As we celebrate and honor the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., a Catholic paper in Rhode Island is taking a look at black Catholicism in America:

John A. Daluz has seen many changes in his life, many of which he attributes to the dedication and courageous efforts of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King.

Daluz, now in his 70s, has also overcome many obstacles but has never lost his strong faith and determination. These qualities have helped him to become a respected civic leader and businessman, and a leader in Holy Name of Jesus Parish, where he has worshipped for the past 65 years.

“I am a Catholic who is black,” Daluz began, emphasizing his religious affiliation before mentioning his race. “I was born into the Catholic Church because my parents were Catholic.”

Daluz recalled that his faith journey began at St. William Church in Warwick, where his parents and six siblings attended Mass and received the sacraments before moving to Providence in 1943.

“We were one of two families of color in St. William’s Parish,” he remembered, adding that his father, a laborer and farmer, and his mother, a homemaker, were devout Catholics who were born in Cape Verde.

The prominent community leader said that when his family began attending Holy Name Church, they received awkward stares from the mostly Irish parishioners when they looked for seats on Sunday mornings. He noted that worshippers back then paid seat money, and since many people always sat in the same pew every Sunday, his family often had to search for an empty space in the crowded church.

“As a child, it felt uncomfortable,” Daluz said. “I felt an uneasiness, but it didn’t stop us.” After graduating from high school, Daluz rose through the ranks in the banking industry, served in the Army, and became the manager of a credit union. He later used his skills and business acumen to become owner of one of the nation’s most successful Kentucky Fried Chicken franchisees, and still operates a busy restaurant on North Main Street on the city’s East Side. His business partner is Don Lopes, a lifelong friend and longtime Holy Name parishioner.

Daluz, whose wife is not Catholic, is the father of one daughter, who works as an attorney in Philadelphia. Daluz said he first experienced racial discrimination when he was stationed in the Army in the South in the late 1950s and swam at a segregated beach. He said that Dr. King proved to be a strong leader because he had “the intelligence and ability to articulate to the community and garner support of the nation as a whole.

“That’s why we celebrate the holiday,” Daluz continued, referring to Dr. Martin Luther King Day, January 21. He believes it is important that young African Americans and other minorities be informed and educated about Dr. King’s struggle for equality and his legacy that continues to have a strong impact on the nation.

“We shall never forget, like the Jewish people will never forget the Holocaust,” Daluz emphasized, stating that education is one of the key elements to help eliminate discrimination and promote acceptance of all races and cultures.

Continue at the link for more.

Photo: by Brian Lowney