By Scott Umstattd
Until now, there has been very little published about the relationship between Koinonia Farm founder Dr. Clarence Jordan and Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.
Thanks to an invitation from our friend Kirk Lyman-Barner, I had the privilege to film an interview with Dr. Vincent Harding at Morehouse College in Atlanta about a week ago. Dr. Harding was a speech writer for Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Vincent Harding
Among many other things, Dr. Harding introduced Clarence Jordan, the founder of Koinonia Farm to King.
Both men, Jordan and King, were devout in their Christian beliefs and their belief that violence returned with violence solves nothing. Led by their beliefs, both men stood tall when confronted with racism, bigotry, indifference, intolerance, terrorism and violence. Neither man threw one stone back. Martin Luther King, Jr. lost his life because of the scale of his effort. He was known world wide. And he, while humble, welcomed the attention because he had something to say and people needed to hear him.
Clarence Jordan’s reaction was simpler, less coordinated.
Jordan created Koinonia Farm to be a “demonstration plot for the kingdom of God.” His idea was to simply live right in the eyes of God. And this meant, at a time when this wasn’t meant to be, that blacks and whites and Chinese and Eskimos and Australians were all treated as equals.
Jordan chose not to lead demonstrations, to give sermons in Washington D.C. or to boycott anything. He chose to live a peaceful life and reacted with peace when confronted with far more than rocks. But King’s duty was not to live in a demonstration plot. His duty was to create awareness to affect change on a grand scale.
Our video shoot with Dr. Vincent Harding in Atlanta
These two men, Clarence Jordan and Martin Luther King, Jr. met for a few hours in Albany, Georgia (circa 1961-1962) and discussed their differing approaches.
Both men were solid in their belief and in their approach and response to the violence and hatred laid before them.. Neither man was trying to change the other. Neither man could have changed. Each had their own destiny to fulfill.
Dr. Harding was there the day Jordan and King met. He was gracious enough to talk about his experience with us on camera.
Thanks Dr. Harding for sharing your story (and thank you Kirk for making the connection!).
Below is a short clip from our interview with Dr. Harding.
Atlanta, GA – June 18, 2005 – It was announced tonight at the Southeast Regional EMMY awards gala that Briars in the Cotton Patch won the EMMY for Best Script. The script was written by Atlanta-based producer Michael Booth.
“Briars in the Cotton Patch” is currently in national circulation on PBS. The documentary was launched nationally in February 2005 as part of Black History Month, with a total of 216 stations in 41 states airing the program. The one-hour documentary will continue to be seen on PBS stations across the United States and parts of Canada through early 2009. Contact your local PBS station if you would like to see “Briars” broadcast in your area.
Washington, DC, July 6, 2004 – “Briars in the Cotton Patch” has been selected to receive a CINE Golden Eagle Award. “It is a pleasure to acknowledge the excellent filmmaking craftsmanship evident in your production”, writes Mary Frost, Chair of the CINE Competition Committee. Founded in 1957 by a consortium representing business, education, and government to depict American life and thought realistically for a global audience, CINE continues to recognize and foster the highest quality of non-theatrical film and video production through its semi-annual competitions. Recipients of CINE Golden Eagles include Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, John Lasseter, David Grubin, Barbara Kopple, Charles Guggenheim, Ken Burns, Albert Maysles, Debra Chasnoff and many others distinguished for their work with the moving image.
