Honoring a National Hero: Selma hosts its inaugural Dr. Frederick D. Reese Day

Community members are invited to attend the inaugural Dr. Frederick D. Reese Day on March 15th. The organized caravan will start at Bloch Park at 12:45pm and travel to key historic sites throughout Selma.

Dr. Frederick D. Reese was a champion for Civil Rights and fought in many ways to ensure the African American community was treated fairly and just.

He was instrumental in organizing the march from Selma to Montgomery which was pivotal in the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Not only did he dedicate his life to Civil Rights, he was also a respected educator and reverend.

Dr. Reese’s grandson, Alan Reese, said it is important to know his grandfather’s legacy and the imprint he made on the nation. He said he and his brother, Marvin Reese Jr., mission is to ensure their grandfather’s legacy does not continue to go unnoticed nationwide.

“He was a very humble man,” Alan said. “I used to always tell my grandfather he needed to get his due credit ‘because your story is bigger than you.’”

Alan said the idea to have a day in celebration of his grandfather came about  when Hatwatha Mcghee reached out to him about the idea.

“She said we should have a F.D. Reese Day,” Alan said. “So she told Councilwoman Lesia James to take the lead on it.”

Alan said Councilwoman James then jumped into action planning the event and getting the support of the local City Council. He said the caravan was a safe way to go about having the celebration safely during the pandemic.

Alan said not only does he wants his grandfather to be nationally recognized for his dedication to Civil Rights, but he wants the youth to know that even with humble beginnings you can still achieve greatness.

He said his grandfather’s legacy is the perfect example of that.

“I want the young people to know that you can come from disfunction and still become something great,” Alan said. “Don’t use how you were raised or your beginnings to determine how you’re going to finish.”

Although the first celebration will be March 15th, Alan said next year and so forth Dr. Frederick D. Reese Day will be on March 21st. He said the decision to change the date was to honor the day the foot soldiers started their successful four day march from Selma to Montgomery.