Celebration of Black History Month
Photo courtesy of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Archives.
This month in celebration of Black History month, I would like to highlight a few of Edward Earl Cleveland’s achievements. He was known by many as simply E.E. Cleveland.
E.E Cleveland was born March 11, 1921 in Huntsville, Al. He preached his first sermon at the age of 6 and at the age of 13 he was Sabbath School secretary at his local church in Chattooga, Tennessee.
E.E. Cleveland was a long time civil rights activist. He organized an N.A.A.C.P chapter for students on the campus at Oakwood College.
E.E. Cleveland participated in the first March on Washington D.C. with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and took part by securing an 18-wheel tractor trailer that was used as a supply base for blankets and clothing.
E.E. Cleveland was a member of the Washington, D.C. branch of the Organizing Committee of the Poor People’s Campaign of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference dating back to 1968. Mr. Cleveland conducted Feed The Hungary programs in over 20 cities in the United States. Mr. Cleveland was a co-founder of the Human Relations Committee of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. In 1968, he became the first black to receive an honorary doctorate from Andrews university.
Finally, Cleveland was the first African American church leader sent to Asia, Europe, South America and Australia. He ministered in 67 countries and authored 17 books.
E.E. Cleveland, an author, civil rights advocate and evangelist of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, died August 30, 2009.
Weekly Scripture
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
(Proverbs 11:25)
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