The formal process begun over three years ago came to its logical conclusion with a dedication program at Union Baptist Church. The process of which I speak is what the church undertook to have it placed on the National Register of Historic Places by The Department of Interior's National Park Service. Forever in the national records of The United States of American, this African American Baptist Church will have its many accomplished noted and its record of service maintained. Rev. Dr. Harvey Johnson, a former slave, did not permit his enslavement to curtail the power of his mind and spirit. Once free he attended and graduated from Wayland Seminary in Washington. D.C. and proceeded to work for the cause of freedom of people of African descent everywhere. Much can be attributed to his 50 years of service as the Pastor of Union Baptist Church. He understood, long ago, that the Constitution of the United States of America was a tool that could be used for liberation of African American people. He, along with Attorney Waring, would take cases to court on behalf of African American people and won. So successful was his strategy that W. E. B. DuBois replicated it on the national level through his work with the N.A.A.C.P. I commend the members of Union Baptist Church for persevering through this process. The role of this church and the legacy of our ancestors will forever be in the national records of our country.
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