♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
[APPLAUSE]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
AND HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING
DAY.
LET'S GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE TO THE TREMPER HIGH
SCHOOL WIND ENSEMBLE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IT'S MY HONOR TO WELCOME ALL
OF YOU HERE AND THOSE WATCHING
OR TUNING INTO THE 37TH ANNUAL
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
CELEBRATION, AND MY DUTIES ARE
SHORT.
I GET TO TURN IT OVER TO THE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR
OF THIS ANNUAL CELEBRATION,
THE OLDEST STATE-SPONSORED
CELEBRATION OF ANY IN THE
COUNTRY.
THE TRADITION GOES BACK, THIS IS
THE 37TH YEAR.
IT'S MY HONOR TO BRING TO THE
STAGE TO SERVE AS OUR EMCEE
DR. JONATHAN OVERBY.
[APPLAUSE]
♪ SOON I WILL BE DONE ♪
♪ WITH THE TROUBLES OF THE
WORLD ♪
♪ SOON I WILL BE DONE ♪
♪ WITH THE TROUBLE OF THE
WORLD ♪
♪ SOON I WILL BE DONE ♪
♪ WITH THE TROUBLE OF THE
WORLD ♪
♪ GOIN' HOME TO LIVE WITH GOD ♪
♪ SOON I WILL BE DONE ♪
♪ WITH THE TROUBLE OF THE
WORLD ♪
♪ TROUBLE OF THE WORLD ♪
♪ THE TROUBLE OF THE WORLD ♪
♪ SOON I WILL BE DONE ♪
♪ WITH THE TROUBLE OF THE
WORLD ♪
♪ GOIN' HOME TO LIVE WITH GOD ♪
♪ NO MORE WEEPING AND
A-WAILING ♪
♪ NO MORE WEEPING AND
A-WAILING ♪
♪ NO MORE WEEPING AND
A-WAILING ♪
♪ GOIN' HOME ♪
♪ TO LIVE WITH GOD ♪
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF
WISCONSIN'S COMMEMORATION TO
DR. KING'S LIFE AND LEGACY.
IN WORDS AND MUSIC
WE CELEBRATE HIM.
WE CELEBRATE HIM THROUGH MUSIC
TODAY WITH THE BROWN SISTERS OF
CHICAGO, THE TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL
WIND ENSEMBLE FROM KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN, AND LEOTHA STANLEY
AND FRIENDS.
THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR'S
TRIBUTE TO DR. KING IS "THE
JOURNEY AHEAD."
IT IS A THEME GROUNDED IN
CELEBRATION, REFLECTION AND IN
TRIBUTE TO DR. KING, WHO WAS
TAKEN FROM US 50 YEARS AGO.
IN SOME AFRICAN TRADITIONS, WHEN
AN ELDER OF THE TRIBE DIES,
IT IS SAID, "A GREAT TREE HAS
FALLEN."
DR. KING WAS A "GREAT TREE"
WHOSE LIFE WAS ROOTED IN A CAUSE
THAT HAS YET TO BE CONQUERED --
THAT CAUSE, GROUNDED IN THE
AMERICAN DREAM, WAS DEDICATED TO
THE PURSUIT OF EQUALITY FOR ALL
AMERICANS AND THE REDUCTION OF
HUMAN HATRED.
SADLY, HIS "DREAM" REMAINS FOR
SOME IN OUR GREAT NATION,
DEFERRED, FOR A LATER TIME.
I'M REMINDED OF THE TEXTS IN
MANY SACRED WORKS THAT CALL UPON
FOLLOWERS TO TREAT PEOPLE WHO
ARE DIFFERENT, THE STRANGER IF
YOU WILL, WITH KINDNESS,
RESPECT, LOVE AND HOSPITALITY.
SUCH ADAGES APPEAR IN HINDUISM,
SIKHISM, SUFISM, IN THE HOLY
KORAN, THE HOLY BIBLE.
AND THEY ALSO APPEAR IN OFTEN
TRADITIONS OF BUDDHISM, AND THE
AFROCENTRIC SPIRITUAL TRADITIONS
OF CANDOMBLÉ, SANTERIA, VODUN,
AND MANY MORE.
SADLY, IN SOME CIRCLES, WE'VE
ALLOWED OUR LACK OF
UNDERSTANDING OF OTHERS AND
THEIR CULTURAL TRADITIONS TO
SEE THEM IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT.
IT CAUSES SOME TO FEAR WHO THEY
DO NOT KNOW, WHO THEY DO NOT
UNDERSTAND, THOSE WHO ARE
DIFFERENT.
SUCH FEAR HAS INCREASINGLY
TURNED TO HATE.
AND THAT HATE HAS FAR TOO OFTEN
RESULTS IN DESPICABLE ACTS THAT
INSULT AND CAUSE INJURY TO
HUMANITY HERE IN THE U.S. AND
EVERYWHERE ALL AROUND THE GLOBE.
SO TODAY, AS WE CELEBRATE DR.
KING'S LIFE AND LEGACY, LET US
USE, IF YOU WILL, THIS OCCASION
TO PLANT NEW TREES ALONG THE
PATHWAY OF OUR JOURNEY AHEAD.
AND AS WE DO, IN OUR COMING AND
GOING, LET US LOOK FOR WAYS TO
SERVE THE POOR, THE
MARGINALIZED, AND THE
DISENFRANCHISED.
AND NOW, IN REMEMBRANCE OF WHAT
DR. KING LIVED AND DIED FOR, I
INVITE YOU TO STAND AND GREET
EACH OTHER IN THE SPIRIT OF GOOD
COMMUNITY.
[ATTENDEES GREETING ONE ANOTHER
>> AND NOW, IF YOU WILL, I AM SO
HAPPY -- I'M JUST HAPPY TO BE
HAPPY, I GUESS.
I'M JUST --
[APPLAUSE]
>> YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AROUND,
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT TIMES IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, AND YOU LOOK OUT AND
YOU SEE THE DIVERSITY, THE
INCLUSION, THE REPRESENTATION OF
A LOT OF LEADERS WHO HAVE TAKEN
TIME TO COME HERE TODAY.
WE SET ASIDE OUR DIFFERENCES,
AND WE CELEBRATE EACH OTHER IN
AN EDIFYING WAY THAT PAYS
TRIBUTE TO OUR STATE AND TO THE
PRINCIPLES THAT DR. KING LIVED
FOR.
I AM SO HAPPY TO HAVE WITH US
TODAY FROM CHI-TOWN, CHICAGO,
ILLINOIS, THE BROWN SISTERS OF
CHICAGO, WHO HAVE PERFORMED
FOR MANY YEARS.
THEY'VE TOURED EXTENSIVELY.
AND DON'T THEY LOOK GOOD OVER
THERE, DON'T THEY?
REALLY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I HOPE YOU GET A CHANCE TO
MEET THEM LATER ON, BUT RIGHT
NOW LET'S HAVE THEM SING.
PLEASE GIVE A BIG WISCONSIN
WELCOME TO THE BROWN SISTERS OF
CHICAGO.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
WE'RE GOING TO THINK ABOUT
FREEDOM TODAY.
ANYBODY GLAD TO BE FREE?
WHATEVER IT IS, ANYBODY GLAD TO
BE FREE TODAY?
ALL RIGHT.
PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER LIKE
THIS.
[CLAPPING]
>> WHOO!
♪
>> LET'S GO.
