*
>> BECAUSE I HAVE A DREAM.
THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN
WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION
WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED
BITE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY
THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO.
I'M JONATHAN OVERBY.
WELCOME TO THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN'S 39TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE
AND CEREMONY HONORING DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR.
COMING UP, YOU'LL SEE HIGHLIGHTS
FROM TODAY'S EVENT HELD HERE IN
THE STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA.
THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR, "TRUTH
IS MARCHING," ASKING US TO
CONSIDER WAYS WE CAN SHARE OUR
OWN TRUTHS, BUT ALSO LOOK FOR
OPPORTUNITIES TO LISTEN AND TO
LEARN THE TRUTHS OF OTHERS AS
WELL.
TODAY'S GUEST SPEAKER IS RITA
COBURN, AN AWARD-WINNING WRITER,
DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER WITH
NEARLY FOUR DECADES IN THE
RADIO, TELEVISION AND FILM
INDUSTRY.
SHE CODIRECTED AND PRODUCED "AND
STILL I RISE" WHICH PREMIERED IN
2016 AND WENT ON TO WIN A
PEABODY AWARD THE FOLLOWING
YEAR.
OUR COVERAGE OF TODAY'S EVENT
INCLUDES MUSIC, THE PRESENTATION
OF TWO WISCONSIN MLK HERITAGE
AWARDS AND, IN THE SPIRIT OF
GOOD COMMUNITY, LOTS OF
CELEBRATION.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE HIGH
LIGHTS OF TODAY'S TRIBUTE
HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR.
TO VIEW COVERAGE OF THE ENTIRE
EVENT, VISIT wpt.org.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND WELCOME TO THE 39TH
ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY
HONORING THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING.
THIS IS THE OLDEST OFFICIAL
STATE CEREMONY IN OUR NATION'S
HISTORY.
SO THANK YOU, WISCONSIN!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AS GOVERNOR, I'M PLEASED TO
JOIN WITH YOU IN REMEMBERING AND
CELEBRATING THE INCREDIBLE LIFE
OF DR. KING.
AND NOW IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE
TO INTRODUCE TO YOU THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER
OF TODAY'S CEREMONY, WISCONSIN'S
OWN DR. JONATHAN OVERBY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HELLO, WISCONSIN!
HERE WE ARE TODAY.
IT IS GOOD TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME AND
GOVERNOR EVERS AND KATHY EVERS,
WHO IS HERE AS WELL TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE
DR. KING'S DAY TODAY, BUT IT'S
GOT TO HAVE A LITTLE SPARK TO
IT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
THIS IS A DAY OF CELEBRATION.
COME ON, EVERYBODY.
PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER.
LET'S HAVE A LITTLE PARTY UP IN
HERE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
NOT*
* I FEEL A LITTLE CHURCH COMING
ON *
>> ALL RIGHT.
WE ALSO HAVE OTHER DISTINGUISHED
GUESTS HERE TODAY, LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN, MANDELA
BARNES.
PLEASE RECOGNIZE HIM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND THE NEWLY-APPOINTED
WISCONSIN SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, CAROLYN
STANFORD TAYLOR IS HERE TODAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY.
THIS DAY, MONDAY, JANUARY 21 OF
2019, WE THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN
GATHER NOT ONLY TO CELEBRATE THE
BIRTHDAY OF THE REVEREND
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IN
WORDS AND MUSIC, BUT ALSO TO
CONTEMPLATE AND CELEBRATE THE
PURSUIT OF EQUALITY FOR ALL.
FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, THE ANNUAL
STATE OF WISCONSIN TRIBUTE AND
CEREMONY HONORING DR. KING HAS
DRAWN TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND
THE MIDWEST, WITH A DESIRE TO
CELEBRATE DR. KING AND TO
CELEBRATE EACH OTHER, OUR UNIQUE
DIFFERENCES AS WISCONSINITES AND
TO ALSO CELEBRATE OUR
COMMONALITIES.
LET US THIS DAY FIND SOLACE AND
STRENGTH IN THE POWER OF SONG.
SO HERE IS MUSIC DIRECTOR BECCA
MAY GRANT AT THE PIANO AND THE
MLK WOMEN'S MASS CHOIR UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF TAMERA STANLEY.
PLEASE GIVE THEM A WARM WELCOME.
[APPLAUSE]
*
* GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* GONNA LAY DOWN MY BURDEN
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* I AIN'T GONNA
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* SING, SING, SING, SING
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* SING, SING, SING, SING
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSDE
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* SHOUT, SHOUT, SHOUT, SHOUT
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* SING, SING, SING, SING
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, PRAY
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* SING, SING, SING, SING
* DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
[CLAPPING] [INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC]
* PRAISE HIM BY THE RIVERSIDE
* STUDY WAR NO MORE
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OH, I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER
THAN THAT.
COME ON.
GIVE THE MLK WOMEN'S MASS CHOIR
A BIG HAND.
[APPLAUSE]
* I LIKE THAT
* O, COME ON Y'ALL
* ALL RIGHT
* O, YEA
* YEA
* WELL
* FEELS KIND OF GOOD
* OOH
* DON'T LET ME GET STARTED
* I'M FROM MILWAUKEE AND IT
DON'T TAKE MUCH *
* YEA
* ALL RIGHT
* WELL
* UH-HUH
>> I HEAR YOU PASTORS BACK
THERE.
GIVE THEM SOMETHING BACK THERE.
I HEARD HIM.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THAT'S THE WAY YOU GET TO
SHOUT OUT, PASTOR.
JUST LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICE.
ALL RIGHT.
YOU READY FOR SOME MORE MUSIC?
DO WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE FROM
SHY TOWN TODAY?
I WONDER IF WE'VE GOT A FEW.
WELL, WE'VE GOT THE VICTORY
TRAVELS HERE, GOSPEL QUARTET,
ARGUED BY DEACON BURTON IN
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
THEY PERFORMED AS ARTISTS ON
STAGE, RECORDING ARTISTS.
THEY'VE SHARED THEIR MUSIC WITH
FOLKS AT VARIOUS VENUES,
INCLUDING THE CHICAGO BLUES
FESTIVAL, THE CHICAGO GOSPEL
FESTIVAL, THROUGHOUT THE UNITED
STATES, CANADA AND FRANCE.
