Rev. Herbert Daughtry Feted at BAM

f anyone deserves an evening in their honor, it’s the Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry. And honor him they did at the gala "Living the Legacy: Honoring Our Past and Embracing Our Future," held on Saturday, January 8^th, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. A virtual Who’s Who packed the theatre to show their respect for the Senior Pastor of the House of the Lord Church who has truly earned the title "The People’s Pastor" for his faithful work over almost half a century to bring justice to his people and to people everywhere.

Beginning in the 1950s, Rev. Daughtry was active in the struggle for integration. In the 1960s, he fought for community control of schools. The 1970s found him serving as Vice Chair of Operation Breadbasket, the economic arm of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference. During the 1984 presidential campaign, Rev. Daughtry served as special assistant and confidante to Rev. Jesse Jackson.

At the international level, Rev. Daughtry has been involved in the fight for human rights and self-determination in various Caribbean nations and has also been a prominent participant in African liberation struggles. A strong peace activist, in 2003 he helped organize and lead a multi-faith, multi-racial delegation to Iraq in a last ditch effort to avert war.

Rev. Daughtry continues to be one of the most outspoken critics of police abuse of power and has taken part in protests and community organizing in the cases of Abner Louima, Amadou Diallo, and Patrick Dorismond.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. It would require a huge amount of time to recount all the accomplishments of this great man – which you might have expected them to do at the gala. However, they did not. The program was like Rev. Daughtry himself: focused on inspiring and uplifting the audience rather than on self-glorification. It was taken as a given that people were there because they already knew of the extent and depth of his good works; therefore, the program was amazingly spare. This made its emotional freight even richer because it didn’t overwhelm.

Everyone who spoke kept it short and sweet, beginning with the welcome from the beloved actors and activists, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. Their remarks were to the point and delivered with feeling as they spoke about Rev. Daughtry’s meaning to the community and to them personally.

They then brought on the esteemed actor Delroy Lindo who was the evening’s MC. Stating that "Rev. Daughtry’s life and work exemplify the very best in our community and our people," he introduced clips from "Linked to the Legacy," a film documentary showing an overview of this leader’s extraordinary life.

Next at the podium was the Rev. Jesse Jackson who said of Daughtry, "His church is not just on Atlantic Ave. His is wherever God's people are in trouble. He is there, a light in the darkness." Jackson then presented Rev. Daughtry with the Living Legend Award, made with a piece of plank used to re-inter the deceased at the African Burial Grounds.

Rev. Daughtry delivered a few modest words, thanking his beloved wife of 42 years, Karen, their many children, "and all the people who worked so hard to put this program together." He then retired to a box seat to enjoy the performances of Grammy-winner Yolanda Adams and Donnie McClurkin, who performed a magnificent gospel concert.

Among other things, McClurkin gave a stunning rendition of "Amazing Grace" and "Stand." He also brought Rev. Daughtry back on stage and, while the Rev. was obviously very moved, serenaded him with "Is My Living in Vain?" Yolanda Adams then took the stage to give "testimony in song" as she called it, also stirring the audience to its core with her performance. It included "The Battle Is Not Yours" and "What about the Children?’ which she sang in front of a very affecting slide presentation of the faces of children, compiled by Karen Daughtry.

The gala concluded with a benediction delivered by Rev. Daughtry himself who said that the evening had inspired him so much he’s decided to live another 70 years. The rafters rang with the cheers of the audience expressing its approval.