Last Wednesday, when Rev. Marcus Allen of Mt. Zion Baptist Church held a virtual Bible study, he expressed to his church family how much he missed seeing them. Right then, Gloria Ladson-Billings, the deacon at the church, knew she was going to do something special.
That following Sunday, May 3, Ladson-Billings, who is a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, brought together at least 70 congregation members to participate in a surprise parade in front of Allen’s home. Allen, his wife Terra Allen, and their three children stood outside on their lawn as more than 30 cars drove by decorated with balloons, messages of love and gratitude.