PRESIDENT OF GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE, THE 39TH PRESIDENT OF THIS NATION LIES IN REPOSE HERE IN THE CARTER LIBRARY. AND EACH OF THE PEOPLE WHO PASSES BY HIS FLAG DRAPED COFFIN HAS A STORY TO TELL. BUT ONE MAN HAS A SONG. THERE’S SO MUCH THAT HE DID THAT OUTLIVES HIS 100 YEARS. BROWN WAS A STUDENT AT MOREHOUSE COLLEGE IN 1976 AND A VOLUNTEER WITH JIMMY CARTER’S CAMPAIGN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE. WE WILL NOW HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HEARING THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC, AND ON JANUARY 20TH, 1977, HE WAS ONE OF 200 AFRICAN AMERICAN VOICES TO MAKE HISTORY BY SINGING AT A PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION. BUT I NEVER WOULD HAVE DREAMED THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE ACTUAL INAUGURAL CEREMONY, AND MUCH LESS SING A SOLO IN BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC. THE 26 YEAR OLD FROM COWPENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WAS IN THE CONSORTIUM OF CHOIRS FROM HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, LIFTING HIS VOICE FOR THE NEW PRESIDENT. THERE WAS AN ATTITUDE THAT THERE WAS A SEA CHANGE WOULD TAKE PLACE WITH SOMEONE WHO WAS SO SENSITIVE AND CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR. JIMMY CARTER NARROWLY DEFEATED GERALD FORD, AND HE DID IT BY SECURING 85% OF THE BLACK VOTE. I THINK OF WHO I AM AS A PERSON AND WHO THIS NATION IS, AND A LOT OF THAT IS OWED TO THE TREMENDOUS WORK OF PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER, ESPECIALLY HIS CONTRIBUTIONS POST HIS TIME AS PRESIDENT. I JUST AM AMAZED AT HOW MUCH HE CONTRIBUTED TO THE WORLD IN TERMS OF CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS. FORMING DEEP ON JANUARY 4TH, 2025, DOCTOR BROWN, NOW A MOREHOUSE COLLEGE PROFESSOR, PLAYED ONCE AGAIN FOR PRESIDENT CARTER DURING THE PRIVATE MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE CARTER PRESIDENTIAL CENTER. IT WAS A IT WAS A MOMENT OF SADNESS, BUT BUT PRIDE AND JOY AS WELL. THOSE THINGS THAT HE LEFT AS LEGACIES FOR HOW WE CAN LIVE WITH EACH OTHER AND CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELL-BEING OF OTHERS, IS SOMETHING THAT WILL RESONATE LONG AFTER WE’RE ALL GONE. AND MR. CARTER’S LEGACY OF RACIAL EQUALITY WAS LARGELY SHAPED DURING HIS CHILDHOOD ON THE FAMILY FARM IN ARCHERY, GEORGIA, AND BACK IN 2001, I WAS INVITED TO INTERVIEW THE PRESIDENT THERE AT HIS BOYHOOD FARM, WHICH IS NOW PART OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. HE TALKED ABOUT HOW DAY LABORERS ON THE FARM, RACHEL AND JACK CLARK REALLY HELPED SHAPE HIS FORMATION. ABOUT BLACK AND WHITE, AND HOW THE RACES LIVED TOGETHER. AND THAT IGNITED HIS PASSION FOR RACIAL EQUALITY. THEY WERE A GUIDING LIGHT IN MY LIFE. RACHEL WAS THE ONE WHO WORKED SIDE BY SIDE WITH ME IN THE FIELD, AND SHE COULD PICK TWICE AS MUCH COTTON IN A DAY AS I COULD, BUT SHE WOULD GIVE ME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO BE A BETTER WORKER. AND I LISTENED TO RACHEL VERY CAREFULLY. SHE WAS A VERY INTELLIGENT WOMAN, AND ALSO EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL. DID SHE LIVE TO SEE YOU BECOME PRESIDENT? YES, SHE DID, BUT JACK DIED WHILE I WAS GOVERNOR. HER HUSBAND, BUT RACHEL MOVED FROM THE FARM INTO THE HOUSING PROJECT IN PLAINS. AND EVERY TIME I CAME HOME FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, I WOULD GO AND SEE RACHEL. OF COURSE. AND RACHEL WOULD. GIVE ME ADVICE. DID YOU TAKE IT?