♪
♪ I'M GONNA SING
LOUDER THAN BEFORE ♪
♪ I'M GONNA JUMP
HIGHER THAN BEFORE ♪
♪ I'M GONNA SHOUT
LOUDER THAN BEFORE ♪
♪ FREEDOM ♪
♪ I'M GONNA CLAP
LOUDER THAN BEFORE ♪
♪ I'M GONNA SING
HIGHER THAN BEFORE ♪
♪ O, O ♪
♪ I'M GONNA JUMP
HIGHER THAN BEFORE ♪
♪ I'M GONNA SHOUT
HIGHER THAN BEFORE ♪
♪ O, O ♪
♪ SAY FREEDOM ♪
♪ FREEDOM ♪
♪ I'M FREE TODAY ♪
♪ FREEDOM ♪
♪ NO MORE SHACKLES ♪
♪ NO MORE CHAINS ♪
♪ NO MORE BONDAGE, I AM FREE ♪
♪ NO MORE SHACKLES ♪
♪ NO MORE CHAINS ♪
♪ NO MORE BONDAGE, I AM FREE ♪
♪ YEAH ♪
♪ NO MORE SHACKLES ♪
♪ NO MORE CHAINS ♪
♪ NO MORE BONDAGE, I AM FREE ♪
>>
♪ NO MORE SHACKLES ♪
♪ NO MORE CHAINS ♪
♪ NO MORE BONDAGE, I AM FREE ♪
♪ YEAH ♪
♪ IT'S ALL RIGHT TO GIVE GOD THE
HIGHEST PRAISE ♪
♪ HALL HALLELUJAH ♪
HIGHEST PRAISE ♪
♪ HALLELUJAH ♪
♪ GIVE HIM PRAISE EVERY DAY ♪
♪ HALLELUJAH ♪
♪ FREEDOM ♪
♪ I AM FREE ♪
♪ PRAISE THE LORD, I'M FREE ♪
♪ NO MORE CHAINS HOLDING ME ♪
♪ MY SOUL IS RESTING ♪
♪ AND IT'S A BLESSING ♪
♪ PRAISE THE LORD, HALLELUJAH
♪ I AM FREE ♪
♪ FREEDOM ♪
♪ GLAD TO BE FREE ♪
♪ FREEDOM ♪
♪ GLAD TO BE FREE ♪
♪ FREEDOM ♪
♪ HALLELUJAH ♪
♪ GLORY TO GOD ♪
>> WHOO!
GOD BLESS YOU.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THE BROWN SISTERS OF CHICAGO.
GIVE THEM ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE, PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IF YOU WOULD, WOULD YOU
PLEASE STAND ONCE AGAIN IN
TRIBUTE AND HONOR TO THOSE WHO
FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE
IN OUR NATION.
THOSE WHO, LIKE DR. KING, PAID
THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
AFTER, PLEASE REMAIN STANDING,
AS RABBI ANDREA STEINBERGER OF
HILLEL IN MADISON, WISCONSIN,
LEADS US IN TODAY'S INVOCATION.
[ATTENDEES STANDING]
♪
[PRESENTATION OF COLORS]
♪
[JOINT SERVICE COLOR GUARD,
WISCONSIN ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL
GUARD PERFORMING
"AMAZING GRACE"]
♪
>> PRESENT ARMS.
♪
[TRUMPETER PLAYING "TAPS"]
♪
[RECESSIONAL]
>> DEAR GOD, MASTER OF THE
UNIVERSE, CREATOR OF LIFE AND
NEW JOURNEYS.
BLESS US ON THIS DAY, AS WE
REMEMBER THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR., WHO 50 YEARS
AGO DETERMINED THAT HE WOULD
STAND UP TO RACISM, DETERMINED
TO CLAIM AN EQUAL PLACE IN THIS
COUNTRY, TO CLAIM THE EQUAL
TREATMENT THAT THE FOUNDERS OF
THIS COUNTRY PROMISED US.
LET US REMEMBER A MAN WHO
REFUSED TO REMAIN INDIFFERENT,
WHO REFUSED TO WAIT AND SEE IF
SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT STAND UP
AND PROTEST.
LET US REMEMBER A MAN WHO, WHEN
HE FELT SO TIRED AND DEFEATED HE
SAT WITH HIS HEAD ON THE KITCHEN
TABLE AND HE PRAYED TO YOU, OH,
GOD, TO GIVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO
RETURN TO THE FIGHT.
DEAR GOD, FOR WE WHO ARE HERE
TODAY, WE FACE A CHALLENGING
JOURNEY AHEAD.
MAY WE GAIN STRENGTH FROM THE
MEMORY OF DR. KING'S WORK, AND
MAY WE GAIN STRENGTH FROM OUR
FAITH IN YOU.
MAY WE DISCOVER THAT OUR FUTURE
IS IN OUR UNITY OF CHRISTIAN AND
MUSLIMS AND JEWS, SIKH AND HINDU
AND NATIVE AMERICANS, PEOPLE OF
EVERY FAITH AND ETHNICITY
WILLING TO LOOK PAST OUR
DIFFERENCES AND JOIN HANDS, TO
CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
AND EQUALITY FOR EVERY PERSON.
A HASIDIC MASTER OF NEARLY 200
YEARS AGO WOULD SAY THIS:
[SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]
>> THE WHOLE WORLD
IS A VERY NARROW BRIDGE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
IS NOT TO BE AFRAID.
WE PRAY FOR THE COURAGE TO CARRY
ON IN THE FACE OF
DISAPPOINTMENT, FOR THE WISDOM
TO LEARN FROM ADVERSITY,
FOR THE STRENGTH TO BUILD
A NEW AND BETTER LIFE.
MAY THE MEMORY OF REVEREND
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
BE A BLESSING.
MAY IT GUIDE US TOWARD FAITH AND
TOWARD HOPE, TOWARD STRENGTH AND
TOWARD PEACE.
MAY GOD BLESS US AND KEEP US.
MAY THE LIGHT OF GOD'S FACE
SHINE UPON US AND BE GRACIOUS TO
US.
MAY GOD'S FACE BE LIFTED TOWARD
US AND GRANT US PEACE.
AMEN.
>> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR
CELEBRATING DR. KING'S BIRTHDAY
TODAY, AND YOU BRAVED THE ICY
ROADS TO COME.
I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.
GIVE YOURSELVES A BIG ROUND OF
APPLAUSE FOR COMING OUT TODAY
AND CELEBRATING AND THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I SEE THE BROWN SISTERS,
YOU'RE BACK OVER THERE, SO I'M
ASSUMING YOU'RE GOING TO
SING A SONG?
ALL RIGHT.
GIVE THEM ANOTHER HAND, THE
BROWN SISTERS OF CHICAGO.
[APPLAUSE]
♪
>> WE SERVE AN AWESOME GOD, AND
WE'RE JUST HERE TO SING ABOUT
THAT TODAY.
HE IS AN AWESOME GOD, AND HE IS
THE KING OF GLORY.
♪
♪ GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD ♪
♪ HE REIGNS IN MAJESTY ♪
♪ DOMINION AND POWER
BELONGS TO HIM ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ THE IMPOSSIBLE ♪
♪ GOD CAN DO THE INCREDIBLE ♪
♪ DO THE INCREDIBLE ♪
♪ GOD CAN ♪
♪ O, GOD IS AWE AWESOME GOD ♪
♪ GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD ♪
♪ HE REIGNS IN MAJESTY ♪
♪ DOMINION AND POWER BELONG TO
HIM ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ STRONG AND MIGHTY GOD ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ STRONG AND MIGHTY GOD ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS THE -- GOD IS AN AWESOME
GOD ♪
♪ HE IS ♪
♪ GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD ♪
♪ HE REIGNS IN MAJESTY ♪
♪ IN ALL OF HIS GLORIOUS
SPLENDOR AND POWER ♪
♪ ALL POWER BELONGS TO HIM ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ HE'S THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE'S THE MIGHTY ♪
♪ HE'S THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
♪ HE IS THE KING OF GLORY ♪
♪ HE IS OUR GOD ♪
>> WE PRAISE YOU.
