The life and legacy of civil rights icon Medgar Wiley-Evers is being recognized as President Joe Biden has posthumously bestowed on him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It’s the highest civilian honor someone can receive in the U.S.
Accepting on his behalf was his daughter, Reena Evers-Everette.
She recently spoke with our Mississippi Edition host, Desare Frazier, to share what it has meant for her family to accept such an award.
TRANSCRIPT:
Desare Frazier
So, first of all, congratulations. Your father, Medgar Wiley-Evers, posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom Friday, May 3. What a tremendous achievement. What was it like to be in the room, having your father recognized among all these people who are being recognized for their tremendous contributions to society?
Reena Evers-Everette
Well, first of all, thank you for the congratulations, and congratulations is just still overwhelming. Our family's still reeling from just the announcement. And actually, that happened about a week, a little less than a week before, May 3. And when I got the call, I was literally in shock and a little frozen, making sure that I was not dreaming. And because this is such an extraordinary honor for our family – my brother, who's still with us, James Van Dyck, and I know that my brother, Daryl Kenyatta, who's up there with dad, but especially my mother, Myrlie Evers. It is something that, as you have already mentioned, is the highest recognition of a civilian. And (Mom) says, Myrlie Evers right now, because of this, Dad and her respect and honor for Dad. … We're both just elated. We were both crying. I'm currently in California. And I'll be seeing her shortly. But I was in Mississippi at the time that I got the call. When I called her, she couldn't believe it. She says, ‘Are you serious? This is really happening?’ And I said, ‘Yes, it is.’ And so our hearts are full. And being recognized with this group of honorees is mind-blowing.
Desare Frazier
Yeah, because we're talking about how Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Representative from South Carolina, James Clyburn, another civil rights leader, Clarence Jones, who was legal counsel to Martin Luther King Jr. … just a lot of people who have done so much to contribute to others.
Reena Evers-Everette
And that's what was so special. A lot of people have been saying, ‘You know, it's long overdue.’ I'm so glad it's finally here. I took a moment and thought about it. And I'm like, it's in God's time. And this is the right time with the right group. And it was just absolutely… it was a reunion, actually, of sorts. My mother cannot attend for health reasons. And so, I was there to represent the family. But it was a reunion of people who worked with my father, who worked side by side in doing the courageous work of being a committed activist. And it also lay testimony to my mother's persistence and resilience to making sure that what he was doing was carried on in the manner he would carry it on, in the integrity that they, that all these civil rights warriors did, and continue to do. And so many also recognize my mother, privately, because they've either worked with her or they've worked with her on other civil rights pieces, too. I'm emotional still now.
Desare Frazier
Well, let me ask you this: Did you go up front to have President Biden put the ribbon/metal around your neck?
Reena Evers-Everette
I was on the stage with all the recipients and the people who would be accepting for recipients who were not there. The process is, if you're an actual living recipient, you get the ribbon put around your neck. If you are there representing, you get the ribbon presented to you in a box, in a beautifully wooden box. And that's how President Biden presented to me and several others.
Desare Frazier
What did he say to you?
Reena Evers-Everette
He smiled and he bent down and he said, ‘I'm so happy about this.’ He held my hand. We had talked a little bit earlier before the actual presentation. And he was saying that it's so due, and he's so happy that he could be the one to present. But also, that he was just giving love to all the family, and especially to my mother. And he just kissed me on my head. I don't know if you saw that, (laughter) but he kissed me. And we hugged and he's such a gracious man. And so compassionate and caring. And it just showed throughout all of the service with every single one. … He made the choices. But of course, there were people like Congressman Bennie Thompson, who was a warrior for all of us, but especially for Mississippi, and especially for my father. He pushed it through. He and so many others pushed that through and made sure that it was in front of President Biden. And so we thank Congressman Thompson, and the others on the Hill. Others who have written letters, who have made calls, we thank you so much for the Evers family. And I have to thank my family, my cousins, and also my extended friends, who have been supportive to us and all of Mississippi for this honor, because it goes out to each and every one of us. And that's what my father would do. It would not be for him. It would be for all of us that are fighting for civil rights and equality and fighting against injustice.
Desare Frazier
What have you done with the award? Where have you placed it, or have you?
We do have the award and is placed in a safe place. I flew back to California from Washington, D.C. to present it to my mother. My brother's out of the country so he ought to see it when he gets back. But when I came to present it to my mother, she just… I have a picture that I might share. But it was such a wonderful private moment, where she just took the box and held it to her chest, and tears were coming down. And she said, ‘Medgar, you're finally recognized.’ And when we talked, she goes ‘He’s finally recognized as a first-class citizen,’ which is what he's been fighting for us to be recognized always, as first-class citizens.
Desare Frazier
You hear the love, the admiration, the deep affection in what you just said.
