Good morning. Well with only Christmas left to get through, today marks the home stretch of my annual emotional marathon. My brother, Marcus, would have been 35 years-old today, but a ridiculous car door deemed it ok to stop his birthdays at 27. Rather than giving into frustration or bitterness, I thought I would would share my closing remarks from the 7th Annual Hope Film Series held just a couple weeks a ago.
If you have not attended before, the Hope Film Series represents the sole fundraising effort for the Marcus Ewing Memorial Fund as it supports Shiloh’s HI-DEF mentoring program for children residing in New York City. While donations are still coming in, this year gracious donors attending the Hope Film Series raised over $5,000.00.
At the end of the film, I concluded the event by talking the man whose name inspires support the work of the HI-DEF mentoring program. Of course, I am talking about my brother, Marcus Ewing. I can think of no greater conundrum than to answer the question, who is Marcus Ewing? An even better brain exercise would have to be the question, how would you describe Marcus Ewing?
Honestly, my first thought was this, Marcus Ewing is ridiculous. While we all can admit to our own fits of crazy, there are moments when being with Marcus made you feel better about your irrational fears and behaviors. Whether it be watching him walk down the shampoo isle at the grocery smelling each bottle until he found a scent he felt best described him. Or him slapping me in the face with a piece of pizza in hotel room in Washington D.C..
So again I say, Marcus Ewing is ridiculous. Of course, Marcus is much more than his episodes of ridiculousness. As their defender and encourager, Marcus Ewing has stayed a father figure to several young men and women in New York City. As her husband, Marcus Ewing still holds a special place deep in Adrienne’s heart. As their son, Marcus Ewing continues to make his parents proud by his accomplishments. As my baby brother, Marcus Ewing remains my best friend.
And though he can’t be here, Marcus Ewing and his work continue to serve as a call to action especially when it comes to the supporting the education of little girls and promoting the edification of young women as depicted in this year's film . The era of inaction to secure justice for women victimized by every kind of assault imaginable has lasted long enough. The age of indecision to procure equal pay for women being compensated less while producing more has worn out its welcome. Now is the time to act.
Now is the time for fathers with daughters to petition law makers to make certain male assailants serve more than 3-month prison terms for violating women. Now is the time for grandfathers with granddaughters to demand employers provide identical compensation for identical experience and achievement.
Both in his fashion choices and his beliefs, Marcus Ewing did not bend to social norms or to the status quo. He did not yield to society’s notion that the children born in New York City were doomed to misfortune. Marcus Ewing refused to concede to society’s idea that a child’s access to a great education depended on affordability or genealogy. Instead, Marcus committed his life to the premise that is at the foundation of the HI-DEF mentoring program. And that premise is that just because that’s the way it is doesn’t mean that’s the way is has to say.
So when we donate to the Marcus Ewing Memorial Fund, we help HI-DEF in its effort to provide an occasion for young girls to find their refuge so as to disrupt the normalcy of assault. We aid HI-DEF in its desire to offer an opportunity for young girls to discover their worth so as to interrupt the routine of degradation. We support HI-DEF in its hope to supply a chance for young girls to learn their purpose so as to disturb the rut of subjugation.
And yet Marcus also wanted the young boys and girls of HI-DEF to realize that there existed a force more powerful than education capable of upending conventional norms. Sure one could achieve much good as a lawyer exonerating those falsely accused, but only in the love of Christ did Marcus believe one could pray for those who persecute you.
Yeah one would achieve a lot as a doctor treating the sick, but only in the love of Christ did Marcus find one would be able to overcome evil with good. Yeah Marcus did much to better the lives of the kids and parents he worked with, but only in the love of Christ did Marcus trust that he would come to know life not with its beginning and endings, but a life now that will always be.
Happy Birthday Marcus.
CJE