♪ WE EXALT YOU ♪
♪ WE WORSHIP YOU TODAY ♪
>> BECAUSE HE'S THE HOLY LAMB
OF GOD.
♪ WE ADORE YOU ♪
♪ AND WE COME BEFORE YOUR
THRONE, GOD ♪
♪ WE COME BEFORE YOU ♪
♪ O, WE BLESS YOUR NAME, GOD ♪
♪ AND WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME ♪
♪ WE EXALT YOU ♪
♪ WE EXALT YOUR NAME, LORD ♪
♪ WE EXALT YOU ♪
♪ BECAUSE YOU'RE THE HOLY
LAMB OF GOD ♪
♪ YOU'RE THE HOLY LAMB OF GOD ♪
♪ WE EXALT YOU ♪
♪ AND WE COME BEFORE YOUR
THRONE ♪
♪ WE COME BEFORE YOU ♪
♪ O, BLESS YOUR NAME ♪
♪ WE BLESS YOUR NAME, GOD ♪
♪ AND WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME ♪
♪ WE GIVE YOU GLORY,
WE GIVE YOU HONOR, GOD ♪
♪ WE BLESS YOUR NAME ♪
♪ AND WE BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME ♪
♪ AND WE BLESS YOUR HOLY, HOLY ♪
♪ TO THEE, OUR LORD ♪
♪ GLORY BE TO THEE,
OUR LORD ♪
♪ OUR LORD ♪
>> HALLELUJAH.
GLORY BE TO GOD.
HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH.
GLORY BE TO GOD.
>> THE BROWN SISTERS OF CHICAGO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THEY'LL BE BACK LATER ON DURING
THE BROADCAST.
WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST LAST WEEK
I RECEIVED A POEM AUTHORED
BY ALDEN SOLOVY, WHO LIVES
IN JERUSALEM.
I REACHED OUT TO HIM AND ASKED
IF WE COULD USE THE PIECE IN THE
PROGRAM TODAY AND HE GRACIOUSLY
AGREED FOR US TO BE ABLE
TO PRINT IT.
SO I'M DELIGHTED TO BE ABLE TO
SHARE THE PIECE OF POETRY WITH
YOU TODAY.
SO IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH ALL OF
YOU, IS IT OKAY IF I READ IT?
ALL RIGHT.
I'M GOING TO READ IT.
OH, HI, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
>> I'M TESSA.
>> TESSA.
>> TESSA GINSBERG.
>> WELL, I'M GETTING READY TO
READ SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT.
>> MAYBE COULD I READ IT?
LOOKS LIKE YOU NEED
A LITTLE HELP.
[LAUGHTER]
>> I'M SORRY.
COULD YOU REPEAT THAT A LITTLE
LOUDER FOR THE SAKE OF COMEDY?
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
>> WELL, I DIDN'T WEAR THIS FOR
NOTHING.
[LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK TESSA GINSBERG WANTS
TO READ THE POEM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, FOLKS?
SHOULD WE GIVE HER A HAND?
[APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT, TESSA GINSBERG.
>> LET US PRAY, THE PREACHER
SAID, LET US PRAY IN THE NAME OF
HOPE, IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE,
IN THE NAME OF TRUTH.
LET US COMMIT TO EACH OTHER, THE
PREACHER SAID, COMMIT IN THE
NAME OF EQUALITY, IN THE NAME OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND IN THE NAME
OF OUR CHILDREN.
LET US TAKE TO THE STREETS, THE
PREACHER SAID, LET US TAKE TO
THE STREETS TO MAKE OUR SPACE,
TO CLAIM A PLACE, FOR NO ONE
RACE CAN LIVE IN GRACE, UNTIL WE
FACE, TOGETHER,
OPPRESSION AND HATE.
LET US WALK, THE PREACHER SAID,
LET US WALK FROM SELMA TO
MONTGOMERY, FROM OPPRESSION TO
THE PROMISED LAND, FROM FEAR TO
COURAGE, FROM SILENCE TO ACTION,
TO A PLACE WHERE ALL PEOPLE WILL
BE JUDGED BY THE CONTENT OF
THEIR CHARACTER, HUMANITY OF
THEIR WORDS AND THE COMPASSION
OF THEIR DEEDS.
LOVE IS THE ONLY ANSWER.
SPEAK WITH LOVE.
LET US PRAY, THE PREACHER SAID.
LET US PRAY IN THE NAME OF HOPE,
IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE, IN THE
NAME OF TRUTH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> COME ON BACK OUT HERE.
LET'S GIVE HER ANOTHER HAND.
TAKE A BOW.
TESSA GINSBERG.
[APPLAUSE]
>> TESSA JUST LET ME KNOW SHE'S
WILLING TO TAKE OVER IN CASE I
NEED SOME HELP TODAY.
TESSA IS IN THE 3rd GRADE AT
WEST MIDDLETON SCHOOL, WHERE SHE
LIKES READING, WRITING AND ART.
SHE'S A MEMBER OF THE CHILDREN'S
THEATER OF MADISON, DELIGHTS IN
MADISON, SINGING AND DANCING AND
BIGGEST ROLES HAVE BEEN THE
MUNCHKIN AND THE JITTERBUG IN
THE WIZARD OF OZ.
TESSA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
BEING HERE TODAY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, RETURNING THIS YEAR TO
THE MLK CELEBRATION IS THE
TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE FROM KENOSHA,
WISCONSIN, MADE UP OF 43 OF THE
TOP PERCUSSIONISTS.
THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY EARNED
DIVISION ONE RATINGS AT THE
WISCONSIN SCHOOL MUSIC
ASSOCIATION COMPETITION.
HERE THEY ARE ONCE AGAIN,
CONDUCTED BY DR. KATHRYN RIPLEY,
THE TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL
WIND ENSEMBLE.
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING] ♪
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
[APPLAUSE]
>> TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL
WIND ENSEMBLE.
YOU KNOW, LET'S STAND AND SING
WE SHALL OVERCOME.
I THINK THE TIME SUGGESTS THAT
THIS SONG IS PERHAPS AS
IMPORTANT AS IT EVER HAS BEEN.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
AS A COMMUNITY WE HAVE MUCH TO
DO TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER
PLACE.
AND WE SHALL OVERCOME.
WE HAVE NOT YET OVERCOME.
WE SHALL.
AGREED?
LET'S SING.
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY ♪
>> LET'S JOIN HANDS, EVERYBODY.
♪ OH, DEEP IN MY HEART,
I DO BELIEVE ♪
♪ THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOMEDAY ♪
>> LET'S SING IT AGAIN.
SING IT OUT, FOLKS.
HERE WE GO.
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY ♪
♪ OH, DEEP IN MY HEART,
I DO BELIEVE ♪
♪ THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOMEDAY ♪
>> HERE WE GO.
HERE WE GO.
