HEROES OF FAITH HERO: REV. JAMES REEB

Written by Brianna My Hero project

James Reeb was born on January 1, 1927 in Wichita, Kansas. He was a Unitarian minister who was very active in the fight for civil rights in the 1960s. Rev. James Reeb is my hero.

I believe that a hero is an individual who does something to positively influence the world. A hero is passionate and honest about what he/she does and always puts the needs of others in front of his/her own. Heroes do not take the easy routes in life. They stay committed to what they know to be true, no matter what obstacles they may face.


Rev. James Reeb fits my definition of a hero in many ways. Reeb was a white man living during the African American civil rights movement. Because of the color of his skin, James Reeb could have chosen to perpetuate his white supremacy by not speaking out against the injustices of that time. Rev. Reeb did not take the easy route.

The murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson gave the civil rights movement another spark. A march from Selma to the state capitol building in Montgomery, Alabama was organized by members of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to be on February 1, 1965. This march led to the arrest of 770 people. Two more marches soon followed this one. The second one was led by Martin Luther King. James Reeb was one of the dozen white UU ministers who had come to support Martin Luther King after a horrible confrontation with the state troopers called "Bloody Sunday." After the group of 1,500 people, including Rev. Reeb and Martin Luther King, had crossed the Pettus Bridge, the crowd was stopped by a wall of state troopers. In order to avoid further confrontation, King decided to turn back. Soon after the march, on the evening of March 9th 1965, Rev. James Reeb was attacked by a group of white men in Selma, Alabama. Two days later, Rev. Reeb died of his injuries. The death of Rev. Reeb triggered a national outcry against the racism in the South. Rev. James Reeb took a stand against something that he felt very passionately about. He risked his life by marching with and supporting Martin Luther King and sadly, like many others, his life was taken. During the time of the African American civil rights movement, it was considered very controversial for a person of any race to demand and fight for equality. I find it especially admirable that Martin Luther King and Rev. James Reeb chose to be non-violent in their battle for civil rights.

I attend a Unitarian Universalist Church that is named after Rev. James Reeb. He is an important person in the history of civil rights and I admire his strength in standing up for what he believed in and knew to be true. I use the stories of Rev. James Reeb as a way to give myself strength and hope knowing that he had the courage to take the harder route in life. My congregation and I strive to emulate the strength and courage that Rev. James Reeb, and many others from this time in history, have shown.


Our mission is to enlighten and inspire people of all ages with an ever-growing internet archive of hero stories from around the world. Now more than ever, children, teachers, and parents yearn for messages of hope and courage to face the challenges that lie ahead. The MY HERO web site hosts thousands of stories of remarkable individuals written by children and adults alike. These stories serve to remind us that we all have the potential to overcome great obstacles and achieve our dreams by following in the footsteps of our heroes.

Please visit with the My Hero project

Unitarian Universalist Freedom to Marry Week

"'Inspired Faith, Effective Action', weblog of the Advocacy & Witness staff group of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations" is STANDING ON THE SIDE OF LOVE.

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations Freedom to Marry Week



"Check out the video [above] and please share it with others! The conversations we start this week can create a spiral of influence -- encouraging everyone who is touched to stand on the side of love."

Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations Freedom to Marry Week

Unitarian Universalist

To locate a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship click the title




The sanctuary of the Denton Texas Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was filled and the voices sad but proud. We sat and listened as person after person recalled the wonderful life experiences that they had with the victims of the shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
The one sentiment expressed by all was that if the perpetrator had just once came to learn who we are, just once asked with a open mind, he would know he is loved. His hate would melted like ice and love over fill his cup.


Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Our Principles

Guiding Principles and Sources

We covenant to affirm and promote:


The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

The right of Conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and society at large;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

and Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The living tradition we share and the tapestry of sources upon which we draw for our communal and personal religious life emerges from:


Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.

Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;

Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.

Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.


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Mission statement of the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

We, the members and friends of the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, join to declare the following purposes:



To affirm the principles and purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association;

To create a loving fellowship, caring for each other across generations and through joys, sorrows, and concerns;

To inspire and nurture personal growth for all ages in their search for meaning and a loving, joyful life;

To be an open community, practicing tolerance and respect for diversity;

To encourage ethical action in both individuals and the Fellowship as a whole, by supporting responsible beliefs and values, and by fostering commitment and courage, in service to our larger communities;

To grow creatively toward greater truth and beauty, while respecting the value of tradition;

To deepen our love of the earth and our understanding of interdependence.