King's Nephew Named To Head Civil Rights Group

By Adelle M. Banks
Religion News Service

(RNS) Two and a half weeks after the sudden death of its president, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference has named a nephew of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as its new leader.

Isaac Newton Farris Jr., 48, was elected on Monday (Aug. 15) to lead the Atlanta-based organization that has mobilized churches to fight discrimination.

Farris, a lifelong member of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where his uncle preached, had served as interim president. He succeeds the Rev. Howard Creecy Jr., who was tapped earlier this year but died unexpectedly on July 28.

King helped found the SCLC in 1957 and served as its first president.

In an interview Tuesday, Farris said the organization's primary focus will be on access to higher education.

"The mission will not change but we have to operate in the current environment," he said. "It's getting harder for everyone to get an education, so that's the civil rights issue for 2011."

The SCLC had plans to be led by another King family member. In January, the Rev. Bernice King, daughter of the founder, decided not to assume the presidency, citing a leadership clash.

Farris said he is ready to succeed veteran civil rights leaders, many of whom led the SCLC as ordained ministers.

"I never had that calling that way but I've always felt a call of public service," he said.

Comments

[Consequence]

04:01 PM on 08/18/2011

Qualified not by your own skills but just because of your last name.

Say what you will about Bush, but he faced and won two elections.

[lshaft]

03:35 AM on 08/18/2011

As long as you are dependent upon a civil rights leader the further behind the eight ball you will remain. As a very young man I accepted my Lord Jesus Christ as my Leader, and not these civil rights pimps who never held a job in their lives and never knew the importance of showing up on TIME!!!

[eric14]

05:42 PM on 08/17/2011

When its the nephew of Dr King its a wonderful thing to have such talent in one family.
But in the Middle Ages, when it was the nephew of the Pope, it was called ''nepotism'' after Italian ''nipote'' for ''nephew.

[UKLLee]

05:05 PM on 08/17/2011

"In an interview Tuesday, Farris said the organization's primary focus will be on access to higher education."


So I assume he will be fighting for equality and a.ffirmative action in regards to college sports teams as well, right?

[wkingsolomon77]

02:06 PM on 08/17/2011

It is always refreshing to see good people doing good things.

[hanky106]

12:41 PM on 08/17/2011

Wow, another civil rights group to fight for rights we already have. 1) Like going to school, 2) raising kids to be productive citizens, 3) act with character, 4) pull your pants up, 5) a build strong families and neighborhoods ................If you don't do 1-5, then descrimination is not your problem.