[CLAPPING] ♪
♪ OH, WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME ♪
♪ WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY ♪
♪ O, DEEP IN MY HEART ♪
♪ I DO BELIEVE ♪
♪ THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY
♪
[APPLAUSE]
>> BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN, WOULD
YOU GIVE A BIG HAND TO
MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE,
MAESTRO LEOTHA STANLEY
A FANTASTIC WISCONSIN MUSICIAN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND OF COURSE
THE FRIENDS OF LEOTHA STANLEY.
GIVE THEM A HAND.
BASS PLAYER.
I CAN'T SEE WHO THEY ARE.
JADON, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
VANESSA McDONALD IS THERE.
GIVE THEM A HAND, PLEASE.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT, YOU MAY BE SEATED.
THANK YOU.
AND NOW IT'S TIME TO PRESENT THE
FIRST 2017 MLK HERITAGE AWARD.
JOURNEY HOUSE HELPS MOVE
RESIDENTS OF MILWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN OUT OF POVERTY BY
PROVIDING EDUCATION, WORK FORCE
READINESS, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS.
FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, JOURNEY
HOUSE PROGRAMS HAVE DEVELOPED
TOP TALENT THROUGH EDUCATION,
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE
SKILLS DESIGNED TO REDUCE
UNEMPLOYMENT AND CRIME, TO
STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, TO
REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS AND TO
BRING GOOD COMMUNITY ABOUT THAT
PART OF MILWAUKEE.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF
DR. MICHELE BRIA, JOURNEY HOUSE
WORKS WITH MORE THAN 7,000
PEOPLE ANNUALLY.
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IS INDEED
PLEASED TO PRESENT THE JOURNEY
HOUSE THE 2017 MLK HERITAGE
AWARD FOR SERVICE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I AM SO GRATEFUL AND HONORED
TO BE HERE TODAY AND TO RECEIVE
THIS ON BEHALF OF JOURNEY HOUSE
AND THE 7,000 CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES WE SERVE EVERY YEAR.
AT JOURNEY HOUSE, OUR MOTTO IS
"ONE DREAM, ONE TEAM."
OUR FORMULA FOR SUCCESS IN
DEVELOPING A THRIVING AND
VIBRANT COMMUNITY AND YOUNG
PEOPLE INCLUDE THREE
INGREDIENTS: EFFORT PLUS TIME
PLUS BELIEF.
EFFORT IS THAT HARD WORK, AND
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD
UNBELIEVABLE HARD WORK IN FRONT
OF HIM.
HE NEVER GAVE UP DESPITE PAIN
AND ADVERSITY.
IF IT WERE EASY, THEN EVERYONE
WOULD BE DOING IT.
SO IT TAKES HARD WORK.
IT TAKES TIME, PATIENCE.
YOU KNOW, IN AN ERA OF INSTANT
GRATIFICATION, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
THINGS SHOULD COME EASY.
BUT IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR
CHANGE.
AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY
BELIEF.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD
UNWAVERING FAITH AND BELIEF.
AND WITH THOSE THREE
INGREDIENTS, EFFORT, TIME PLUS
BELIEF YOU CAN MAKE THE
IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE AND THAT'S
WHAT WE'RE DOING IN MILWAUKEE.
JOURNEY HOUSE BELIEVES THAT
INFINITE POSSIBILITIES EXIST
WHEN WE GATHER ALL OUR PARTNERS,
AND THAT'S HOW WE DO IT IN
MILWAUKEE, PARTNERSHIP, WHO ARE
CREATIVE, INSPIRED, COMMITTED,
ENGAGED, EMPOWERED LEADERS WHO
GO BEYOND OUR OWN PERSONAL
LIMITATIONS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT
ABOUT US, AND COMMIT TO
COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS.
IN 2017, EACH OF YOU WHEN YOU
REFLECT ON YOUR JOURNEY AHEAD,
BE LIKE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
AND GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
AND FORM OR JOIN A TEAM TO TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR A GREATER
GOOD.
ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
DR. MARTIN KING MADE AN ENORMOUS
DIFFERENCE.
I KNOW YOU CAN, TOO.
BE THE DIFFERENCE.
BE 100% COMMITTED TO WHATEVER IT
IS THAT YOU COMMIT TO.
BE KIND.
BE PHENOMENAL.
BELIEVE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
IT'S AN HONOR TO REPRESENT
MILWAUKEE AND THIS STATE.
THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.
THANK YOU, DR. OVERBY.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I WANT SOME OF HER ENERGY.
I JUST GOT TO SAY IT.
I DON'T KNOW.
GIVE HER ANOTHER HAND, PLEASE.
WONDERFUL WORK THAT SHE'S DOING.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OUR NEXT AWARD GOES TO RONALD
MORRIS, ADMISSIONS ADVISOR FOR
MULTICULTURAL RECRUITMENT AND
DOES SO AT UW-GREEN BAY.
RONALD INSPIRES STUDENTS OF
COLOR TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS
THROUGH A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
HIS EFFORTS INCLUDE CAPTURING
THE ATTENTION OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
STUDENTS TO HELP THEM THINK
ABOUT THEIR FUTURE, THEIR
EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS
EARLY ON.
RON MORRIS ALSO ORGANIZES WHAT'S
KNOWN AS "OPPORTUNITIES KNOCKS"
AT UW-GREEN BAY FOR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS OF COLOR SO THEY FEEL
WELCOME ON CAMPUS AND CAN
EXPERIENCE THE FULL LIFE OF WHAT
STUDENTS REALLY CAN ACHIEVE
AND ENJOY IN
THEIR EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE.
IT IS WELL-KNOWN AROUND THE
CAMPUS THAT MR. MORRIS IS
DEDICATED TO STUDENTS OF COLOR.
THEY CAN CALL ON HIM ALL THE
TIME, NOT ONLY TO ADVISE THEM,
BUT HE GOES THE DISTANCE TO LOOK
OUT FOR THEM AS THEY NAVIGATE
THEIR COLLEGE LIFE.
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IS
PLEASED TO PRESENT TO RONALD
MORRIS THE 2017
MLK HERITAGE AWARD.
RONALD?
[APPLAUSE]
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AS A
YOUNG, YOUNG BOY GROWING UP IN
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, I, LIKE
MANY, LIKED THE -- TO PLAY.
THESE GAMES INCLUDED FOUR
SQUARE, HOP SCOTCH, RED
LIGHT/GREEN LIGHT.
MAYBE ONE OR TWO OF YOU WILL
REMEMBER.
IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA DURING
THIS ERA, WHEN YOUNG LADIES AND
YOUNG MEN GREETED OUR ELDERS AS
SIR AND MA'AM AND DURING A TIME
WHEN, GET THIS, YOUNG GIRLS AND
WOMEN HAD JUST RECENTLY WON THE
RIGHT TO WEAR PANTS IN SCHOOL.
ON THE BLOCK, I WITNESSED
SOMETHING LIFE-CHANGING.
ON THE BLOCK, AS I PLAYED WITH
OTHER CHILDREN, THE OAKLAND
POLICE DEPARTMENT CAME IN AND --
IN FORCE AND ASKED US TO BACK
UP, ONE HOUSE, TWO HOUSES, THREE
HOUSES BACK.
THEY WERE RESPONDING TO A CALL
OF A MIDDLE-AGED YOUNG BLACK MAN
WHO WAS HAVING EMOTIONAL,
PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS.
THEY POSITIONED THEMSELVES
ACROSS THE STREET IN BUSHES, ON
ROOFS, CUT THE POWER AND THE
TELEPHONE LINES OF THAT
NEIGHBORHOOD AND BEGAN
THEIR OPERATION.