AND WE ALL LOOK GOOD OVER THERE.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING
OUT THERE WITH SUNDAY'S BEST.
BUT YOU READY?
YOU GOT SOMETHING FOR US?
WELCOME BACK.
THEY WERE HERE LAST YEAR AND
PEOPLE SAID YOU HAVE TO BRING
THEM BACK.
HERE THEY ARE, THE VICTORY
TRAVELERS GOSPEL QUARTET.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
* FORGIVE ME OH LORD - IT'S ME
AGAIN *
* TRY ME ONE MORE TIME
* FORGIVE ME, LORD
* TRY ME ONE MORE TIME
* I KNOW I BEEN WRONG
* LOOK FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE *
* LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING
* I'M SEEKING
* LORD, I'M PRAYING
* YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR A
BETTER PLACE TO LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE *
* YES, I AM
* LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* HAVE I GOT ONE WITNESS
* LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE TO
LIVE *
* YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING AND I'M
SEEKING *
* LORD, I'M PRAYING
* YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR A
BETTER PLACE TO LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING HERE
AND THERE *
* I KEEP ON SEARCHING
EVERYWHERE *
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* YEA
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE
* YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR A
BETTER PLACE TO LIVE *
* YOU KNOW I'M LOOKING FOR A
BETTER PLACE TO LIVE *
* OOH
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PATTI LOWE IS A PROFESSOR IN
THE MEDILL SCHOOL OF JURNIS JOURNALISM
AT NORTHWESTERN.
SHE IS A DOCUMENTARY PRODUCER
AND FORMER BROADCAST JOURNALIST
IN PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL
TELEVISION, CLIEWD
INCLUDING "WAY OF
THE WARRIOR" WHICH AIRED IN 2007
AND 2011 ON PNS.
PROFESSOR LOWE IS A MEMBER OF
THE BAD RIVER BAND OF LAKE
SUPERIOR OJIBWA.
THE AUTHOR OF FOUR BOOKS.
ONE IS "NATIVE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN.
" USED BY 18,000 WISCONSIN
SCHOOL CHILDREN AS A SOCIAL
STUDIES TEXTBOOK.
HER OUTREACH WORK FOCUSES ON
NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH AND
DIGITAL STORYTELLING.
FORE HEFOR HER STEADFAST SERVICE TO
OTHERS, ON BEHALF OF THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I AM PLEASED
TO ANNOUNCE THAT PATTI LOWE IS
THE RECIPIENT OF WISCONSIN'S
2019 MLK HERITAGE AWARD.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[SPEAKING OJIBWA]
>> THANK YOU.
GOVERNOR EVERS, STATE OFFICIALS,
DR. OVERBY, FRIENDS, MY FAMILY,
INCLUDING MY MOTHER, ALICE LOWE,
WHO IS JOINING ME TODAY.
MY MOTHER IS THE INSPIRATION,
THE WOMAN WHO TAUGHT ME CULTURAL
HUMILITY AND WHO HAS BLESSED HER
FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR 95 YEARS.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE PARKS FAMILY.
I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT THIS DAY
MUST BE LIKE FOR YOU.
I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND
HUMBLED BY THE LEGACY SANDRA
LEFT.
LIKE DR. KING, SANDRA'S LIFE WAS
ENDED BY GUN VIOLENCE BEFORE SHE
COULD FULFILL HER DREAMS.
DR. KING'S LEGACY WAS ONE OF
PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
I'D LIKE TO THINK THAT IF
DR. KING WERE ALIVE TODAY, HE
WOULD BE WARNING US AGAINST
ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, TOO.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HE WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT
THE ASSAULTS ON OUR EARTH, ON
OUR AIR, OUR WATER.
THESE RESOURCES ARE PRECIOUS TO
MY PEOPLE.
I'VE BEEN GIFTED WITH THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THEIR
STORIES, THE STORIES OF THESE
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS WHO
ENVISION A BETTER LIFE, THESE
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AND OUR
NON-INDIAN ALLIES, WHO TRY TO
MAKE WISE DECISIONS FOR THE
BENEFIT OF OUR CHILDREN, OUR
GRANDCHILDREN AND BEYOND TO THE
SEVENTH GENERATION.
THEY PERSIST NOT JUST FOR NATIVE
PEOPLE, BUT FOR ALL PEOPLE.
I ACCEPT THIS AWARD IN THEIR
HONOR.
THANK YOU.
[SPEAKING OJIBWA]
[APPLAUSE]
>> HER NAME IS SANDRA PARKS.
IN 2016, SANDRA HAD WRITTEN AN
ESSAY ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE IN HER
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
THEY HAD HELD AN ESSAY CONTEST
ABOUT DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR.
SANDRA, THEN A 6TH GRADER, A
STUDENT AT KEEFE AVENUE MIDDLE
SCHOOL IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN,
WON 3rd PLACE.
SHE CHOSE TO WRITE ABOUT GUN
VIOLENCE, SHE SAID, BECAUSE THE
WORLD HAD FAILED TO LIVE UP TO
THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER'S DREAM.
AND SHE TITLED HER ESSAY "OUR
TRUTH."
JUST DAYS LEADING UP TO THE 2018
THANKSGIVING DAY HOLIDAY, AROUND
8:00 P.M., TRAGEDY CAME.
SANDRA WAS AT HOME IN A BEDROOM
WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A
RANDOMLY-FIRED GUNSHOT FROM THE
STREET.
SANDRA DID NOT SURVIVE.
SHE WASSHE WAS JUST 13 AND FAR TOO
YOUNG TO KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT
DEATH LIVING IN MILWAUKEE.
HER ZIP CODE, 53206.
BUT TODAY, WE HAVE A GOOD STORY,
BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN
SANDRA PARKS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE, I AM PLEASED TO PAY
TRIBUTE TO HER MEMORY BY
ANNOUNCING THAT SANDRA PARKS IS
POSTHUMOUSLY HONORED AS THE
RECIPIENT OF THE WISCONSIN
2019 MLK HERITAGE AWARD.
HERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD --
PLEASE, GO AHEAD.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD IS
HER MOTHER, BERNICE PARKS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR
BEING HERE.
THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME
AND ACCEPT THIS AWARD FOR MY
BABY.
IT'S BEEN A LONG JOURNEY, VERY
HARD.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY
FOR ALL THE PRAYERS, THE LOVE,
THE GIFTS, THE CARDS.
MY SON.
I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING
EVERYBODY HAS DONE FOR US, THE
MAYOR, THE ALDERMEN.
YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY BEEN A
BLESSING TO MY FAMILY.
I'VE STRUGGLED SO LONG AND NOW
JUST GOT ONE MORE STEP TO MAKE
AND I'LL BE GOOD.
I PROMISE I'M GONNA BE OKAY.
I GOT FAMILY TO HELP ME THROUGH
THIS.
I GOT MILWAUKEE.
I GOT TO ACCEPT A LOT OF THINGS
AND SORT A LOT OF THINGS OUT,
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I GOT
TO MAKE HER LEGACY LAST, KEEP IT
GOING.
SHE'S GOING TO HAVE A BOOK OF
ALL HER POEMS THAT SHE WROTE AT
KEEFE AVENUE, AND I'M GOING TO
GET IT PUBLISHED AND YOU ALL ARE
WELCOME TO BUY IT, GET IT AS A
GIFT, HOWEVER YOU WANT IT.
BUT JUST PLEASE, PLEASE, I'M
BEGGING YOU, DON'T FORGET MY
BABY.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF KIDS
THAT PASSED AWAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> A LOT OF KIDS THAT PASSED
AWAY LAST YEAR.
AND I KNOW WHAT THEIR PARENTS
ARE GOING THROUGH.
I NEVER THOUGHT A PARENT WOULD
KNOW WHAT THEY GOING THROUGH
WHEN THEY LOSING A KID.
EVERY DAY I STILL LOOK AT HER
PICTURE AND SAY HOW COULD THIS
HAVE HAPPENED?
AND I STILL WANT ANSWERS,
MILWAUKEE.
I STILL WANT ANSWERS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
SANDRA'S A BLESSING.
SHE WAS A BLESSING TO ME WHEN I
FIRST GOT HER, WHEN GOD GAVE HER
TO ME.
SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A
BLESSING UPON ALL OF US.
AIN'T YOU ALL THOUGHT, YOU ALL
WRITE IN.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE BOUGHT
SOME POEMS.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
I HAVEN'T READ ANYTHING THAT
ANYBODY SENT ME YET, BUT I
PROMISE YOU ONCE I GET TIME TO
JUST SIT DOWN AND GET INTO MY
NEW PLACE, WHICH I'M NOT IN YET,
I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO READ
THOSE POEMS AND EVERYTHING
EVERYBODY GAVE ME.
SO THANKS, EVERYBODY.
APPRECIATE IT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER,
RITA COBURN, A PEABODY AND EMMY
AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR, WRITER
AND PRODUCER, WITH NEARLY FOUR
DECADES IN RADIO, TELEVISION AND
FILM.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
THIS WHOLE AFFAIR, THIS WHOLE
CELEBRATION.
TO THE WOMEN WHO HAVE JUST
LIFTED THEIR VOICES, ALL THE
PERFORMERS, GOVERNOR TONY EVERS,
MAYOR MATSON, PAUL SOGLIN,
JONATHAN AND AMY OVERBY,
LISTENERS, VIEWERS AND ALL OF
YOU, YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE
BIRTH, THE LIFE AND THE DEATH OF
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEANS
THAT WE ARE ALL FROM THE SAME
TRIBE.
WE ARE THE EVIDENCE THAT TRUTH
IS MARCHING.
IT IS A WEST AFRICAN CONCEPT
THAT WE LIVE LIFE ON THREE
LEVELS.
BUT LIVING LIKE YOU AND I,
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIMES WE ARE
IN.
THE LIVING DEAD, LIKE JESUS,
GHANDI, LINCOLN, RELATIVES THAT
HAVE BECOME ANCESTORS OR ANYONE
DECEASED BUT WHOM WE SPEAK
ABOUT.
AND LASTLY, THE DEAD AND GONE,
THE PEOPLE FOR WHOM NO ONE ON
THE EARTH UTTERS THEIR NAME.
YOU ARE HERE TODAY TO KEEP THE
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IDEALS
ALIVE.
AS WE FOCUS ON WOMEN THIS YEAR,
WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WOMEN
HAVE TAKEN MOMENTS IN THIS
SOCIETY AND CHANGED THEM AND
TRANSFORMED THEM INTO A MOVEMENT
FOR CHANGE IN THE WORLD.
AS WE TOUCH OUR HUMANITY, WE CAN
SEE OUR LIFE IN THE LIVES OF
ORDINARY WOMEN.
WE CAN SEE OUR POWER.
FOR OUR YOUTH AND OUT OF RESPECT
TO HIS STORY AND HER STORY,
ALLOW ME TO GO BACK SO WE CAN
PRESS FORWARD.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WOULD
CALL THE MURDER OF 14-YEAR-OLD
EMMETT TILL IN 1955 WHO WAS
ACCUSED OF WHISTLING AT A WHITE
WOMAN ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL AND
INHUMANE CRIMES OF THE CENTURY.
KING WOULD USE THE TILL MURDER
AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE EVILS OF
RACIAL INJUSTICE.
BUT IT WAS MAMIE TILL, A
GRIEVING MOTHER, WHO WOULD OPEN
THE CASKET, CALLING WORLDWIDE
ATTENTION TO HER SON'S BLOATED,
BEATEN FACE, AN APPALLING VISION
OF RACIAL INJUSTICE.
A MOTHER'S GRIEF PRIMED A
MOVEMENT.
I AM FROM CHICAGO AND KNOW THAT
IN 2019 AFRICAN-AMERICAN MOTHERS
ALL OVER THIS COUNTRY ARE STILL
GRIEVING THE WRONGFUL DEATH OF
THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS.
AS WE BUILD OUR TRIBE, AWAKENED
WOMEN AND MEN MUST LIFT THEIR
VOICES ACROSS AISLES AND RACIAL
LINES FOR THESE INJUSTICES TO
STOP.
