[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1726-E1727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DAVID FATTAH, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DWIGHT EVANS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 21, 2018

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
influential and dedicated man from Philadelphia, David Fattah, Sr., a 
devoted servant of the community and his family. Mr. Fattah passed away 
on December 5, 2018. I'd like to include in the Record the eulogy 
delivered by Ralph E. Blanks, Interim Pastor of Vine Memorial Baptist 
Church in West Philadelphia.

       ``David Fattah, Senior has written the autobiography of his 
     life. Today, we have read selected excerpts and pages from 
     his life story. What a life extraordinaire as he and his 
     beloved soulmate, Queen Mother Falaka Fattah made a 
     difference in the lives of countless boys and girls thru the 
     House of Umoja. Umoja, a Swahili word that means to strive 
     and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race. 
     The opposite of unity is division and division is one of the 
     weapons the devil has used for ages to divide us mentally, 
     physically, and spiritually. This is why a race divided 
     against itself cannot stand. The more united we are, the 
     stronger we become. The more divided we are, the weaker we 
     become. Today, David Fattah's life reminds us to do all 
     things necessary to unite and stay united. If we don't do it, 
     it won't get done!!! There are some things that only we can 
     do for us, by us, with us and to us!!!!
       Hear the words of the Lord speaking to us for this time as 
     recorded in the book of the Prophet Isaiah chapter 58 verses 
     10,11,12:

       If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the 
     desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the 
     darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will 
     guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched 
     places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a 
     watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters do not 
     fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall 
     raise up the foundations of many generations, you shall be 
     called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the 
     streets to dwell in.

       Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. tells of a time when two 
     street gangs were about to go to war and David drove up in a 
     banged up, beat up police cruiser. Jumped out and stood in 
     the gap between the two gangs and carried out shuttle 
     diplomacy in the ``hood''.
       A husband, father, grandfather, patriarch, social engineer, 
     community activist and today we add ``restorer'' to describe 
     David.
       Restore means to bring back into existence; to use or 
     reestablish; to bring back to a state of health, soundness or 
     vigor. The communities and neighborhoods are calling out for 
     someone like David to stand in the gap and restore civility, 
     bring back respect,

[[Page E1727]]

     reestablish order and common sense which ain't very common 
     these days.
       David was a restorer of life because his life pointed 
     people to the life of Jesus. That's what it means to be a 
     restorer of life. Your life points people to the ultimate 
     restorer of life, Jesus Christ.

       Let your light shine before others, so that they may see 
     your good works and give glory to your Father who is in 
     heaven.
       If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the 
     soul of the oppressed, then shall your light rise in the 
     darkness and your night will become like the noonday.

       Notice the Lord does not say, if you give the hungry some 
     food, but rather He says if you give yourself!!! It's easy to 
     give folk some food, but to give up your house, your 
     comforts, your privacy, your money, your clothes, your 
     space.........., your living room/dining room becomes the 
     meeting room, the gathering room, the prayer room filled with 
     desks, chairs, computers and other office equipment.
       Jesus said, if you try to hang on to your life, you will 
     lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the 
     sake of the Good News, you will save it. Mark 8:35
       Folks are just as hungry today as they were 45 years ago-
     physically hungry, mentally hungry, spiritually hungry; 
     hungry for love, hungry for acceptance, hungry for family, 
     hungry for a sense of home and belonging.
       If you are generous, extravagant with the down and out, 
     your lives will began to glow in the darkness, your shadowed 
     lives will be bathed in the sunlight. Listen to what the Lord 
     says He will do in your life when you pour out, give 
     extravagantly to the last, the least, the lost, the 
     struggling.......

       ......I will always show you where to go, I'll give you a 
     full life in the emptiest of places, firm muscles, strong 
     bones. You'll be a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring 
     that never runs dry. You'll use the old rubble of past lives 
     to build to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of 
     your past, you'll be known as those who can fix anything, 
     restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community 
     livable again.
       Who will stand in the gap? Who will be known as the 
     restorers of the streets, of the community? Will you make a 
     commitment today? Then sign off on the Imani Pledge that 
     Queen Mother and David developed:

       Whereas over 44 years ago in 1974, the youth in the City of 
     Philadelphia took the bold step forward to ensure that 
     following generations would not have to experience the self-
     destruction and agony of gang warfare. We honor them for this 
     and for keeping their word.
       Whereas in as much as our ancestors, parents, teachers, 
     caregivers, elder community members and others that have shed 
     blood that we might acquire an education. We give our word to 
     refrain from fighting during school, after school and inside 
     school, and we encourage those that we know to do the same.
       Whereas we too are a generation that is proud and want to 
     succeed. On this day, I sign this document to let it be known 
     wherever it needs to be known that I care deeply about our 
     community and will do all in my power to return us to our 
     traditional greatness. Let my word be my bond. In honor of 
     David Fattah, Sr., I pledge to stand in the gap as a restorer 
     of the streets and communities.
       Some of you are asking right now: pastor, are you asking me 
     to sign up for another social justice movement. In Jesus' 
     church, there can be no separation between the cross and 
     social justice. There is no separation in Scripture between 
     the two--no pain no gain, no cross no crown!!!!

       Jesus said in Matthew 25:

       Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom 
     prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was 
     hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me 
     a drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked, 
     and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in 
     prison and you came to me.

       There is no separation between the cross and social 
     justice. If we go into the neighborhood and live out the 
     gospel--two things will happen. People and places will 
     change. We are called to be restorers of life and of the 
     streets.
       David Fattah, husband, father, community activist, restorer 
     of the streets was called from earthly labors to heavenly 
     reward the other day. The heart that gave so much to so many 
     just stopped!!! But the Creator said I've got a new heart for 
     you over in Gloryland!!!! David is done with the troubles of 
     this world, he has gone home to be with His God!!! No more 
     crying, weeping and wailing, no more sickness, heartache or 
     break. He's done with the troubles of the world.
       Listen as David speaks parting words:

       Do not stand at my grave and weep for me, I am not there. I 
     do not sleep!!! I am every boy and girl fighting for life. I 
     am every parent struggling with rebellious kids! I am every 
     teacher demanding your best. I am standing in the gap 
     connecting warring factions. Do not stand at my grave and 
     cry, I am not there, I did not die.
       If I can do my duty as a good man ought
       If I can bring back beauty to a world up wrought
       If I can spread love's message as the Master taught
       Then my living shall not be in vain
       David Fattah, Sr., husband, father, grandfather, patriarch, 
     social engineer, restorer of the streets and community has 
     done his work, has sung his song, now he has gone home where 
     he belongs!!!! To God be The Glory!!!!!!!

  The 2nd Congressional District of Pennsylvania extends gratitude to 
David Fattah, Sr. for his dedicated support and service to the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

                          ____________________