Why Learning To Trust Ourselves Is A Must

Mary Meyer was dead. An avid drug user who cheated on her husband with powerful men, she was rich, well-known, and privy to government secrets.

Her murder sparked a massive controversy.

She was President John F. Kennedy’s lover. The first person to be blamed for her death was a Black man: Ray Crump, Jr. 

He didn’t match the description of witnesses, and was too “feeble-minded” to have organized such a crime. Prosecutors didn’t care, but one brilliant lawyer did. Her spirit didn’t lead her wrong.

Dovey Johnson Roundtree knew he was innocent. She was fighting an all-white system ready to find him guilty, but against all odds, she won Crump’s case with a brief, masterful argument.

For the rest of her career, Roundtree took high-profile cases, winning them against racist judges, juries, and prosecutors. 

She became a minister to address the spiritual needs of our people suffering from the effects of racism. Her work helped us avoid the murder of our bodies AND our spirits.

Roundtree was an extraordinary activist, and we are still inspired by her today. She reminds us to listen to our spirits and to take action when we know things aren’t right. Justice for ourselves is always right.