ONLY OUR SINCERE ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF HUMANITY CAN CREATE AN
EFFECTIVE CALL TO ACTION.
LIKE MAMIE TILL'S WALES TILL'S WAILS FO
SON, WE AS THE WOMEN, THE
MOTHERS, THE SISTERS OF THIS
TIME MUST EXCAVATE OUR VOICES,
SOUND A POWERFUL BATTLE CRY AND
MARCH FOR TRUTH.
THREE MONTHS AFTER MAMIE TILL
CREATED AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE
BY CALLING ATTENTION TO HER
SON'S MURDER, MARTIN LUTHER KING
WOULD LIE AS A LEADER IN THE
MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT.
JUST AS ROSA PARKS WAS NOT THE
FIRST WOMAN TO SIT ON A BUS AND
REFUSE TO GIVE UP HER SEAT,
REFUSALS BY COURAGEOUS MEN AND
WOMEN WERE OFTEN FOLLOWED BY
ARRESTS.
BUT JUST PRIOR TO ROSA PARKS'
ARREST, A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS
HANDCUFFED AND ARRESTED BECAUSE
SHE REFUSED TO GIVE UP HER SEAT.
SHE WAS 15 AND PREGNANT AND IT
WAS NOT THE JUDGMENT OF AN
UNMARRIED PREGNANCY, BUT THE
COMPASSION OF THE NEGRO
COMMUNITY THAT LULLED THE IN ON
HUMANITY OF ARGUE A YOUNG
PREGNANT WOMAN.
WE CARED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN.
THAT ACT STIRRED THE CHAOS OF
MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN
STUMBLING AROUND IN THE DEEP,
DARK WELL OF RACISM.
THEY HAD STARTED TO LOOK FOR THE
LIGHT AND ROSA PARKS FOUND THE
SWITCH.
WHEN SHE SAT DOWN, A NATIONAL
AND INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT BEGAN
BECAUSE MEDIA COVERAGE WAS
WORLDWIDE.
DONATIONS TO FIGHT THIS IN
INJUSTICE CAME FROM ALL OVER THE
WORLD.
OUR CHOICE TO STAND OR SIT WILL
CHANGE THE TIMES WE LIVE IN.
AS WOMEN, I WANT TO ENCOURAGE
YOU TO BY ALL MEANS GROW TIRED
OF WHAT IS WRONG IN OUR SOCIETY.
YOUR TIREDNESS CREATES SOME OF
THE BEST BOOTS AND HEELS ON THE
GROUND.
IT IS NOT FATIGUE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IT IS AN INDICATION THAT YOU
HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THE
WORLD.
MANY OF THE LESS EDUCATED PEOPLE
IN THE SOUTH DIDN'T KNOW WHO
GHANDI WAS.
A WELL-RESPECTED, WELL TO DO
WHITE WOMAN, A LIBRARIAN WHO
BEGAN TO INTEGRATE BIBLE STUDIES
IN THE NEGRO COMMUNITY AND WOULD
START TO PULL EMERGENCY STOPS
WHEN BUS DRIVERS WOULD IGNORE
COLORED PASSENGERS, JULIETTE
MORGAN LIKENED KING'S MOVEMENT
TO GHANDI AND SHE WROTE THE
NEWSPAPERS TO SAY SO.
AS A RESULT OF HER PEN, THE
ENTIRE SOUTH AND MANY PEOPLE
WORLDWIDE BEGAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE
GHANDI'S PHILOSOPHY ON
NONVIOLENT SOCIAL CHANGE.
MORGAN WROTE "IT IS HARD TO
IMAGINE A SOUL SO DEAD, A HEART
SO HARD, A VISION SO BLINDED AND
PROVINCIAL AS NOT TO BE MOVED
WITH ADMIRATION AT THE QUIET
DIGNITY, DISCIPLINE AND
DEDICATION WITH WITH WHICH THE
NEGROES HAVE CONDUCTED THEIR
BOYCOTT."
UNFORTUNATELY, SHE BECOME A
VICTIM OF CROSS BURNING, WAS
HARASSED BY THE RACIST COMMUNITY
UNTIL HER UNTIMELY DEATH.
FREEDOM CONTINUES TO BE A COSTLY
FIGHT.
AS WE PAUSE TO REMEMBER MAMIE
TILL, CLOVEN, ROSA PARKS AND
JULIETTE MORGAN, HUMANITY IS
JUST AT THAT POSSESSED AGAINST
THE INHUMANITY OF RACISM.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO MARCH FOR
TRUTH, RECOVERING FROM OUR
CASUALTY.
WE HAVE OPEN CASKETS, USED OUR
PENS, STOOD UP AND SAT DOWN.
WE HAVE USED MOMENTS TO LAUNCH
MOVEMENTS.
IN THE SPIRIT OF COLVIN, I HEAR
YOU, YOUNG PEOPLE.
AS PART OF THIS TRIBE YOU FORM A
REGIMENT IN THIS ARMY FOR TRUTH
AND YOU ARE CAPABLE OF
DISCERNING WHAT IS WRONG AND
WHAT IS RIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE HEAR YOUR VOICES WHEN BLACK
LIVES MATTER, NOT ONLY MARCHES,
BUT BUYS HOUSES TO RENOVATE FOR
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
WE HEAR YOU WHEN YOU TAKE TO THE
PODIUM AND CHALLENGE THE
NATION'S GUN LAWS BECAUSE YOUR
BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND
CLASSMATES HAVE BEEN KILLED.
WE SEE YOU WHEN YOU VOTE.
KING SAID "HE WHO PASSIVELY
ACCEPTS EVIL IS AS MUCH INVOLVED
IN IT AS THE ONE WHO PERPETRATES
IT."
HE WHO ACCEPTS EVIL WITHOUT
PROTESTING AGAINST IT IS REALLY
COOPERATING WITH IT.
AS WOMEN, MEN AND CHILDREN, WE
MUST NOT COOPERATE WITH EVIL.
WE MUST CHALLENGE EVIL IN ORDER
TO DESTROY IT.
TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR. WAS QUESTIONED
ABOUT HIS SUPPORT OF RUSTON
BECAUSE OF HIS HOMOSEXUALITY.
