community
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE Jan. 27-Feb. 2, 2010 Page C-2
Robert Shannon Sr. helped convert
Falling down and rising up
museum dream into reality
By Dr. Chad Audi
time comes again when he
longs for a “normal life,” but
By Danton Wilson
class, serving young adults.
It is a scene reenacted in
he remembers what happened
In addition to Bible lessons,
many places. A man, who has
the last time. He hesitates
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
students traveled to other
struggled with mental illness
before setting off on that
cities such as Washington,
or substance abuse, makes a
road. He’s stronger this time;
Robert F. Shannon Sr., who
D.C., where they worshiped
resolution to stop living his
he’s even helped other people
played a major role in the cre-
and fellowshipped with other
life on the see-saw of addiction
stay on the right track. He’s
ation of the Charles H. Wright
churches, learning lessons
or with clouded thoughts and
learned even more from those
Museum of African American
beyond classroom walls.
troubled emotions that drive
who have kept it together for a
History and was a longtime
him. He hears about a place
longer time about how to keep
DPS educator, died Jan. 19 in
Former students include to go where he can get help
it together himself. Maybe this
Detroit. He was 89.
Elliott Hall, former vice presi- to get back on track and he
time it will be the last time he
dent of Ford Motor Company. goes. Things start to improve,
goes down that wrong road.
“Dr. Wright was undoubt-
Nationally renowned author day by day. Maybe in his case,
Maybe not. All he knows is
edly the visionary and archi-
Michael Eric Dyson, who at- it’s a matter of getting back on
each time he gets it right, he’s
tect of the Museum of Afri-
tended Tabernacle, also ben- his medicine, attending sup-
closer to success.
can American History,” said
efited from Shannon’s advice port groups, staying positive,
Shannon’s son, Charles. “But
That is the essence of what
and influence. making a decision to grow and
you’d have to say Robert Shan-
is known in substance abuse
be fed spiritually, and hanging Dr. Chad Audi
non Sr. was a kind of general
As director of a federal jobs
and mental health treatment
out with people he can share
contractor, helping to imple-
program in Detroit, Shannon
street. Maybe robbed. Maybe circles as recovery. This is
with honestly and hopefully.
ment the vision of Dr. Wright,
helped hundreds of Detroi-
homeless. Maybe injured. what funders and providers of
Robert F. Shannon Sr.
He’s doing well and it feels
who was his longtime friend,
ters land jobs after the riot of
Whatever. He comes to him- treatment are striving to pro-
good.
fraternity brother and college
as a Buy-a-Brick campaign, 1967 and through the 1970s.
self and sees his condition. mote among those they serve
classmate.”
annual golf fundraisers, a Mil- In 1995, he was selected by Then he may reach the
Now what? Should he stay — a system of care that works
lion Dollar Club and an inno- United Way of Southeastern point where he wants to live “a
where he finds himself? Go with people as they fall and
Judge Damon Keith said,
vative Mobile Museum. Michigan as a Heart of Gold normal life.” Hasn’t he learned
back to the friends and sup- rise again, that remembers
“I have lost a dear friend and
Award winner for outstanding enough by now? Couldn’t he
port groups that helped him to that getting better is a process
fellow deacon at Tabernacle
Longtime museum sup-
volunteerism and community change his routing and stop
get it together the last time? that doesn’t follow a straight
Missionary Baptist Church.
porters emphasize that Shan-
spirit. attending support group meet-
How will he face them? line, and that counts relapse
Robert Shannon was a man of
non from the beginning was
ings and scheduling his life
as another step on the road
integrity, character and com-
an engine helping drive the In all his activities, Shan-
Another man might not but
around therapy and doctor
to wellness. In this system of
passion.”