WITH CURIOSITY AND WIDE-EYED
WONDER, I WATCHED IN THE COMPANY
OF OTHER CHILDREN, ADULTS AND
OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS
EVENTUALLY THIS YOUNG MAN
COMPLIED WITH THE WISHES AND HE
DID INDEED COME TO THE THRESHOLD
OF THE DOOR, HANDS HELD EMPTY
AND HIGH, STRIPPED TO THE WAIST,
AS THEY ASKED HIM TO DO DURING
THAT ERA.
AND AS THIS MAN CROSSED THE
THRESHOLD, THEY OPENED FIRE.
THAT'S THE POWER OF WHAT I SAW.
AND I LIVED ON THE GOOD SIDE OF
TOWN.
I'M REMEMBERED, I'M REMINDED OF
A GENTLEMAN, A YOUNG BOY, ALSO
BY THE NAME OF MONTALAI SHINE
WHO, AT THE AGE OF 12,
LOVED TO PLAY VIOLIN.
IN 1941 HE WITNESSED HIS
ADOPTIVE MOTHER, FATHER AND
YOUNG SISTER AS THEY WERE
ASSASSINATED, ALSO BY THE NAZIS.
HE GOT AWAY, AND HE JOINED
THE RESISTANCE.
IF I HAD MORE TIME -- AND I KNOW
THAT TIME IS OF ESSENCE HERE,
BUT IF I HAD MORE TIME, I WOULD
TELL YOU ABOUT MY FATHER, JOHN
MORRIS.
HE, TOO, JOINED THE RESISTANCE.
YOUNG PEOPLE, ADULTS, I CHOSE
ANOTHER WAY OF RESISTANCE.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT
EDUCATION IS A POWERFUL
MECHANISM, BECAUSE YOU CAN DO
THINGS THAT I CAN'T DO.
SO I ENCOURAGE YOU, YOUNG, OLD
AND OTHERS, TO PLEASE PURSUE
YOUR DREAMS, MEET THE CHALLENGES
OF EDUCATION AND CHANGE THIS
WORLD IN A WAY THAT I NEVER CAN.
HAVE A FANTASTIC EVENING, AND
THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING
RON MORRIS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> RONALD MORRIS,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ONCE AGAIN, UNDER THE BATON OF
CONDUCTOR DR. KATHRYN RIPLEY,
HERE AGAIN IS THE TREMPER HIGH
SCHOOL WIND ENSEMBLE, FOLLOWED
BY THE BROWN SISTERS WITH
ANOTHER SELECTION.
GIVE THEM A HAND.
[APPLAUSE]
♪
♪ TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING
"AMAZING GRACE"] ♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING
"AMAZING GRACE"]
♪
[APPLAUSE]
>> ANYBODY WANT TO PUT YOUR
HANDS TOGETHER TODAY?
PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER TODAY?
WE'RE GOING TO SING A SONG, THE
TYPE OF SONG THAT'S A CALL AND
RESPONSE.
SO WHAT I SAY, YOU CAN REPEAT
AFTER ME.
SO I'M LOOKING FOR ABOUT TEN
PEOPLE THAT DON'T MIND GETTING
UP ON THEIR FEET AND SINGING
ALONG WITH US. HUH?
NOW, PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER
LIKE THIS.
[CLAPPING]
♪
>> WHOO!
COME ON.
PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER.
ANYBODY WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE
FUN RIGHT NOW?
LET'S PUT THEM TOGETHER.
HERE WE GO.
♪ EVERYBODY SAY HAIL JESUS,
YOU'RE MY KING ♪
♪ YOU'RE LIFE IS THE DEEPEST
THING ♪
♪ I WILL PRAISE YOU ALL MY
DAYS ♪
♪ BECAUSE YOU'RE PERFECT IN ALL
YOUR WAYS ♪
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LORD.
♪ HAIL, JESUS, YOU'RE MY LORD ♪
♪ I WILL OBEY YOUR WORD ♪
♪ JESUS, I WANT TO SEE YOUR
KINGDOM COME ♪
♪ NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS BE
DONE ♪
♪ O, GLORY, GLORY TO THE LAMB ♪
♪ HE WILL TAKE US INTO THE
LAND ♪
♪ WE WILL CONQUER IN YOUR NAME ♪
♪ AND PROCLAIM THAT JESUS
REIGNS ♪
♪ O, HAIL, HAIL LION OF JUDAH ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ YEAH, HAIL, HAIL, LION OF
JUDAH ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HAIL, JESUS, YOU'RE MY KING ♪
♪ YOUR LIFE LEADS ME TO SING ♪
♪ I WILL PRAISE YOU
ALL MY DAYS ♪
♪ BECAUSE YOU'RE PERFECT IN ALL
YOUR WAYS ♪
♪ O, GLORY, GLORY TO THE LAMB ♪
♪ GLORY, GLORY TO THE LAMB ♪
♪ HE WILL TAKE US INTO THE LAND.
♪ HE WILL TAKE US INTO THE
LAND ♪
♪ WE WILL CONQUER IN YOUR NAME ♪
♪ AND PROCLAIMS THAT JESUS
REIGNS ♪
♪ HAIL, HAIL, LION OF JUDAH ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ OH, YEAH, HAIL, HAIL, LION OF
JUDAH ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ♪
♪ YES, YOU ARE, YES, YOU ARE,
YES, YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ♪
♪ YES, YOU ARE, YES, YOU ARE,
YES, YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ♪
♪ YES, YOU ARE, YES, YOU ARE,
YES, YOU ARE ♪
♪ HOW WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL ♪
♪ O, YES, YOU ARE, YES, YOU
ARE ♪
>> COME ON YOU ALL.
♪ GIVE PRAISE ♪
♪ GOT TO GIVE IT UP, COME ON ♪
♪ GIVE HIM THE PRAISE, GOT TO
GIVE IT UP, COME ON ♪
♪ GIVE HIM THE PRAISE, GOT TO
GIVE IT UP, COME ON ♪
♪
>> I WONDER IF YOU COULD SAY
SOMETHING WITH US.
VERY SIMPLE.
JUST SAY THIS.
SAY HAIL TO THE KING.
PUT YOUR HANDS LIKE THIS.
SAY HAIL TO THE KING.
>> HAIL TO THE KING.
>> I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.
SAY HAIL TO THE KING.
♪ HAIL TO THE KING ♪
>> I SAID HAIL TO THE KING.
♪ HAIL TO THE KING ♪
>> COME ON, LADIES, LET'S GO ♪
♪
♪ YOU'RE GONNA SHOUT
HALLELUJAH ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THE BROWN SISTERS.
COME ON, GIVE THEM SOME.
SHOW THEM. YEAH.
APPRECIATE IT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW IT IS MY HONOR TO
INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR GUEST
SPEAKER TODAY, THE PRESIDENT AND
CEO OF V & J FOODS HOLDING
COMPANY, INCORPORATED,
A MULTI BRAND, MULTI STATE
OPERATION, THE LARGEST FRANCHISE
ORGANIZATION IN THE NATION.
SHE GRADUATED
FROM LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE
IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
IN 1984 SHE EARNED A MASTER'S
FROM CARDINAL STRITCH AND
RECEIVED A HONORARY DOCTORATE
OF HUMANE LETTERS FROM CARDINAL
STRITCH UNIVERSITY IN 2008.
AND AT LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, OR
FROM I SHOULD SAY, ANOTHER
HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM THE
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY JUST LAST
YEAR.