BUT THAT DID NOT STOP HIM FROM
HAVING LED PROTEST MARCHES IN
THE UNITED STATES DURING THE
'40s OR WORK TO BETTER THE
CONDITION OF THE UNTOUCHABLES IN
INDIA.
EVENTUALLY, KING WROTE "WE ARE
THOROUGHLY COMMITTED TO THE
METHOD OF NONVIOLENCE IN OUR
STRUGGLE AND WE ARE CONVINCED
THAT HIS EXPERTNESS AND
COMMITMENT IN THIS AREA WILL BE
OF IN E GREAT VALUE."
AS WOMEN, WE ARE NOT ALWAYS
FULLY RESPECTED IN THE EARLY
YEARS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT.
YET AS WE MARCH NOW, WE MARCH AT
A DIFFERENT TIME, WHEN ONE OF
OUR CHALLENGES IS TO FULLY
RESPECT ONE ANOTHER.
WE WILL HAVE DIFFERENCES.
OUR GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE
TRIBE, NOT TO ALIENATE OTHERS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
I SAY THIS KNOWING THAT IT WILL
BE HARD FOR SOME OF US TO ACCEPT
OTHERS OF US.
WHILE UNDERSTANDING AND FRIEND
SHIP OCCURS ONE HEART AT A TIME,
LET'S AGREE THAT ALL OUR HUMAN
RIGHTS MUST BE FOUGHT FOR AND
RESPECTED.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WHEN THE 116TH CONGRESS
CONVENED ON JANUARY 3, 1232
WOMEN FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE
AISLE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE
THEIR SEATS.
AND WHILE THAT'S 24% OF THE
POPULATION OF WHICH WOMEN MAKE
UP 51%, WE ARE MOVING DOWN WHAT
ACTIVISTS AND OUR LATE QUEEN OF
SOUL CALLED BETTER THAN EVER
STREET.
FROM MANY STATES, THESE WOMEN
ARE THE FIRST TO TAKE THEIR
SEATS IN OUR CONGRESS.
THEY ARE BLACK, WHITE, LATINO,
SOMALIAN, NATIVE AMERICAN.
THEY WILL SERVE AND THEY WILL
IDENTIFY AS VETERAN, OPEN
BISEXUAL, GAY, MARRIED, DIVORCED
AND SINGLE.
THEY WILL BE SO YOUNG AS IN THE
CASE OF CORTEZ AT 29 THAT MAYA
ANGELOU WOULD HAVE CALLED HER
"NEW AS MORNING."
AND THEY WILL SERVE WITH
VETERANS SUCH AS MAXINE WATERS,
WHOSE 40 YEARS OF CONGRESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE IS WELL-RESPECTED.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THEY ARE CHRISTIAN, JEWISH,
CATHOLIC AND MUSLIM, CAREER
POLITICIANS, FORMER STEWARDESSES
AND WAITRESSES WITH LITTLE MONEY
IN THE BANK, ONE HAVING LOST
BOTH LEGS DURING WAR IN OUR
MILITARY, ANOTHER A SON TO
VIOLENCE ON THE STREET.
THEY ARE BREAST CANCER
SURVIVORS.
THEY WILL JOIN MEN IN CONGRESS
AND ALL THOSE WHO ARE AWAKE WILL
MARCH FOR TRUTH.
THEY WILL MAKE MISTAKES.
THEY WILL SYSTEM PEL.
THEY WILL NOT BE THE FIRST FOR
THE LAST TO DO SO.
BUT WITH UNDERSTANDING WE MUST
SHOULDER THEM UP BECAUSE WE ARE
THEIR KEEPERS AND WE MUST MARCH
ON ALL FRONTS.
WHEN AVA DUVERNAY DIRECTED
"SELMA" SHE OPENED THE FILM WITH
THE FOUR YOUNG GIRLS KILLED IN
THE BOMBING.
TAKING ON THE 13TH AMENDMENT AND
VOTER SUPPRESSION THROUGH THE
LACK OF EX-CONVICTS HAVING VOTER
RIGHTS, A FEW YEARS LATER WE ARE
WITNESSING THE RIEFT FORM RIGHT OF FORME
CONVICTS TO VOTE IN THE STATE OF
FLORIDA.
OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH
THE ME 2 MOVEMENT THAT BURKE
BEGAN.
AS BLACK, BROWN AND HEIGHT
WOMEN, WE ARE STANDING UP DPENS
SECTIONAL PREDATORS IN THE
WORKPLACE.
MY SKIN IS NOT THE BEAUTY, BUT
THE BEAUTY OF A LIGHTER HUE.
I AM THREE GENERATIONS REMOVED
FROM SLAVERY.
MY LIGHT SKIN DID NOT COME FROM
CONSENSUAL SEX IN THE WORKPLACE
OF SLAVERY.
THE VERY SHADE OF THE BROWNNESS
OF OUR PEOPLE IS OUR SKIN BLOOD
EVIDENCE THAT WE'RE YOUR
COUSINS, WE'RE YOUR KIN, WE'RE
YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> YOU AND I ARE THE SECOND
WAVE, THE WOMEN OF
ENCOURAGEMENT, CALLING THIS
WORLD TO ACTION, GRANDMOTHERS
WITH GAVELS AND LAW KEEPERS OF
COLOR FROM TEXAS TO NEW YORK.
AS WE INCREASE OUR ACHIEVEMENTS,
WE WILL CHANGE THE LAWS AND
CHANGE OUR EVERYDAY
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THIS IS HOW WE ARE CHANGING THE
WORLD.
AS SOJOURNER TRUTH SAID, TRUTH
IS POWERFUL AND IT PREVAILS.
AS ORDINARY WOMEN, EACH ONE OF
US MUST TAKE MOMENTS IN HISTORY
AND TURN THEM INTO MOVEMENTS
GREAT AND SMALL.
PREVAIL.
AS MAYA ANGELOU SAID, YOU ALONE
ARE ENOUGH.
THAT MEANS TOGETHER WE ARE MORE
THAN ENOUGH.
AS OPRAH IN FRI SAYS, YOU DON'T
GET WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU GET WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
PLEAF CAUSESPLEAF CAUSEBELIEF CAUSES US
IN THE LATE '60s I WATCHED MY
PARENTS STAND STRAIGHTER WHEN
THEY TALKED ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR.
