The three “C”‘s and the “M” represent the Clark, Carter, Coles and McKenzie families

The Book and the Dove

The book and the dove represent the motto of the family, which is “Tough-Minded and Tender-Hearted.” “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves”.  (Matt. 10:16)  

The trademark of the family includes critical and logical thinking coupled with respect for other persons.  Patience, humility, thought-fulness, kindness, and truthfulness are ingredients of a fine character (Tender-hearted). These dove-like characteristics must be undergirded by Tough-minded ingredients, which include knowledge, insight, scholarship, service and the ability to analyze and synthesize.

The Wagon Wheel and the Sunflower

“We are all caught in Grandpa’s wheel of love, desire and need with our eye on God”

James Walker Clark’s wagon wheel represents the family circle. The circle shall not be broken.  The spokes of the wheel give strength so that the wagon may bear its many heavy loads. The elders in the family must continue to be the role models in order for the family to maintain its positive character.

At the center of the wheel is a sunflower. The sunflower has a chemical in its stem that causes it to continue turning its eye towards the sun. We as family members must continue to place God at the center of our circle and keep our eyes on him.

The X

The x reminds us that our fore parents were unlettered and during slavery teaching was forbidden.

In an effort to keep slaves from reading and sharing antislavery tracts for fear of slave insurrections, Virginia legislators passed an act on April 7, 1831, declaring “all meetings of free Negroes or mulattoes at any schoolhouse or other place for teaching them reading or writing, either in the day or night, under whatever pretext” unlawful.  If a White person took pay for the education of African Americans, they were fined fifty dollars and imprisoned for a number of days.  If freedmen were caught teaching slaves to read or write, they received twenty-nine lashes from a very familiar whip.

The history of the struggle for a sound education for African Americans is well documented. We must remind our children that education is the vanguard against ignorance, poverty, and powerlessness.

The Chain

The chain reminds us that psychological slavery is far worse than physical slavery. Carter G. Woodson stated in his book entitled, Mis-Education of the Negro: “When you control a man’s thinking, you do not have to worry about his actions… You do not need to send him to the back door.  He will go without being told.  In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary.”

The late Benjamin E. Mays, President, Morehouse College, stated, “Don’t let anyone circumscribe your mind!”

The Arrows

The arrows represent our children. As we think about our children listen to Kahlil Gibran in what he says about children in his book entitled The Prophet: “And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,

 “Speak to us of Children.” And he said: Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you, yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the Archer’s hand be for gladness; for even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable”.

The Baton

We must pass the baton to the next generation.
We are now ready to place the baton in your hand,
Which is most important for our strategic plan.
Knowledge is the first requirement in running your leg of this important race.
It will be helpful in maintaining your proper pace.
Leadership does not spring from ignorance.
Snatch that baton, Run! Run!
Run! Take   Charge! Give this struggle a new sense of purpose, a new morning fragrance.
Run! Run! Run your leg of this race.
With your eye on the Sunflower!
It is your TIME!