SHE IS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE
GREEN BAY PACKERS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT GAME.
ANYWAY, ANOTHER THING
I WANT TO SAY.
SHE IS ALSO OWNER, MINORITY
OWNER, A MINORITY OWNER OF THE
MILWAUKEE BUCKS BASKETBALL TEAM
AND VICE-CHAIR -- OKAY.
GIVE HER SOME IF YOU WANT TO
APPLAUD.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND VICE-CHAIR OF THE
AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION OF
AMERICA.
THAT'S AAA FOR US WHO EVER HAVE
A NEED FOR THEM.
SHE IS ALSO A LIFE COACH,
HUMANITARIAN, PHILANTHROPIST AND
ON THE CAMPUS OF HER
MILWAUKEE-BASED CHURCH, HOLY
REDEEMER, HER AND HER FAMILY
OPENED A 160,000 SQUARE FOOT
CENTER THAT HOUSES A BOYS &
GIRLS CLUB FAMILY SERVICE
CENTER, TWO SCHOOLS K-12, LOAN
CENTER, MEDICAL FACILITY AND A
COMMUNITY NEWS FACILITY, BETTER
KNOWN AS THE MOTHER KATHRYN
DANIELS YOUTH CENTER.
WHEW, MY GOODNESS.
SHE OPENED NOT ONE, NOT TWO,
BUT THREE ORPHANAGES
IN KENYA AND GHANA.
SHE IS, AND I SAY THIS WITH ALL
SINCERITY, A TRUE ROLE MODEL,
STEEPED IN DEEP FAITH, AND SHE'S
COMMITTED TO UNYIELDING HARD
WORK.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING
DR. VALERIE DANIELS-CARTER.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, DR. OVERBY,
TO OUR WONDERFUL GOVERNOR,
AND CAN I JUST SAY
TO REDEEM TIME TO ALL THE
CONSTITUENTS OF THE DAIS AND TO
THE AUGUST BODY OF INDIVIDUALS
THAT HAVE COME TO CELEBRATE A
WONDERFUL DAY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, TO YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> OH, YOU GUYS,
THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTER.
>> MUCH BETTER.
AND I ACTUALLY HAVE TO START MY
PRESENTATION OFF TODAY WITH
SAYING GO, PACKERS, GO!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WE ONLY HAVE TWO MORE GAMES
TO GO, AND I'M SURE WE'LL
TAKE CARE OF THOSE TWO AS WELL.
I AM SO HONORED AND HUMBLED TO
BE WITH YOU ON TODAY AND
CELEBRATE THIS WONDERFUL DAY,
THE 37TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE HONORING
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., WHO
WAS A MINISTER, AN ACTIVIST, ONE
WHO LED CIVIL RIGHTS THROUGH A
MOVEMENT CALLED NONVIOLENCE.
NONVIOLENCE WAS HIS GUIDING
PRINCIPLES.
HE STARTED IN THE 1950s, WHICH
WE ALL KNOW WAS NOT THE GREATEST
TIME IN AMERICA TO GET UP AND
MAKE A DECLARATION FOR
INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM.
BUT HE DID IT BECAUSE HE
UNDERSTOOD WHO HE WAS, WHAT HE
HAD BEEN CALLED TO DO AND WHY HE
HAD TO DO IT.
HE LEFT HERE IN 1968,
PREMATURELY BECAUSE OF WHAT HE
BELIEVED IN.
YOUR TOPIC FOR TODAY'S SESSION
IS "THE JOURNEY AHEAD."
EDGAR ALBERT GUES PENNED THESE
WORDS: "I HAVE TO LIVE WITH
MYSELF, AND SO I WANT TO BE FIT
TO KNOW MYSELF.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO STAND AS
THE DAY GO BY AND ALWAYS TO LOOK
AT MYSELF STRAIGHT IN THE EYE.
I DON'T WANT TO STAND WITH THE
SETTING OF THE SUN AND HATE
MYSELF FOR THINGS YOU HAVE DONE.
I WANT TO KEEP MYSELF CLEAR.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A CLOSET
SHELF FULL OF A BUNCH OF SECRETS
ABOUT MYSELF.
AND FOOL MYSELF THAT I COME INTO
THE THINKING THAT NO ONE ELSE
WILL EVER KNOW THE KIND OF
PERSON I REALLY AM.
I DON'T WANT TO DRESS MYSELF UP
IN SHAME.
I WANT TO GO OUT WITH MY HEAD
ERECTED HIGH.
I WANT TO DESERVE THE RESPECT OF
ALL MEN.
BUT HERE IS THE STRUGGLE FOR
FAME AND FOR WEALTH.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LIKE
MYSELF.
I DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT MYSELF
AND KNOW THAT I AM A BLISTER OR
A BLUFF OR AN EMPTY SHELL.
I CAN NEVER HIDE MYSELF FROM ME,
BECAUSE I SEE WHAT OTHERS MAY
NOT SEE AND I KNOW WHAT OTHERS
MAY NEVER KNOW.
I CAN NEVER FOOL MYSELF, AND SO
WHATEVER HAPPENS I WANT TO BE
SELF-RESPECTING AND CONSCIOUS
FREE."
AS HE PENNED THOSE WORDS, I'M
SURE HE INTERNALIZED WHAT
DR. KING REPRESENTED FOR MANY
AMERICANS ACROSS THE WORLD.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE MOST
DIFFICULT THINGS FOR A PERSON
WHO UNDERSTAND IS THEIR PURPOSE,
HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE, SUCCESSFUL
AND SUSTAINABLE, HOW TO OVERCOME
OBSTACLES DESPITE WHAT MAY BE IN
FRONT OF YOU.
THERE ARE CERTAIN QUESTIONS YOU
HAVE TO PROACTIVELY AND HONESTLY
ASK YOURSELF IF YOU INDEED ARE
GOING TO BE A BEACON OF CHANGE.
I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY BECAUSE
I REPRESENT THE FUTURE THAT
DR. KING COULD NOT SEE, BUT HE
FOUGHT FOR.
THROUGH MANY DANGERS, TOILS AND
SNARES, I HAVE ALREADY COME.
LATER TODAY I'LL BE DOING AN
AUTOGRAPH SIGNING OF A BOOK THAT
I WROTE, TALKS ABOUT MY LIFE
JOURNEY AS A BUSINESSWOMAN.
I KNOW YOU SEE ME NOW, AND I
DON'T LOOK TOO BAD.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
>> BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT
I DON'T LOOK LIKE WHAT I'VE BEEN
THROUGH.
AND I KNOW MANY OF YOU CAN
ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT YOU
DON'T LOOK LIKE WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH.
YOU SIT IN HERE TODAY AND YOU
LOOK BEAUTIFUL, YOU HAVE SMILES
ON YOUR FACE.
WELL, THERE WERE MANY TIMES THAT
YOU HAD TO ENDURE HARDNESS IN
ORDER TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
FIRST QUESTION I HAVE TO ASK
MYSELF IS WHO AM I AND WHAT DO I
REALLY WANT TO BECOME?
I'VE BEEN A BUSINESSWOMAN IN
WISCONSIN FOR 35 YEARS, THE
LARGEST FEMALE FRANCHISE OWNER
IN THE WORLD.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> SAY WHAT BRANDS?
YOU KNOW I HAVE TO PROMOTE MY
OWN, BURGER KING, PIZZA HUNT,
ANNIE ANN'S PRETZELS, NINO'S.