THEY SAID HE WAS A MINISTER FOR
BETTER HOUSING AND INTEGRATED
SCHOOLS.
LATER, AS MY MOTHER SNAPPED
BEANS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE WITH
THE WOMEN IN THE COMMUNITY, I
HEARD THEM LAMENT THE FACT THAT
OUR DICK AND JANE READERS FROM
1ST GRADE FOLLOWED US TO 2nd
GRADE AND NOW WE HAD THEM AGAIN
IN 3rd GRADE.
THEY HAD BEEN FIGHTING FOR
DESEGREGATION FOR TEN YEARS,
TIRED OF OUR SEPARATE BUT
UNEQUAL EDUCATION NOT IN THE
SOUTH, BUT IN THE SOUTH SUBURBS
OF CHICAGO.
OUR BLUE COLOR TOWN BELIEVED
THEY COULD CHANGE OUR
CIRCUMSTANCES.
THEY WORKED TOGETHER, FINALLY
INTEGRATING THE SCHOOLS AFTER
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.'S DEATH
IN 1968.
OUTFITTED IN OUR BEST SCHOOL
CLOTHES RUBBED WITH SCRE LOTION AND
OUR HAIR SLICKED WITH PEACH
POMADE, WE DREAMED ABOUT WHAT
WHITE PEOPLE WOULD LOOK LIKE
UP-CLOSE.
THEN WE FOLDED OUR JUMP ROPES TO
PRESENT THEM AS A GESTURE OF
FRIENDSHIP DURING RECESS.
OUR PARENTS WAVED US ONTO THE
BUS AND WITH EVENT TO THEIR
JOBS.
BUT OUR PU PU OUR BUS ARRIVED AND WE WER
CALLED NAMES.
THEY LINED THE SIDEWALK TO THE
DOOR AND WE TREMBLED OUR WAY
INTO A PLACE WHERE WE WERE
SUPPOSED TO LEARN.
I TOLD THAT STORY RECENTLY AND
HAD A WOMAN WHO CONSIDERED
HERSELF TO BE LIBERAL ASK DIDN'T
YOUR PARENTS PREPARE YOU?
THAT IS THE MODERN DAY
DEFINITION OF WHITE PRIVILEGE
AND WHAT JAMES BALDWIN CALLED
THESE YET TO BE UNITED STATES.
IT MEANS A CAR, A COFFEE SHOP, A
DORM OR A HOTEL COULD BE OUR
UNDOING.
THIS ERRANT REALITY IN THE MINDS
OF SOME PEOPLE, THE VERY IDEA
THAT VICTIMS OF RACISM ARE
SOMEHOW RESPONSIBLE FOR IT AND
PERPETRATORS ARE JUST SIMPLY
LIVING LIFE OUGHT TO MAKE YOU
WANT TO PUT YOUR BOOTS ON.
OF I HAVE A FLI HAVE A FLYER YOU CAN
DISSEMINATE.
THE STORM IS RISING AGAINST THE
PRIVILEGED MINORITY OF THE EARTH
FROM WHICH THERE IS NO SHELTER
IN ISOLATION OR ARMAMENT AND IT
WILL NOT ABATE UNTIL A JUST
DISTRIBUTION OF THE FRUITS OF
THE EARTH ENABLES MEN AND WOMEN
EVERYWHERE TO LIVE IN DIGNITY
AND HUMAN DECENCY.
IN RACISM THE FIRST ATTACK IN
ALWAYS AGAINST DIGNITY AND
DECENCY.
IT'S NOT UP TO BLACKS ALONE TO
FIGHT FOR OUR FREEDOM, BUT FOR
WHITES TO RECOGNIZE AND DENOUNCE
PRIVILEGE IN ORDER TO CREATE
CHANGE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> UNTIL BLACK AND BROWN
CHILDREN STOP MARKING THE LOSS
OF THEIR INNOCENCE WITH THE DAY
THAT THEY REALIZED THAT THEY ARE
BEING MARGINALIZED IN THIS
SOCIETY, AND UNTIL WHITE
CHILDREN STOP INGESTING THE
MISPERCEPTION THAT THIS SOCIETY
RENDERS THEM PRIVILEGED AND
BETTER THAN, AND UNTIL WE CARE
FOR BROWN CHILDREN AT THE BORDER
OF MEXICO AS IF THEY WERE IN OUR
OWN ARMS, WE MUST CONTINUE TO
MARCH OUT OF DARKNESS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AS WE ACKNOWLEDGE MARTIN
LUTHER KING'S COMMITMENT TO HIS
FAITH, AND I AS A WOMAN OF THAT
SAME FAITH, KNOW THAT WE START
SIMPLY WITH THE FIRST WORDS OF
THE BIBLE.
IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED.
THOSE WORDS MEANING THAT ALL OF
US BORN IN THE IMAGE OF GOD ARE
FIRST AND FOREMOST CREATORS.
WE ARE AS THE MOTHERS OF THE
CHURCH SAID, ABLE TO MAKE A WAY
OUT OF NO WAY.
WE CAN LOOK INTO NOTHING CHAOS
AND ALL MANNER OF DARKNESS,
CONFUSION AND THE UNDEFINED
BEFORE US AND KNOW EVEN IN OUR
CHILDHOOD THAT WE CONSTITUTE
CHANGE.
SO THE YOUNG BOY THAT WOULD
LATER WALK BY TREES WHERE THE
BODIES OF NEGROES HAD HUNG, WHO
HAD WITNESSED POLICE BRUTALITY
WITH HIS OWN EYES AS WELL AS
SEEING THE KU KLUX KLAN RIDE AT
NIGHT, HE KNEW HE WAS SEEING
CHAOS.
AT ONE POINT HE WROTE, I HAD
COME PERILOUSLY CLOSE TO
RESENTING ALL WHITE PEOPLE.
I WANT TO ISSUE YOUR UNIFORM OF
THE MARCH WITH THESE
INSTRUCTIONS.
YOU CAN MARCH WITH PASSION, BUT
YOU CANNOT MARCH EFFECTIVELY
WITH RESENTMENT.
HAD MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
RESENTED WHITES, WE WOULD NOT BE
HERE.
