Ex-black militant becomes Eagle Scout

[GernBlansten]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071125/ap_on_re_us/activist_eagle_scout

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Years before civil rights activist Cleveland Sellers got caught up in the deadly 1968 protest known as the Orangeburg Massacre, he was on the path to the elite rank of Eagle Scout until his paperwork was lost.

 

Its never too late I guess.

[CA_Scouter]

A Scout is Brave....

 

[scoutmomma]

I'd read about this a few weeks ago in a story that explained more about the process of retracing Sellers' Eagle paperwork in the Orangeburg (SC) Times and Democrat at http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2007/11/02/news/12806712.txt. This one has more emphasis on what Sellers got out of Scouting.

 

Scoutmomma

 

 

Sellers to receive Eagle Scout Award 45 years after earning it

 

Better late than never, a Denmark man will receive his Eagle Scout Award 45 years after he earned it.

 

Dr. Cleveland L. Sellers Jr., director of African American Studies at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, will receive the long overdue honor on Dec. 3 during a Court of Honor and luncheon at the Brookland Banquet and Conference Center in Columbia.

 

Now married, with a doctorate degree and three grown children, Sellers' Court of Honor will not be your typical Eagle ceremony.

 

Troop 137, chartered by Rome Baptist Church in Denmark, was then led by the late Timothy Smith as scoutmaster. Scouting consisted of trips to Camp Brownlee, the "blacks only" Boy Scout camp and a 1960 trip to the National Jamboree.

 

After Sellers completed the requirements for Eagle, Assistant Scoutmaster Frank Staley turned in his documentation, but the Eagle award was lost in transit. In the meantime, Sellers was off to college - turbulent times during which he fought locally and nationally for racial equality. Sellers as the only man jailed in the aftermath of what came to be known as the "Orangeburg Massacre" in 1968 at South Carolina State University. Following the ordeal, Sellers and his family settled in Greensboro, N.C., never forgetting his Scouting ideals. He continued educating and advocating for civil rights there until his parents' poor health brought him back to South Carolina in 1990.

 

Recently, Sellers decided it was time to catch up on the elusive Eagle paperwork. After all of these years, he says he feels the work that went into his Eagle was a strong inspiration for his success. After much digging and assistance from Sheila Dantzler, Council Scoutreach executive; Darrin Thomas, Council Board member and Dr. Frank Staley, who remains a Scout leader to this day and is a retired professor from South Carolina State University, the time has come for Sellers to receive his formal award.

 

Upon learning of the Indian Waters Council's plan for a formal recognition ceremony, Sellers asked to use this opportunity to speak of the powerful, positive influence that Scouting has had on his life and, especially, on the need for Scouting for today's troubled youth.

 

"Scouting helps channel young men, helping them develop principles, responsibility and goals," Sellers said. "Scouts are provided opportunities for community service that promote the development of a social conscience and build self-confidence. Thanks to the training and experiences, Scouting teaches self-reliance and instills the peace of mind to know that you can handle any situation."

 

Sellers will speak to the community about the impact that Scouts can make on youth in the Midlands, imploring others to help provide this alternative to youth idleness and crime.

 

Churches and other community organizations may become chartered organizations for Scouting units, offering space and coordinating adult volunteer leaders to run the programs. Those interested in helping expand the audience of Scouting can contact Larry Brown at the Indian Waters Council.

 

For more information, visit the Council Web site at www.indianwaters.org or call 803-750-9868.