Alvin Sykes has put Kansas City on the national stage in a good way, so to speak. The person who hailed from very meager beginnings, and whose softspoken voice and “dogged determination” to fulfill a noble cause to seek justice
for those who could not speak for themselves, left a giant mark on the city and nation when he passed away, March 19, at age 64.
Hats off to some of his close friends including Kansas Sen. David Haley and Ajamu Webster, who coordinated Sykes’ Celebration of Life Service taking place today (Thursday) at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. Earlier in the week, Haley told a reporter that despite Sykes having a rough life and never finishing high school, he educated himself at libraries and his conversations about the law surpassed even some appellate judges.
Haley said, “He (Alvin) influenced U.S. senators, U.S. congressional members, state legislators on issues of human
rights and social rights, remaining committed to a more just and equitable society.”
The Kansas City Globe has followed Sykes’ accomplishments over the years as he brought attention to our city and the nation by taking on the task of getting police to reopen cold cases involving unsolved homicides of blacks, including a local Kansas City musician and friend, Steve Harvey; the late Leon Jordan, co-founder of Freedom, Inc.;
and Emmett Till, a case involving the brutal 1955 lynching of the 14-year-old in Mississippi who was falsely accused
of whistling at a white woman.
That case has long been the driving force behind many civil rights protests and marches throughout the nation.
Sykes’ work in getting the Till case reopened was the impetus for the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act and resulted in the creation of the FBI’s Cold Case Initiative. The Act was reauthorized in 2016.
Fast forward and in light of the escalating incidences of hate crimes occurring right now in our city and in our world, Sykes’ death, resulting from having never recovered from a fall in the train station a year ago as he was on his way
to an 80th birthday celebration for the Rev. Wheeler Parker, the cousin of Emmett Till— leaves a huge void. But, in the words of Rev. Parker who was present at Sykes’ service today, we must remember that because of his inspiration, “Alvin is still alive.” As he recalled the accomplishments of Sykes in pursuing justice for Till and other black victims of hate crimes, Rev. Parker gave an example of people who go through life wasting the time they have to make a positive contribution.
Alvin’s life was not a “wasted life,” Rev. Wheeler reminded as he comforted those in attendance and those listening
as the service streamed online. “We have more givers than takers…that’s what’s wrong with our world today,”
Wheeler said. He continued, “Alvin was a giver—unpretentious, unselfish…” Wheeler said he was inspired by Sykes’ work. He said Sykes kept the “fire in his belly” and he “never gave up.” He concluded, “Alvin is alive and alert as he’s ever been. Let’s all answer the calling and “never give up.”
Throughout the week, reflections about Sykes have been pouring in from organizations nationwide. Among those outside the city, remembering him was Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.
“Anyone who worked in civil rights during the last several decades knew Alvin Sykes. He changed the face of American law, and he learned it all in a Kansas City library,” Levin said.
On a personal note to our readers in Kansas City, perhaps this is a little known fact: In 1972, a young teen (around 14 or 15 years-old) Sykes, was a volunteer working in our Empire National Protest Movement that began in Kansas City, Kan. (called, “Injustice Anywhere is Injustice Everywhere”) during the very early start of The Empire National News. That newspaper would later became known as The Kansas City Globe. So, it is no wonder that Sykes responded to his “calling” very early in life. In appreciation for his life’s work in continuing the struggle, we cannot let Alvin down. Nearly 49 years ago, he stood with us as we marched, holding protest signs demanding justice. We believe Alvin would want us to continue the “call” and “never give up” working for and demanding justice—anywhere.
