We have much to be thankful for this year
Volunteers help fill boxes with a week’s worth of food on Saturday, Nov. 12. Operation Thanksgiving Blessing, an annual event that provides food for families in need, was sponsored by The Chris Paul Family Foundation and the Triad Dream Center.
Photo by Tevin Stinson
While the election results might make many people say, “Say what?”, we have much to be thankful for this year.
*Kalvin Michael Smith has been freed from prison, although he still plans to fight to clear his name. The Chronicle reported (https://wschronicle.com/2016/11/judge-sets-kalvin-michael-smith-free-fight-will-continue/) that after a Nov. 9 hearing that freed him, Smith left prison Nov. 10.
“God is good,” shouted Augustus Dark, Smith’s father after the ruling that freed Smith from prison.
Dark said, “This is a day I have been looking forward to for a long time. I can’t put into words all the emotions that are going through my head.”
Smith was sentenced to 29 years in 1997 for the robbery and brutal beating of Jill Marker inside the Silk Plant Forest store that left the pregnant woman with severe brain damage and blindness. The entire time Smith has maintained his innocence and much of the evidence unveiled in recent years proves that.
While the judge’s ruling makes Smith a free man, he is still not considered innocent legally. The motion filed only addresses the sentencing on the armed robbery charge and the judge ruled that Smith had served enough time on that charge. Smith supporters say they will continue the fight.
*The community had the pleasure of spending time with several community stalwarts before they left this earth this year, namely: former N.C. Sen. Earline Parmon, Darryl Hunt, Mo Lucas, Rodney Ellis, Rolland Greene, Carl Wesley Matthews, Carl Russell Jr. and Mildred Peppers. These people influenced so many others, so we will be hearing from them through others. For instance, the Rev. Alvin Carlisle, pastor of Exodus Baptist Church, has said Parmon influenced him to run for the presidency of the Winston-Salem Branch of the NAACP. Look for results of the election in the Dec. 1 issue of The Chronicle.
*There are many organizations that help the poor and homeless in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. There are many good-hearted people who contribute to those organizations.
*We have had eight years under the first African-American president in the United States. This president did not have scandal in his administration. He fought as hard as he could for the American People, but Republicans fought him at every turn. We are thankful that President Barack Obama will have a rest from the daily politics of the presidency as of Jan. 20, 2017.
*Readers of The Chronicle, who keep us grounded in our mission, and advertisers are supporting us. Thank you and we look forward to continuing to serve you.
*After this election season, we are thankful that God is still in control.
