Hosea Williams: From Marches to Meals

Hosea Williams earned his nickname “the wild man” for leading protest marches that flowed through Savannah’s streets like unstoppable rivers. But as the son of sharecroppers, he also knew hunger—and he translated that urgency into communal care. What began as a weekly bread line grew into Hosea Feed the Hungry, serving thousands annually. This painting’s lush vines and potted plants speak to that mission of nourishment. Hosea believed feeding the body was as sacred as sustaining the spirit. He famously said, “You can’t fight for freedom on an empty stomach.” The cigarette’s smoke curling upward can remind viewers of his fiery oratory—always frank, never polished, but delivered with empathy and unshakeable resolve.