Two men minister to victims of violence in inner-city Boston
Michael Person and William Dickerson operate a 'first response ministry' that works to console victims' families and stem crime in Dorchester.
from the June 10, 2008 edition
Page 3 of 3
Funerals are often the place where that message is delivered. Dickerson gave the eulogy at a 2006 memorial service for 20-year-old Analicia Perry, shot while kneeling to light a candle at the makeshift shrine of her brother, who had been killed at the same location.
"If you know who did this, give him up," Dickerson shouted that day from the pulpit. He told the mourners to go ahead and cry, but less for Perry than for themselves. She was in heaven, he said, while everyone else was still "here in this cold-blooded world."
Although both men are Evangelicals who freely cite the Bible, their work crosses boundaries of faith and culture. Often they sit in court with witnesses who speak little English, advocating for them amidst intimidating circumstances. They have attended memorial services inside a mosque and a Buddhist temple, and no matter who calls, no matter when, they rush to the scene – sometimes arriving before the crime scene has been secured.
Both men see the African-American church as playing a key role in stemming urban violence, through direct action and partnerships with schools and police agencies. Dickerson is particularly quick to acknowledge the value of religion of any kind in the lives of youths. "It's been shown that young people who have faith are less likely to be involved in criminality," he says.
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With his natural grace and oratory skills, Dickerson likely would have succeeded in the ministry almost anywhere. Instead, he chose to return to where he was raised. Dorchester is a proud place, one that over the decades has absorbed successive waves of immigrants and struggled to rid itself of poverty and violence.
Dickerson won't reveal exactly where he lives, out of concern for his family's privacy, but he and his wife have raised three children here. He is a thoughtful man who does not smoke, drink alcohol (or coffee), or eat red meat. That's not to say he stands apart from the world: He texts from his cellphone and dresses elegantly. When he laughs, his eyes light up.
Yet the work is taxing. Person has had serious health challenges, while Dickerson's face in repose holds a certain weariness. "He feels all of it," Person says of Dickerson. "I know him. I can see the pain."
Both men are mindful that their cellphones may ring at any moment. Recently Dickerson eulogized a young murder victim. After the service a boy approached. The service was impressive, he told Dickerson: "I want you to do my funeral." Person's eyes take on a haunted look as he recounts the story. "That's what this kid was thinking about. His funeral," he says. "That's what he saw in his future."
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