BUT I DID NOT GET THERE
OVERNIGHT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I
APPLIED TO BURGER KING IN 1982,
THEY LOST MY APPLICATION.
I CALLED THEM BACK, SAID WHERE
IS MY APPLICATION?
THEY SAID WE NEVER GOT IT.
I SAID, NO PROBLEM.
I KNOW HOW TO FILL OUT ANOTHER
ONE.
I FILLED OUT MY SECOND
APPLICATION, SENT IT IN, HAD A
SIGNATURE.
IT CAME BACK TO ME, TOLD ME THAT
THEY HAD RECEIVED IT.
I CALLED THEM.
SAME RESPONSE.
WE DON'T HAVE YOUR APPLICATION.
SAYS, NOT A PROBLEM.
I KNOW HOW TO FILL IT OUT AGAIN.
SO THE THIRD TIME I FILLED OUT
AN APPLICATION, SENT IT IN, GOT
MY SIGNATURE THAT THEY HAD
RECEIVED IT, CALLED THEM UP.
GOT THE SAME RESPONSE.
THEY SAID, WE DON'T HAVE YOUR
APPLICATION.
I SAID, WELL, HOLD ON.
TELL ME WHO IS MARY JAMES
RUTKOWSKI THAT SIGNED FOR THIS
PACKAGE, THE DATE, THE TIME.
DOES SHE WORK AT BURGER KING?
YOU HAVE TO HAVE PERSEVERANCE.
AFTER THEY FOUND MARY JANE, THEY
FOUND MY APPLICATION.
BUT MY APPLICATION DID NOT GET
PROCESSED JUST BECAUSE THEY
FOUND MARY JANE.
MY APPLICATION SAT ON THE DESK
OF THE VP OF FRANCHISES.
I CALLED EVERY WEEK.
ARE YOU GOING TO PROCESS MY
APPLICATION?
I CALLED THEM UNTIL THEY GOT
TIRED OF ME CALLING THEM.
AND THEY SET UP AN INTERVIEW FOR
ME AND TOLD ME TO GO TO
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA BECAUSE
AT THE TIME PILLSBURY OWNED
BURGER KING, AND I WOULD HAVE AN
INTERVIEW.
I PREPARED MYSELF, WENT TO
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.
MY APPOINTMENT WAS AT 8:30 IN
THE MORNING.
SO I GOT THERE AT 8:00.
WHEN I GOT THERE, I WENT TO THE
OFFICE THAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO
TO.
NOBODY WAS THERE.
I WAITED ON THE OUTSIDE FOR
SOMEBODY TO SHOW UP.
EVENTUALLY, ABOUT 8:25 OR SO,
THE SECRETARY CAME IN AND
UNLOCKED THE DOOR.
I LOOKED AT HER.
I SAID, MY NAME IS VALERIE
DANIELS-CARTER AND I'M HERE FOR
AN INTERVIEW.
SHE SAID TO ME, OH, YEAH, I
REMEMBER YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
HERE TODAY.
WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A SEAT
IN THE FOYER.
I SAT DOWN IN THE FOYER, TALKING
ABOUT 1982, NOT 1950.
1982.
AND AS I SAT IN THAT FOYER, I
BEGAN TO PONDER AND THINK ABOUT
WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT
WOULD CONVINCE IS SOMEONE THAT
DID NOT LOOK LIKE ME THAT I
COULD DO WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
HOW COULD I CONVINCE THIS MAN,
THIS MAN, THAT GREATNESS IS
PURPOSEFUL?
HE WALKED IN, WALKED BY ME, DID
NOT SPEAK.
I SAT THERE.
NOON CAME.
I SAT THERE.
HE WALKED OUT FOR LUNCH, DID NOT
SPEAK.
I SAT THERE.
THIS WAS A FRIDAY EVENING.
AND ABOUT 4:30, 5:00 THAT
EVENING, HE WALKS OUT OF HIS
OFFICE AND HE SAYS, ARE YOU THE
YOUNG LADY THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO
INTERVIEW?
AND I SAID, I AM.
HE SAYS, WELL, I CAN'T INTERVIEW
YOU TODAY BECAUSE ME AND SOME OF
THE BOYS ARE GOING HUNTING.
I SAYS, YOU'RE GOING HUNTING?
HE SAYS, YEAH.
I SAID, CAN I GO HUNTING WITH
YOU?
[LAUGHTER]
>> HE SAID TO ME, IN AMAZEMENT
AND SHOCK, YES.
SO HE PICKED UP HIS BAG AND
STARTED WALKING TOWARDS HIS
TRUCK.
I DIDN'T HAVE MY BAG BECAUSE IT
WAS BACK AT THE HOTEL.
SO I JUST STARTED WALKING.
I WALKED TOWARDS HIS TRUCK.
I SAT IN THE BACK SEAT.
THEY DROVE ME TO A PLACE CALLED
MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA.
SOME OF YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT
MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA.
I'M WATCHING THE CLOCK.
THEY SHOULD HAVE PUT THE CLOCK
THIS WAY ON ME.
I'M WATCHING WHAT IS GOING ON
AND ALL THESE GUYS ARE IN THE
CABIN.
THEY HAVING A GOOD TIME.
I'M SITTING THERE.
THIS IS NOT A MADE-UP STORY.
THIS IS A TRUE STORY.
ONCE YOU GET THE BOOK, YOU'LL
GET THE FULL FLAVOR FOR IT.
I'M SITTING THERE, NIGHT HAS
ALREADY FALLEN, I'M LOOKING
AROUND, ONE BLACK FEMALE IN A
CABIN WITH 14 WHITE MALES.
THIS AIN'T A GOOD STORY.
SO I TELL THEM, I SAID, LOOK,
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO THE
HOTEL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE I'M GETTING AN INTERVIEW
TODAY, BUT I'LL BE BACK.
THEY SAID, YOU'LL NEVER GET BACK
BECAUSE OF THE SNOWSTORM AND
BECAUSE OF WHERE YOU ARE.
SO I PICK UP THE PHONE.
I DIALED 911.
I SAID, WE'VE GOT AN EMERGENCY.
CAN YOU SEE WHERE I AM?
THEY SAID, YES, WE CAN SEE WHERE
YOU ARE.
I SAID, YOU HAVE TO COME RIGHT
NOW.
SO THEY CAME, THEY GOT ME, THEY
TOOK ME BACK TO THE HOTEL.
BUT ON MY WAY BACK TO THE HOTEL,
I WROTE DOWN EVERY TURN, 'CAUSE
I KNEW I WAS GOING BACK.
THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND.
IT IS NOT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE.
IT IS NOT ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE
GOING.
IT'S ABOUT YOUR PERSEVERANCE TO
GET TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND NO
ALLOW ANYTHING OR ANYBODY --
[APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
BUY THE BOOK, BECAUSE I GOT TO
CLOSE NOW.
GREATNESS IS PURPOSEFUL
SERVANTHOOD, WITH INTEGRITY THAT
PURSUES AFTER EXCELLENCE WITHOUT
COMPROMISE.
IT IGNITES THE INWARD QUALITIES
OF A BELIEVER AND CAUSES THEM TO
RADIATE FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
IT IS WHO YOU ARE WHEN YOU HAVE
ACKNOWLEDGED AND ACCEPTED YOUR
CORE SPIRITUAL ATTRIBUTES AND
ARE A LIVING TESTIMONY TO DIVINE
PURPOSE.
IT'S NOT BASED ON HOW STRONG OR
HOW RICH OR EVEN HOW SKILLED YOU
MAY BE, BUT IT IS PREDICATED ON
HOW WELL YOU NAVIGATE IN YOUR
DIVINE ASSIGNMENT.
