Growing Up Inside the Dream - A Reflection from Pastor Crystal Nix

I grew up in South-Central Los Angeles during the mid–Civil Rights era, too young at the time to fully understand what was happening around me. My neighborhood was a small street that ended in a cul-de-sac, and everyone on the block pretty much knew one another and looked out for each other. The community was predominantly African American, and so was my school, with maybe one or two White or Hispanic children attending. This was my childhood and my cultural comfort — until I went to college.

I accepted an offer letter from the University of California, Irvine (UCI). One night, after a dorm meeting, everyone decided to go to the jacuzzi. I said I would go too. I had been blessed with a car for graduation, so when volunteers were asked to drive, I raised my hand. Not one person got into my car. That was my first taste of prejudice. Most of my dormmates were White, but that moment did not stop me. I drove to the jacuzzi anyway — partly out of determination and partly because I didn’t even know a jacuzzi was simply a hot tub.

That one incident shaped my life and instilled in me a commitment to always be inclusive of everyone I encounter. I remember coming home one day and overhearing my mother talking on the phone in another room, saying, “You never know who Crystal is going to come home with. She brings people from all nationalities into South-Central.” I chuckle at that now. It may not have always been wise, but it reflected who I was becoming — and I loved it.

I majored in Fine Arts at UCI, where there were limited opportunities for African Americans in the department. When auditions came around, I intentionally auditioned for family roles that raised eyebrows because the characters were written as non–African American. Still, because of my tenacity and willingness to participate, I was cast in productions such as “The Threepenny Opera” by Bertolt Brecht, “Tartuffe” by Molière, and even an original Asian Shanghai production. At the same time, I was deeply involved in the Black Student Union, working to build racial pride while tearing down walls of prejudice and misconception.

After college, I often found myself as the only African American in the room. Because of that early college experience, it no longer unsettled me. I embraced those opportunities.

During the Rodney King riots, South Los Angeles was on fire. There was an intense sense of dread, panic, and fear. Black-owned businesses posted signs on their doors, identifying themselves, hoping to be spared. Some were, and some were not. I remember thinking how eerily similar this must have felt to what my ancestors experienced during the riots of the 1960s. We could not leave our homes. Even after the unrest subsided, smoke lingered in the air to remind us of the riots that had taken place for days.

Although we have come a long way, we still have a long way to go in healing the racial divide.

I remember the fight led by Stevie Wonder in 1980 to have Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday declared a national holiday. In 1986, that dream became a reality. Today, we find ourselves in a climate where some believe that legacy should be diminished or erased.

Dr. King’s holiday is not only a reminder of how far African Americans have come, but how far we have come as a nation. It holds up a mirror and asks each of us to look honestly at ourselves. Have we torn down walls of racism? Have we erased the invisible ceilings that say, “You can only get this far?” Can we replace “We Shall Overcome” with “We Have Overcome — Today?”

Dr. King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Those words still speak with urgency.

I believe that the dream can still be realized, even in our current climate. If anything, this season has taught us the necessity of embracing one another more deeply and loving one another more intentionally. “Love thy neighbor” has never been truer.

As Dr. King exemplified, we must not be afraid to speak truth to power. We must not be afraid to exercise our basic human rights, knowing that when we stand for justice for ourselves, we are standing for justice for others. This work is not just about African Americans — it is about all humanity. As Dr. King reminded us: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

Dr. King’s voice was prophetic, and prophecy demands fulfillment. The Church must lead the way as we follow the voice of God echoed through His servant.

In my prayers, I often say, “Lord, let this be one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” And as Dr. King declared, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

I am honored that God placed me in the generation He did — growing up in the Civil Rights Movement, feeling the cultural divide, experiencing racism, and becoming a soldier for change. Those experiences shaped me into the person I am today, one who believes the dream still can come true. The foundation has been laid. The bridge has been built. It is now our duty to walk across it with purpose.

Thank you to the Pacific Southwest Region for allowing me to serve as Co-Chair of this year’s MLK Jr. Celebration. It has truly been an honor. I am grateful to be part of a region that carries the legacy and understands the importance of celebrating this great man. I pray it continues for years and years to come.

Editor’s Note: Pastor Crystal Nix is the Co-Chair of the Pacific Southwest Region’s (PSWR) MLK Committee, which has been organizing PSWR’s annual MLK Jr. Celebration. This event will celebrate the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday, 1/25 at the Disciples Ministry Center in Fullerton, CA at 4PM. This year’s guest speaker is Rev. Terry “TJ” Coon, Jr., Senior Pastor at Abundant Life Christian Church in Los Angeles and a DSF/CST student (D.Min.). The event will also be livestreamed on PSWR’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@disciplespswr3474.

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Pastor Crystal Nix is the newly installed Pastor of Love and Peace Fellowship Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She enjoys teaching the Word of God, theater, film — especially uplifting, faith-based Nigerian movies — and spending time with family and friends.