museum forward, from its non found a way to tie in
this man has learned to have
care, there is clearly a need for
humble beginnings in a con- museum fundraising and other
appointments? Can’t he get
confidence that he can do
Family hour is set for 6-9
trained helpers who can treat
verted house on W. Grand Blvd. activities. In a 1989 letter
in touch with old friends and
better and his friends will sup-
p.m. Friday, Jan. 29, at Tab-
the bruises and broken bones
to the move to a new building from fellow museum officials
make room for new friends,
port him, especially the ones
ernacle Missionary Baptist
that come from falls and who
on Frederick Douglass Street Leonard Douglas and Marga-
and not just his accountabil-
who have walked down this
Church, 2080 W. Grand Blvd.,
have special equipment and
all the way to its present site. ret Dudley, Shannon was in-
ity partners? Can’t he start
road themselves. He thinks
with a special Omega Psi Phi to relax instead of going to
about the victories he’s had in
knowledge to lift people out
fraternity ceremony at 6:30
“He and Dr. Wright were
formed of the establishment of
church when their doors are
the past and hopes he still has
of deep ravines. At the same
p.m. Services are set for Sat-
tied at the hip,” said Dr. Clar-
the Robert F. Shannon Award
open?
what it takes. He heads back
time, it is said that one way to
urday, Jan. 30, at 11 a.m. at
ence Stone, former Highland
at the Museum, and that he
learn not to fall is to hang out
be its first recipient. He has doubts. Maybe he
to his special place of renewal,
Tabernacle, preceded by a
Park High School principal
would
be it a church or a treatment
with people who’ve learned to
viewing/family hour beginning
and museum board member. Museum officials noted in
was never addicted to alcohol,
program or a support group
stand up and stay up on their
at 10 a.m. The family asks that
“I remember Bob got the the award letter: “Looking
crack or heroin or some other
Maybe he runs into a friend
feet.
in lieu of flowers, donations
mobile museum going by back over the years, one shoul-
substance. Maybe he was just
along the way, who sees him As with all approaches that
be made to the Alabama State
getting construction expert der rises prominently above
going through a hard time and
strive to work with people who
University Detroit Alumni
Ernest Singleton and his son, other dedicated museum sup-
he really doesn’t struggle with
headed back the right way,
have real problems, there is
Chapter, 11344 Burt Rd., De-
both fellow Tabernacle mem- porters, the shoulder of Robert
depression, or paranoia or
who runs up to him with glad-
the possibility that people
troit, MI 48228, in memory of
bers, to build it. With that, we F. Shannon Sr., one on which
mania or post traumatic stress
ness and rejoices at his return.
may mistake realistic compas-
Robert Shannon Sr.
were able to have the museum this institution and commu-
disorder. Maybe he can just
His heart lifts and so he re-
sion for weakness. For those
travel around the city. nity could depend to assure
go back to “being normal” and
turns to the people who have
Shannon, who was recog-
who work with the overcom-
the highest standards in the
maybe even having a drink or
cared about him and his recov-
nized in 2009 as a 70-year
“Anytime you saw Dr. ers of the world, however, to
pursuit of preserving the con-
stop the daily grind of taking
ery. They still have a place for
member of Omega Psi Phi, met
Wright you saw Mr. Shannon. stumble and fall is part of the
tributions of Black Americans
medicine.
him, maybe even a need for his
Wright when they were both
Dr. Wright’s widow Roberta
presence among them. process of learning to walk.
to the cultural, social, and Things start to go wrong,
students at Alabama State
Hughes Wright, pointed out For those struggling, keep on
economic development of this quickly.
He gets back on track.
University, then known as Ala-
that Dr. Wright didn’t make getting up. You will rise, you
great country.”
Things get better again. The
bama State Teachers College.
a decision without talking to He finds himself on the will stand, and you will run.
Wright helped pledge Shannon
him.” Shannon, who had been
into the fraternity.
Shannon left his mark in
married to the late educa-
tor Eloise Wynn Shannon for
When it turned out that
other areas of the city that
54 years when she passed in
‘The curse of the 60th vote’
Shannon and Wright had re-
become his home after he re-
2000, is survived by son Robert
located to Detroit in the late
located from Montgomery,
Jr., a PSL coach and athletic
By Dr. Jason Johnson
ington has always worked this
1940s, Shannon became indis-
Alabama. Shannon had grown
director at Cass Tech and
pensable to Wright’s quest to
up in Montgomery’s historic

way, until “the curse.”