IT REQUIRES YOU TO BE HONEST.
IT REQUIRES YOU TO RECOGNIZE
YOUR DISPOSITION, WHILE HAVING
THE INTELLIGENCE TO MANAGE
BETWEEN YOUR SEASONS OF TRIALS
AND TIMES OF VICTORY.
GREATNESS IS NOT BLIND.
IT RECOGNIZES THE FORCES THAT
TRY TO DESTROY IT.
BUT IT DOES NOT GIVE INTO THOSE
PRESSURES.
GREATNESS AND EXCELLENCE ARE
FORCES THAT WE HAVE TO CONTEND
WITH IF WE'RE GOING TO SEIZE
AND TAKE WISCONSIN
TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> I CHALLENGE YOU TODAY TO LIFT
EVERY VOICE AND SING TILL EARTH
AND HEAVEN RINGS, RINGS WITH THE
HARMONY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[STANDING OVATION]
>> YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU WANT TO
GIVE HER ANOTHER ROUND OF
APPLAUSE, SO JUST GO RIGHT AHEAD
AND DO IT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THAT WAS OUTSTANDING,
WAS IT NOT?
WE THANK HER.
AND LET'S GIVE HER SOME
ENCOURAGEMENT SO SHE INSPIRES
ALL OF US TO GO TO THE NEXT
LEVEL.
DR. VALERIE DANIELS-CARTER, GIVE
HER A HAND AGAIN, PLEASE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HERE TO PRESENT THE STATE
PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING THIS
YEAR'S TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY
HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
IS THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, SCOTT WALKER.
>> THANK YOU, JONATHAN.
I'M GOING TO READ THIS AND THEN
HAND IT OFF TO YOU.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE
TRADITION.
THE PROCLAMATION READS WHEREAS
THE REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING
WAS BORN ON JANUARY 15, 1929 IN
ATLANTA, GEORGIA.
IN 1964 AT 35 BECAME THE
YOUNGEST PERSON TO WIN THE NOBLE
PEACE PRIZE.
HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO THE
PEACEFUL FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.
WHEREAS THE UNSELFISH WORK OF
DR. KING AND THOSE UNITED WITH
HIM TO FURTHER HUMAN RIGHTS AND
HUMAN DIGNITY HAS BECOME AN
INSPIRATION TO ALL PERSONS OF
ALL BACKGROUNDS; WHEREAS THE
FEDERAL HOLIDAY COMMISSION URGES
ALL OF US TO REMEMBER THE LIFE,
CAREER AND DREAMS OF DR. KING
AND TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY,
AND WHEREAS THIS IS THE OLDEST
OFFICIAL STATE CEREMONY HON HONG
DR. KING, IN THE SPIRIT OF TRUE
WILL AND COMMUNITY, BY LIVING
THE DREAM AND SERVING THE CAUSES
OF EQUALITY, PEACE, JUSTICE,
AND FREEDOM.
THIS YEAR'S THEME IS
THE JOURNEY AHEAD.
NOW THEREFORE, I, SCOTT WALKER,
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM
TODAY THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
ACROSS THE STATE.
JONATHAN?
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR WALKER.
IT'S BEEN OUR PRACTICE TO PASS
THIS OUT TO THE AUDIENCE.
FOR 36 YEARS, A LITTLE RUNNING
JOKE, IT ALWAYS COMES BACK.
SO WHO WOULD LIKE TO COME AND
GET IT TO PASS ALONG?
ANYONE?
PLEASE, COME FORWARD.
HAVE YOU DONE THIS BEFORE?
WE DON'T HAVE A SALARY FOR YOU,
BUT HERE.
TAKE IT. APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT.
EACH YEAR, FOLKS, YOU KNOW WE
INVITE A STUDENT TO RECITE AN
EXCERPT FROM DR. KING'S FAMOUS
1963 SPEECH "I HAVE A DREAM."
THIS YEAR, WE'VE INVITED AN
ALUM, JADON NATHANAEL COLBERT.
HE'S NOW IN 6TH GRADE AT
ST. JAMES.
HE AN ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN MUSIC
AND HE'S A MEMBER OF THE BAND
AND OFTEN SINGS AND PLAYS HIS
GUITAR FOR MASS.
JADON ALSO SINGS WITH THE
MADISON YOUTH CHOIR.
HE HAS GOTTEN TALLER.
HE NO LONGER NEEDS THAT BOX.
AND HIS VOICE I THINK HAS GOTTEN
A LITTLE DEEPER, AS I
UNDERSTAND.
SO WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM HERE.
ONCE AGAIN,
JADON NATHANAEL COLBERT.
JADON?
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND EVEN SO, WE FACE THE
DIFFICULTIES OF TODAY AND
TOMORROW.
I STILL HAVE A DREAM.
IT'S AS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE
AMERICAN DREAM.
I HAVE A DREAM THAT ONE DAY THIS
NATION WILL RISE UP ABOUT 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
FORMER 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
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 SHALL BE MADE
LOW, THE ROUGH PLACES SHALL BE
MADE PLAIN AND THE CROOKED
PLACES SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT
AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL
BE REVEALED AND ALL THE 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'LL BE ABLE TO
HUE OUT THE MOUNTAIN OF DESPAIR,
A STONE OF HOPE.
WITH THIS FAITH, WE WILL BE ABLE
TO TRANSFORM THE JANGLING
DISCORD OF OUR NATION INTO A
BEAUTIFUL SYMPHONY OF
BROTHERHOOD.
WITH THIS FAITH, WE'LL 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, THAT WILL
BE THE DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S
CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO SING
WITH NEW MEANING.
MY COUNTRY TIS OF THEE.
SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY.
OF ME I SING.
LAND WHERE MY FATHERS TROD, 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 HILL TOPS OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
LET FREEDOM RING FROM THE MIGHTY
MOUNTAINS OF NEW YORK, FROM THE
HEIGHTENING MOUNTAINS OF
ALLEGHENY, FROM THE SNOW-CAPPED
ROCKIES, FROM THE 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, MOLEHILL OF MISSISSIPPI,
FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE.
LET FREEDOM RING.
AND WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WHEN WE
ALLOW FREEDOM TO RING, WHEN WE
LET IT RING FROM EVERY VILLAGE
AND EVERY HAMLET, FROM EVERY
STATE AND EVERY CITY, WE'LL BE
ABLE TO SPEED UP THAT DAY WHEN
ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN, BLACK MEN
AND WHITE MEN, JEWS, GENTILES,
PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS, WILL
BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS AND SING
IN THE WORDS OF THE OLD NEGRO
SPIRITUAL.
FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST,
THANK GOD ALMIGHTY WE ARE FREE
AT LAST.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[STANDING OVATION]
>> JADON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WITH THAT WE CONCLUDE OUR
PROGRAM TODAY.
BUT BEFORE WE GO, WE THANK YOU
VERY MUCH FOR CELEBRATING
DR. KING'S LIFE AND LEGACY WITH
THE 37TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND
CEREMONY HONORING HIM AND HIS
WORK.
WITH THAT, ON BEHALF OF THE
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER,
I'M JONATHAN OVERBY.
THANK YOU AND MAY YOUR WEEK BE
FILLED WITH PEACE AND HARMONY.
GOOD DAY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪
[TREMPER HIGH SCHOOL WIND
ENSEMBLE PERFORMING]
♪
[APPLAUSE]