MY TURN: We Shall Overcome - Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

WMC-TV 5 V.P. & General Manager Lee Meredith

MY TURN: We Shall Overcome

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WMC-TV 5 V.P. & General Manager Lee Meredith WMC-TV 5 V.P. & General Manager Lee Meredith

Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks was honored this week by his family and friends for his countless accomplishments in a fitting farewell. At his service, everyone who spoke applauded him for his work, and no one was able to resist relating a personal tale of how Dr. Hooks touched him or her individually. His wonderful resume has been duly examined, so I'll just take this time to make my personal comment.

I've never attended a community event here where I wasn't hoping to hear that Dr. Hooks would have a role. I heard him speak most recently at a government hearing earlier this year, and commented with sadness when he did not appear at a community event last month. His eloquence and joy for living were irresistibly inspirational. He ended many of his speaking opportunities with his spirited rendition of "We Shall Overcome."

Of course, I understood the historical significance of the song to the civil rights struggle, but whenever I heard him sing it, I always had the feeling that his definition was not limited to winning just one battle. I always heard his desire for all of us to overcome.

That's my turn. Now it's your turn. To comment on this segment or anything else, email yourturn@wmctv.com or call 800-465-1210.

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