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 Let's Talk
Denise Rolark Barnes
Columnist Page
Friday, March 18, 2005; Page 22
Remembering A D.C. Son, Journalist and Friend
It was 28 years ago when terror struck the Nation’s Capital. Ten members of the Hanafi Muslims seized three sites, including the District Building, B’Nai B’rith and the Islamic Center, holding hostages, wounding others, including Mayor Marion Barry, and killing a member of the media.
March 9, 1977 seems like a long time ago, but for the friends of Maurice Williams, the one person killed during the 30-hour takeover that devastated the entire city, it is the anniversary of the day that brings them together annually to remember a close friend whose short life meant so much.
Williams was a native Washingtonian, educated in the D.C. public schools including Whittier Elementary, Paul Junior High and Calvin Coolidge High School. He was an alumnus of Howard University where he studied radio broadcasting at the School of Communications. He is among many of the prominent journalists Howard has produced. Upon graduation, Williams joined WHUR-FM where he was hired as a full-time reporter. It was in this capacity that caused Williams to be in the District Building that day, where he regularly covered the D.C. City Council and Mayor Marion Barry for WHUR.
A Washington Post article written by Alice Bonner and Milton Coleman, two African American journalists, (3/15/77, A1) offered a moving story about the funeral service held for Williams just a few days later. It retold the details surrounding William’s death, quoting his friend and colleague, Stephen Colter, a reporter for the Washington Afro American, who had lunch with Williams just hours prior to his untimely death.
Bonner and Williams wrote: “[Williams and Colter]…walked back to the District Building for a press conference in the City Council chairman’s office [Sterling Tucker]. Just after they stepped out of the elevator on the fifth floor, the doors of the City Council offices swung open, a shotgun was fired and Williams, shot in the chest, spun around and fell. ‘I keep hearing him say that last thing,’ Colter recalled. ‘He said, ‘I’m shot.’ He was just dead. It was no more Maurice.’”
Fifteen of Williams’ friends were shown in a photograph at his funeral holding each other up as they stood over his casket to wish him a final farewell. And, for the past 27 years, those same 15 friends (plus or minus a few), continue to meet on or near that same date at Williams’ gravesite at Fort Lincoln Cemetery to pay tribute to him and to also reflect on the circumstances that have impacted their own lives.
For some of them, the bond they share began in elementary school. For others, it was later on in school or in the upper Northwest neighborhood where they grew up or through athletics or through the social friendships that evolved over the years. However, the real bond between them came after Williams, his brother and three friends founded Sigma Beta Upsilon, a high school fraternity that accomplished some pretty sophisticated goals. The group sponsored trips, hosted parties, and raised money for or volunteered to support worthy causes.
Every year, when they meet, the ritual is the same. Williams drank Miller beer. They come with their own bottles of Miller, drink some, pour some on his grave and spend the rest of the time “jonin’” on each other and paying tribute to their friend.
Last Saturday, however, upon seeing each other a little grayer, more stout and grateful for the ability to survive a myriad of “life’s circumstances,” they decided to launch a scholarship fund in honor of Williams and two more friends who passed away recently: Reggie Simmons, whose distinguished career in international affairs was launched when he began working for Africare more than 20 years; and Ricky McNair, a performing artist seen regularly on stage in productions held at many of the local community theatres. As a matter of fact, one of McNair’s own productions was called “Jonin’”, in tribute to the verbal wars that started in childhood that made them laugh at each other and cherish each other more.
What better way to pay tribute to Williams and the others than to offer students through scholarships the hope that they all share about living, learning and giving. And, what better way to memorialize their friendship than expand it through the lives of young people growing up like them in Washington, D.C.
For Denise Rolark Barnes send email to drbarnes@washingtoninformer.com |
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