Malichi Cunningham was born to Tisha Auberger and Mark Cunningham in March.. That makes Babs and Mike grandparents. Talk about the graying of ADAPT's troops! On the other hand, Malichi made his activist debut in Houston which must make him the youngest ADAPT member -- so far. Maybe there is hope for the world when we dinosaurs kick off.
Mike Oxford and Reggie now have a third little farm worker to help with the chores around the farm. With Mike's back like it is, they need all the help they can get! But seriously, it is a delight to announce that Michela Oxford was born to the activist Oxford family and we hope to see the whole gang at an ADAPT action in the not too distant future.
But ADAPT has lost three important activists since Houston.
Reverend Willie Smith, a long time supporter who had recently become re-activated with ADAPT, died of a heart attack May 24th in Houston. A prominent member of Disabled Americans Rally for Equality (DARE), a Chicago ADAPT affiliate, Willie had insisted on coming to Houston from Chicago and being part of the action despite health problems. Born in 1943, he grew up in Chicago's Cabrini-Green housing project. In 1975 he received the call to preach; he earned two religious degrees and was ordained a Methodist minister. Willie was an eloquent preacher. Few ADAPT members will forget his calling the nursing home lobby to account outside the Las Vegas convention center, his rallying of activists in the cold outside the mansion of the Governor of Michigan, or his improvisation on the text "Son, behold thy mother; Mother, behold thy son" when ADAPT was besieging Newt Gingrich's DC apartment. His activism was not confined to DARE and ADAPT; he was with disability groups demanding their rights in the nation's capital as early as Coretta King's 20th Anniversary March on Washington in 1983. He was also heavily involved with Operation Push and other African American freedom organizations as well as the disability rights movement. ADAPT is full of good speakers and people who defy their limitations with courage, but Willie is unique and will be missed. (Thanks to Quinn Brisben for this piece.)
Wynelle Carson has also died suddenly. Wynelle's delicate beauty belied the inner woman of great strength and depth. Co-author of ADAPT's "Free Our People" ballad, she felt our issue with a power and depth that would be hard to match. Though soft spoken, she was hard headed, and was a major player in keeping Tennessee ADAPT together, working long hours and going far beyond the proverbial extra mile. Wynelle had even coaxed her mother Imogene into not only coming to some actions, but getting arrested with her. Wynelle will always remain - - a real woman warrior of ADAPT.
This spring Glenda Mims suddenly developed cancer. Her feisty spirit hung in there and bested some tough battles until July 5th when she died. Glenda first got involved with ADAPT while she still lived and worked in Arlington, TX just outside Dallas. Finally sick of battling the less than progressive Texas attitudes, she gave up her directorship to move to Denver where she worked at Atlantis. Glenda was always ready to give a hand no matter how tough the project at hand. Her unique laugh brought a smile to many faces and her fierce love and commitment to the cause will be much missed. 20