Everyone wants to be the
other schools; son Charles, a
build a Black history museum
Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.
difference maker in Washing-
Playing yourself into the all
businessman and coach; and
here. Shannon helped Dr.
In Montgomery, he also met a
ton, D.C. John McCain made a
powerful 60th vote on health-
daughter Yolanda, a longtime
Wright start the museum and
young Rosa Parks. He joined
career out of playing the mod-
care reform has backfired on
Detroit Public Schools official.
then served as president of
Tabernacle when he moved to
erate Republican whose swing
just about everyone who has
Daughter Valerie, an assistant
its board of directors for more
Detroit in 1947.
vote was up for grabs so long
made a move into that posi-
principal and educator, passed
than 20 years. He is credited
as the other side made a per-
tion, from incumbent senators
At Tabernacle in the 1950s,
in 2004.
with devising and implement-
suasive policy argument.
to those running for office.
he developed and taught a Wyeth Ruthven, a Washington
ing special initiatives such
“post-high” Sunday school
Positioning yourself as the
based Democratic campaign
critical vote on national policy
operative put it succinctly:
issues is a great way to get
Pollack honored
“It’s the curse of the 60th sen-
on “Meet the Press,” increase
ator. The electorate has turned
your stature back home and
on every senator that has been
Dr. Joseph F. Pollack de- ford, “Dr. Pollack felt that
maybe even launch yourself
seen as the decisive 60th vote
voted his life to making a dif- access to charter schools em-
into the White House. But
for healthcare reform. It is the
ference in the lives of children powered parents who could
the healthcare reform debate
biggest political hot seat in
around the world. Besides not afford private or parochial
has thrown that conventional
Washington.”
working for the United Na- schools. He also was a great
wisdom out the window. Being
The only way to lift the
tions and UNICEF, Pollack de- educator who was committed
the swing vote on healthcare
Jason Johnson curse of the 60th vote was to
voted most of his career to ed- to the American promise of
has been a one-way ticket to
not play politics and either
ucation, where he worked his equal educational opportunity
political oblivion. The “curse
Most senators who had con-
stand in favor or against the
way up the ladder from being a for all children.”
of the 60th vote” has been cast
cerns about the bill kept them
healthcare bill early. Conser-
teacher at Martin Luther King
and it just might change Wash-
to themselves or shared them
vatives like Evan Bayh (D-IN)
High School to the post of su-
The Dr. Joseph F. Pollack ington for years to come. with the White House behind
and Jim Webb (D-VA) quietly
perintendent of Flint Commu-
Academic Center of Excellence closed doors. That may be the
pledged support early and
nity Schools.
Dedication and Renaming Cer-
The Obama administration
most sincere and professional
emony will be held on Friday,
spent their first year in office
way to make policy, but it’s
nothing happened to them.
Pollack will perhaps be Jan. 29, at 23777 Southfield
begging, pleading and cajoling
not the recipe for increasing
Voters on both sides of this
mostly notably known for Rd., in Southfield, from 1 to 3
Democratic senators to push
your clout in Washington.
issue are passionate, and the
being a pioneer in the charter p.m. The program will include
through healthcare reform.
lesson to be learned here is
To be a real power player
school movement for the State remarks by Eastern Michigan
Unfortunately, like all forms of
pretty simple.
your vote has to become a
of Michigan. His final profes- leadership, various federal.
coddling, Obama just created
public spectacle, you spend
If you have to make a tough
sional position was as founder state and local dignitaries,
spoiled brats out of senators
weeks as a media darling by
political decision, make it
of the Charter Schools Office educators, community stake-
looking to increase their polit-
teasing talk show hosts about
early. No one gains political
at Eastern Michigan Univer- holders and parents.
ical stature. Once Obama and
which way you’ll stand on the
points by being at the center
sity.