HAD HE BEING ECONOMICALLY SECURE
AND WELL-EDUCATED HAD NOT HAD A
HEART FOR THE POVERTY HEALTH
CPOVERTY STRICKEN,WE MIGHT NOT BE HERE.
WHEN CAIN KILLED ABEL HE WAS
ASKED BY GOD WHERE IS YOUR
BROTHER ABEL?
KING MADE A DECISION TO LOVE
BECAUSE HE KNEW HATE CAUSES YOUR
SOUL TO BE QUESTIONED BY GOD AND
THE LIE YOU TELL YOURSELF AND
OTHERS BY SAYING I DON'T KNOW
CALLS YOU TO HAVE THE ARROGANCE
TO QUESTION GOD.
ABEL'S FUTILE AM I MY BROTHER'S
KEEPER IS A RESPONSE AND WE KNOW
THE ANSWER.
WE ARE ALL OUR BROTHERS AND
SISTERS' KEEPERS.
THE FINAL QUESTION THAT GOD
ASKED ABEL IS THE QUESTION ALL
OF US MUST ASK OURSELVES: WHAT
HAVE YOU DONE?
SO I ASK YOU, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
TO BRING ABOUT JUSTICE?
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ERADICATE
RACISM?
DO YOU AS A PERSON, A
GOVERNMENT, A CORPORATION
INCLUDE AND VALUE BLACK AND
BROWN PEOPLE IN YOUR THOUGHT AND
MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING PROCESS?
HAVE YOU HIRED US IN YOUR FIRMS,
YOUR STORES, MADE SPACE IN THE
SCHOOL AND ADMINISTRATION?
HAVE YOU ASKED THE QUESTION IN
YOUR COMMUNITY OR EDUCATIONAL
SYSTEM WHEN YOU WALK INTO IS
SEGREGATED SITUATIONS WHY DOES
THIS COMPANY, THIS SCHOOL, THIS
GUILD, THIS UNION, THIS
FOUNDATION NOT LOOK LIKE THE
WORLD?
ASK QUESTIONS.
MAKE CHANGES.
HAVE YOU PERSONALLY GONE PAST
THE OPTICS OF DIVERSITY TO
INCLUSION?
JUST AS WE ARE EACH OTHER'S
KEEPERS, EACH OF US CAN AND MUST
DO SOMETHING, SINCE SILENCE HAS
A VOICE.
WHEN CAIN FAILED TO ANSWER THE
QUESTION WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, GOD
SAID LISTEN.
YOUR BROTHER'S BLOOD CRIES OUT
FROM THE GROUND.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT AS
TRUTH IS MARCHING, I HEAR BLOOD.
400 YEARS AGO IN 1619, WHEN THE
SOULS OF MY ANCESTORS' BLOODY
FEET STILL IN SHACKLES TOUCHED
AMERICAN SOIL, THEY UNDERSTOOD
IT WAS A SHAMEFUL ENTRY.
THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS NO
BEAUTY IN SHACKLES, NOTHING
PRECIOUS ABOUT THE KIND OF CHAIN
THAT HANGS AROUND THE NECK OF A
MAN, A WOMAN OR A CHILD.
IT IS THE SHACKLE THAT STILL
COMES WHEN ONE BROTHER BELIEVES
HE IS BETTER THAN ANOTHER, WHEN
A SISTER OR BROTHER KILLS THE
DREAMS OF THIS COUNTRY AND PUTS
LASHES ACROSS THE SOULS OF HIS
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
THOSE ANCESTORS, THEIRS WERE THE
FIRST STEPS IN TRUTH MARCHING
AND OUR TASK IS TO MAKE SURE
TRUTH ARRIVES.
IN 1955, AFTER BEING EDUCATED AT
MOREHOUSE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND HIS
WIFE MADE A DECISION TO RETURN
TO THE HATE-FILLED SOUTH INSTEAD
OF SAYING NORTHEAST WITH HOPES
FOR A BETTER LIFE.
WHEN MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. WAS
CALLED TO ALABAMA TO THE DEXTER
AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH, I BELIEVE
HE HEARD BLOOD.
I SEE YOU.
I SEE YOUR TIREDNESS AS WELL AS
SOME OF YOU THAT HAVE THE JOY OF
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LOVE.
I SEE YOU SINGLE, DIVORCED,
MARRIED.
I SEE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
ABUSED.
SOME OF US ENTERING THE THICK OF
OR FRESH OUT OF A STORM.
BUT KNOW THAT ALL YOUR GOOD AND
ALL YOUR BAD ONLY QUALIFY YOU TO
MARCH.
AS YOU MARCH, YOU WILL FIND OUT
MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND WE WILL
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT EACH OTHER
AS HUMAN BEINGS.
AS I STAND HERE, I THANK MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR., WHO COULD HAVE
BEEN 90 YEARS OLD AND ENJOYING
HIS GRANDCHILDREN, BUT INSTEAD
HE SACRIFICED HIS LIFE.
I THANK MY DECEASED FATHER,
CHARLIE COBURN, AND MY
96-YEAR-OLD MOTHER, WILLIE
COBURN, FOR RAISING ME AND ALL
THEY WENT THROUGH TO RAISE A
BLACK CHILD IN WHAT WAS THOUGHT
TO BE A WHITE AMERICA.
I AM REMINDED THAT MY MOTHER'S
FATHER WAS BORN INTO SLAVERY AND
HE WAS TAUGHT TO READ BY TWO
WHITE WOMEN THAT DECIDED TO
BREAK RANK WITH THE NORM OF
THEIR DAY.
WHEN HE BECAME FREE AT EIGHT
YEARS OLD, HE CONTINUED TO READ
AND TO STUDY.
HE WAS KNOWN AS AN ORATOR AND
EVENTUALLY HE WOULD SPEAK IN THE
BLACK CHURCH ON THE FIRST AND
THIRD SUNDAY AND TEACH SUNDAY
SCHOOL AT THE WHITE CHURCH TO
CHILDREN ON THE SECOND AND
FOURTH SUNDAY.
I THANK THOSE TWO WOMEN I WILL
NEVER KNOW.
IT IS IN THEIR SPIRIT THAT I
STAND HERE.
AS MAYA ANGELOU WOULD SAY, I
COME AS UNAND I STAND AS 10,000.