Reena Evers-Everette
Thank you, I love my parents. And I'm in awe of them. I’m in awe of the honorees who are there, especially the ones that you just named, that we've had relationships with, great relationships with before. It is something that you don't go through, some of the tragedies that we've been through, and not understand that you either have to go forward in doing the right thing for humanity, or you can just stand still or wallow. And my parents taught us never to wallow.
Desare Frazier
Do you feel like more and more people are learning about your dad through these types of presentations, and the more there are recognitions of his service to the country?
Reena Evers-Everette
Most definitely, most definitely. And we thank you for asking us to just speak up this moment and in other moments recognizing him and others. It is so important, especially now. Where our history, African-American history, people of color’s history (are) trying to be put in the background, and the narrative is being changed. We have to recognize the truth, the truth of our society, the truth of the world. It's stations like yours. It's recognitions, like this Presidential Medal of Freedom, that (bring) the highlight to not just the United States, but it brings it to all of the world. And all around the world, we have heroes and sheroes, that are trying to do right by humanity. And we need to continue this. And one thing that I live by is several (sayings) that my father has always instilled and just … made my life purposeful, is (what) my father told me after our house got firebombed.
When I asked him if all white people hated us, and he took a moment, and he said ‘Sunshine,’ that was his nickname for me, ‘There's good and bad in every race. Always look for the good.’
Desare Frazier
And not only did he fight in war, too, he was the first field officer for the NAACP and came back and fought on the battleground in Mississippi. He fought for civil rights.
Reena Evers-Everette
He fought for civil rights even before he went. His mindset was there even before he left Mississippi the first time. He did not go out and protest, but he did fight, and maybe he was young. He was underage to go into the Army. So, he sneaked into the Army. And he saw the difference in the way that African Americans were treated. And he said, ‘This is wrong’ when he came back to Mississippi. And still, there were lynchings. There were killings. His family friend was lynched and laid up on the hill, his bloody clothes laid upon a fence so it could be a reminder to all the colors not to step over that line.
And so yes, he was a warrior. And he still lives on. He lives on, not only in my mother and our family, but he and all the others live on in all of us. And we have to continue. We have to understand that it's within us that we have the power to make sure that we're not second-class citizens, that we have the power to make sure that we all do right by each other. And, as he said, ‘We can't give up now. We can't give in.’
Desare Frazier
You think about him being so young; he was 37 when he was assassinated. That is so young. Even now in today's time, it might have seemed a little older, in the 50s and 60s. But now we see age differently. Sixties are now the new 50s and you hear those different sayings, and to be 37. All the weight that he had on his shoulders prior to that, and to be killed at that age is really something.
Reena Evers-Everette
Well, as we look back at the 50s and the 60s, and even before then, life lived was harder. When you were younger, even as you were 5 and 6 walking down the street or experiencing inequality throughout just everyday life on a consistent basis. When I look at my father, just pictures throughout the years, I see the maturity. But I see the maturity even at his youngest in his Army picture. And so my father was young in age, but not in spirit, and not in maturity, and understanding. And I think so many, so many of our leaders that are recognized now and ones that are not recognized that we have to uplift also have that life experience and have that compassion and have the power within themselves and the power with community to move everybody in an upward fashion. I think about it in Mr. Jones. I said, ‘What is it about your wonderful generation?’ And I've asked my mother. I've asked a lot of people. I said your resilience, your stick-to-it-iveness, your dedication… it's just it's an unmovable. It's because … they were working together for a common goal, a common goal and knowing that they had to work together in order to achieve it, instead of just working separately and achieving for their own individuals. We say that, but we have to do it.
Desare Frazier
A commitment that at that time could mean your life.
Reena Evers-Everette
A commitment of understanding that what you're doing would mean that you would not have the favors that you could have if you would just go along with the system. And yes, the sacrifice of your life.
Desare Frazier
Rena Evers Everette, the daughter of Medgar Wiley-Evers. Is there anything that I didn't ask you that you'd like to share?
Reena Evers-Everette
Desare, you did a great job. …I say this, that it's in my father's spirit, that I urge everyone to engage in meaningful discourse and listen to one another with empathy and understanding without resorting to acts of hate or discrimination. And that we, once again, we dedicate ourselves to the empowerment of our future generations. Because we're not going to be here long. And as I've heard from wonderful heroes and sheroes, they're not going to be here long. We need to learn from them, and we need to go ahead again, and healthily organize for justice, peace, and equality.
Desare Frazier
Thank you so much. We appreciate your time. Congratulations to you and your family once again. And we are just so appreciative of everything that your family has done to make life better for everyone.
Reena Evers-Everette
Well, we thank you, and I can't wait to put my feet back on the soil of Mississippi. I'll see you soon.