL RACES OF COLOR! THE REVEREND. RAYMOND R. WILKINSON WOULD HOLD SECRET MEETINGS AT NIGHT DAILY WITH WHITE BUSINESS OWNERS AND CITY LEADERS TO NEGOTIATE PLANS TO HELP SMOOTH OVER THE INTEGRATION PROCESS IN ROANOKE, VIRGINIA! REVEREND. RAYMOND R. WILKINSON’S LEGACY AS A BRAVE STRONG LEADER WHO LED THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL RIGHTS, JUSTICE, AND DESEGREGATION FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE VALLEY OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA WILL AWAYS BE REMEMBERED AND HONORED FOREVER !!!!! THE REVEREND. DR. RAYMOND R. WILKINSON WAS A PIONEER AND A WARRIOR FOR THE PEOPLE OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT! AND ALL CITIZEN’S OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF REV. RAYMOND R. WILKINSON’S GREAT LEADERSHIP AND BOLD COURAGE !!!!!
** REVEREND DR. RAYMOND R. WILKINSON (1923 -1993) **
Where our forefathers have shown us the path.
We shall follow …..
* REST IN PEACE FATHER, GRANDFATHER, GREAT GRANDFATHER *