Majority Leader Harry Reid
The program will showcase tipped their hand and admit- legislation. “How will Sena-
of the most contentious policy
The Dr. Joseph F. Pollack
Dr. Joseph F. Pollack
the numerous award-winning ted that it would take 60 votes tor X vote?” becomes the hot
debate in 20 years. Even if
Academic Center of Excel-
The school, already noted
art and musical talents of in the Senate to pass health- topic on every crawl screen
healthcare fails, the curse
lence (PACE), formerly known
as receiving Golden Apple
PACE students. The dedica- care reform, everyone lined for the cable networks. Your
of the 60th vote will still be
as Edison Oakland Public
recognition, is located in
tion will be followed by a re- up to be that all powerful 60th constituents, Red or Blue, are
hovering out there for any
School Academy, is an Eastern
Southfield and will provide tu-
ception. The public is invited. vote that would deliver or kill thrilled that it all comes down
future policy battles, and
Michigan University chartered
ition-free quality education to to you and the White House is maybe next time senators
school and will be renamed
children from kindergarten to
For more information, con-
healthcare.
at your beck and call. Wash-
will learn their lesson faster.
and posthumously dedicated
eighth grade.
tact Promotions Unlimited at
in Dr. Pollack’s honor.
(248) 372-7072.
According to PACE School
Superintendent Ira Ruther-
‘The Justice Ministry of
Jesus Christ’
Tabernacle Missionary Bap-
tist Church is hosting a sym-
posium, “The Justice Ministry
of Jesus Christ,” Wednesday-
Thursday, Jan. 27-28, from
6 p.m. to 9: 30 p.m. daily. It
began on Tuesday, Jan. 26.
The symposium is de-
signed to educate individuals
on what the Bible says about
the adoption, replication and
implementation of the “Jus-
tice Itinerary of Jesus Christ,”
through powerful speakers,
invigorating panel discus-
sions, inspiring presentations
Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr.
Rev. Dr. Marvin A. McMickle
by local youth, and enlighten- to speak is the Rev. Dr. Marvin
• Deacon Delbert Fails, chair-
ing workshops. A. McMickle, senior pastor
man, Board of Deacons
Guest speakers include:
at Antioch Baptist Church in
the Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith,
Cleveland. His credentials in-
• Deacon Aubrey V. McCutch-
Sr., pastor emeritus of Allen
clude Professor of Homiletics:
eon Jr., symposium coordina-
JUDGE CRAIG STRONG and friends celebrate Black History Month. Pictured in back row (from
Temple Baptist Church in
Ashland, Theological Semi-
tor.
left) are Jacob Keli, attorney Delphia Brown, Ben Carter and Julius Bender. In front row (from
Oakland, California. His cre-
nary, Ashland, Ohio; Visiting
Come out and learn more
dentials include Distinguished
Professor of Preaching: Yale
about “The Justice Ministry of left) are Raymond Solomon, Craig Strong, chairperson; Mable Jones, Barbara Mapson and
Professor of Christian Minis-
Divinity School (2009); and
Jesus Christ” on Wednesday
Barbara Favors.
try and Preaching: American
author of “Where Have All the
and Thursday, Jan. 27-28 at
Baptist Seminary of the West;
Prophets Gone?”
Tabernacle Missionary Bap-
Graduate Theological Semi- Conveners:
tist Church, the Rev. Nathan
Celebrating
nary in Berkeley, California;
Johnson, senior pastor, 2080
• The Deacon Ministry of the
and author of “Speak Until Jus-
West Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI
Tabernacle Missionary Baptist
tice Wakes.” Also scheduled
48208; (313) 898-3325.
Black History Month
Church
January is National Birth Defects
Black History Month events will be held on p.m. (See photo above.)
Thursday, Feb. 4, at Floods, 731 St. Antoine St.,
Prevention Month
from 5 to 10 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 6, at What
For more information, call (313) 494-5853 or
Crepe, 317 S. Washington Ave., from 9 a.m. to 1
(313) 224-2485.
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