MAY THE ANCESTORS BE PLEASED
WITH OUR TIME TOGETHER.
AS TRUTH MARCHES, I AM PROUD TO
BE A MEMBER OF YOUR TRIBE.
I SEE YOU.
I JOIN YOU.
I HEAR BLOOD.
EVEN LOUDER, I HEAR YOUR VOICE.
LOUDER STILL, I HEAR YOUR POWER.
LOUDEST OF ALL, I HEAR OUR
FUTURE.
AND OUR FUTURE IS THE TRUTH.
THANK YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT NOW.
RITA COBURN, THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW PRESENTING AN ADAPTED
EXCERPT FROM DR. KING'S 1963
SPEECH "I HAVE A DREAM" HERE ARE
7TH GRADE STUDENTS JADA MATSON,
CHELSIE USCANGA AND TADARIA
ROSS, 6TH GRADE STUDENTS, ALL
FROM JAMES C. WRIGHT MIDDLE
SCHOOL IN MADISON, WISCONSIN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> PLEZ WELCOME THE JAMES C.
WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS
DREAM TEAM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND EVEN SO, WE FACE THE
DIFFICULTIES OF TODAY AND
TOMORROW, I STILL HAVE A DREAM.
IT IS A DREAM DEEPLY ROOTED IN
THE AMERICAN DREAM.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THIS
NATION WILL RISE UP AND LIVE OUT
THE TRUE MEANING OF ITS CREED:
"WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE
SELF-EVIDENT: THAT ALL MEN ARE
CREATED EQUAL."
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY ON
THE RED HILLS OF GEORGIA THE
SONS OF FORMER SLAVES AND THE
SONS OF FORMER SLAVE OWNERS WILL
BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER AT
THE TABLE OF BROTHERHOOD.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY EVEN
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, A
STATE SWELTERING WITH THE HEAT
OF INJUSTICE, SWELTERING WITH
THE HEAT OF OPPRESSION, WILL BE
TRANSFORMED INTO AN OASIS OF
FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.
>> I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR
LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY
LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL
NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF
THEIR SKIN BUT BY THE CONTENT OF
THEIR CHARACTER.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY,
DOWN IN ALABAMA, WITH ITS
VICIOUS RACISTS, WITH ITS
GOVERNOR HAVING HIS LIPS
DRIPPING WITH THE WORDS OF
INTERPOSITION AND NULLIFICATION;
ONE DAY RIGHT THERE IN ALABAMA,
LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND BLACK
GIRLS WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS
WITH LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND WHITE
GIRLS AS SISTERS AND BROTHERS.
I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY
EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE EXALTED,
AND EVERY HILL AND MOUNTAIN
SHALL BE MADE LOW, THE ROUGH
PLACES WILL BE MADE PLAIN, AND
THE CROOKED PLACES WILL BE MADE
STRAIGHT, AND THE GLORY OF THE
LORD SHALL BE REVEALED, AND ALL
FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER.
THIS IS OUR HOPE, AND THIS IS
THE FAITH THAT I GO BACK TO THE
SOUTH WITH.
WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE
TO HEW OUT OF THE MOUNTAIN OF
DESPAIR A STONE OF HOPE.
WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE
TO TRANSFORM THE JANGLING
DISCORDS OF OUR NATION INTO A
BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF
BROTHERHOOD.
WITH THIS FAITH WE WILL BE ABLE
TO WORK TOGETHER, TO PRAY
TOGETHER, TO STRUGGLE TOGETHER,
TO GO TO JAIL TOGETHER, TO STAND
UP FOR FREEDOM TOGETHER, KNOWING
THAT WE WILL BE FREE ONE DAY.
AND THIS WILL BE THE DAY WHEN
ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN WILL BE
ABLE TO SING WITH A NEW MEANING,
"MY COUNTRY, 'TIS OF THEE, SWEET
LAND OF LIBERTY, OF THEE I SING.
LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED, LAND
OF THE PILGRIM'S PRIDE, FROM
EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE, LET FREEDOM
RING."
AND IF AMERICA IS TO BE A GREAT
NATION THIS MUST BECOME TRUE.
AND SO LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
PRODIGIOUS HILLTOPS OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE MIGHTY
MOUNTAINS OF NEW YORK.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
HEIGHTENING ALLEGHENIES OF
PENNSYLVANIA!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
SNOWCAPPED ROCKIES OF COLORADO!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE
CURVACEOUS SLOPES OF CALIFORNIA!
BUT NOT ONLY THAT; LET FREEDOM
RING FROM STONE MOUNTAIN OF
GEORGIA!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM LOOKOUT
MOUNTAIN OF TENNESSEE!
LET FREEDOM RING FROM EVERY HILL
AND MOLEHILL OF MISSISSIPPI.
FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE, LET
FREEDOM RING.
>> AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WHEN
WE ALLOW FREEDOM TO RING FROM
EVERY VILLAGE AND HAMLET, FROM
EVERY STATE AND EVERY CITY, WE
WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK OF THAT
DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN,
BLACK MEN AND WHITE MEN, JEWS
AND GENTILES, PROTESTANTS AND
CATHOLICS, WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN
HANDS AND SING FREE AT LAST,
FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALL
MIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THE JAMES C. WRIGHT MIDDLE
SCHOOL DREAM TEAM.
YES.
DID YOU CALL ME?
I'M SORRY.
>> WE'D LIKE TO MEET THE
GOVERNOR!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
>> WELL, WE CAN SAY WE KNEW THEM
WHEN.
GIVE THEM ANOTHER HAND, JAMES C.
WRIGHT MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOLARS
DREAM TEAM.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> DEAR FRIENDS, THAT CONCLUDES
WISCONSIN'S 39TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE
CEREMONY HONORING MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR.
ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF
DPOFER TONY EVERS, I'M JONATHAN
OVERBY.
MAY YOUR WEEK BE FILLED WITH
PEACE AND HARMONY.
TAKE CARE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
*
* HOLY GHOST
* BOUT MY JESUS AND HIS LOVE
* JESUS
* I ASKED MY MOTHER, HOW CAN I
KNOW THIS MAN *
* DON'T YOU KNOW, DON'T YOU SEE,
YOU GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN *
* GOT TO BE BORN AGAIN