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I was born in 1935 in Laurel, Miss. As I reflect on the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, many memories and feelings come to mind. The first and most personal is the move my family made in the middle of the night in 1940. My older brother had responded to a heckler in a group of white teens by pushing one of them into a store window.

Due to the prejudice and racism that existed in Mississippi at that time, my brother’s opponents immediately planned to kill him. There was plenty of evidence that black teen boys who dared to respond to white men’s threats, heckles or promises would be hung, shot or killed in various ways. Heeding the warning about the plan from a white family for whom we worked, our family gathered our personal belongings and disappeared before sunrise.

Seven decades later, I reflect on that brother of mine. At age 24, in Chicago, after graduating from Du Sable High School, he enlisted in the armed forces. He served his country many years, as a lieutenant and captain. After retirement, he worked several years for the Texas House of Representatives.

I have strived to break down barriers and fight for justice and equality. I worked for more than 49 years at Marcy-Newberry Association, reaching out to help the least, the last and the lost. I believe I have made a difference.

As I look at what my son and my daughter have accomplished, I am grateful for the signing of the Civil Rights Act. Today, my grandchildren have clear rights and great opportunities as they enter college to reach their professional goals. I pray that they will have faith and pursue their dreams as they work hard, pray without ceasing, accomplish their goals and always be thankful to God.

The signing of the Civil Rights Act motivated The United Methodist Church to move forward. It influenced the church to realize where we needed to do some self-examination and make changes and additions to our Book of Discipline. The churches struggled with racism and segregation at all levels.

I relate the meaning of this 50th anniversary to a key word in the United Methodist vocabulary: diversity ... addressing the needs and concerns of an inclusive church, respecting the efforts and objectives of racial ethnic groups, eliminating the atrocities of racism and bigotry and creating awareness of the history, heritage and contributions of all ethnic groups. God intends diversity!

The Rev. Margaret Ann Williams is a retired deacon in the Northern Illinois Conference.