Rev. Terry A. Smith III, pastor of the First Baptist Church of North Brentwood, once attended a prayer breakfast at the White House with other members of the clergy during Reagan's presidency. But during services today, Smith didn't say a word to his 2,800-member flock about the former president's death."Reagan was not a friend to the African-American community. He was a leader of the free world, but African-Americans lost under his leadership," said Smith, a veteran civil rights activist who led the effort to integrate the Prince George's County schools and businesses in the 1960s. "My sympathy goes to his family but as far as his leadership in this country, he didn't do us any favors."
Don Richardson, 40, a member of the choir of men and boys at the National Cathedral, said he will participate in the state funeral Friday. "It's not an easy one to sort out," said Richardson, reflecting on his views of Reagan's presidency and his own role in the funeral. "Regardless of the president and what I might think of him, it's a matter of the office and honoring a leader of this country," Richardson said. But he added: "there were some significant social blind spots during his presidency that are difficult to forgive."
"We were thinking about him," said Tom Dabney, 53, a lawyer who attended St. Mary's. "I think of him as a very charismatic, well-meaning person who did a lot to help the country regain its spirit. At the same time, he left the country open to serious problems we face today: the AIDS crisis, [the] plight of the mentally ill, [a] sense of entitlement amid the upper class that is so often disguised as patriotism. He did a lot for a country that was in crisis and for that he deserves to be recognized. I personally did not vote for him."
By Cameron W. Barr Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, June 6, 2004; 5:36 PM
