*
* I WAS BORN BY THE RIVER *
* IN A LITTLE OLD TENT *
* AND JUST LIKE THE RIVER I'VE
BEEN RUNNING EVER SINCE *
* IT'S BEEN A LONG, A LONG TIME
COMING *
* BUT I KNOW CHANGE GONNA COME *
* O, YES, IT WILL *
* IT'S BEEN TOO HARD LIVING, BUT
I'M AFRAID TO DIE *
* 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S UP
THERE BEYOND THE SKY *
* IT'S BEEN A LONG, A LONG TIME
COMING *
* BUT I KNOW A CHANGE GONNA
COME *
* O, YES, IT WILL *
* I GO TO THE MOVIES *
* AND I GO DOWNTOWN *
* SOMEBODY KEEP TELLING ME
DON'T, DON'T HANG AROUND *
* IT'S BEEN A LONG, A LONG TIME
COMING *
* BUT I KNOW A CHANGE GONNA
COME *
* O, YES IT WILL *
* THEN I GO TO MY BROTHER *
* AND I SAY, BROTHER, HELP ME,
PLEASE *
* BUT HE WINDS UP, SOMEHOW HE
WINDS UP KNOCKING ME *
* BACK DOWN, HE KNOCK ME BACK
DOWN ON MY KNEES *
* THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT
I'VE THOUGHT I COULDN'T LAST FOR
LONG *
* BUT NOW I THINK I'M ABLE TO
CARRY ON *
* IT'S BEEN A LONG, A LONG TIME
COMING *
* BUT I KNOW A CHANGE GONNA
COME *
* O, YES, IT WILL *
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I DON'T
KNOW HOW OLD HE IS, BUT YOUNG
ELIJAH EDWARDS HAS AN OLD SOUL.
WILL YOU JOIN ME IN SAYING THANK
YOU TO HIM ONE MORE TIME.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON,
EVERYONE.
I'M LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REBECCA
KLEEFISCH.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE GOVERNOR
COULD NOT BE WITH YOU TODAY, BUT
I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE IN HIS
STEAD.
AND I GET TO WELCOME YOU TO
WISCONSIN'S 38TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE
AND CEREMONY HONORING DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR., THE OLDEST
CELEBRATION OF SAID KIND IN THE
ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF THIS CEREMONY, THE
INCOMPARABLE DR. JONATHAN
OVERBY!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.
HOW YOU DOING?
DO YOU ALL REMEMBER BACK IN THE
DAY WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE A LOT
OF MONEY?
OH, MAYBE THAT'S JUST ME.
[LAUGHTER]
>> MIGHT HAVE NOT BEEN A WHOLE
LOT OF FOOD IN THE REFRIGERATOR.
SOMEBODY GIVE ME AN AMEN ON
THAT.
>> AMEN!
>> MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE TIME OF
LIFE FOR US THAT WAS EASY.
BUT THERE WERE THOSE MOMENTS IN
SPITE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON THAT
WE FOUND A WAY TO CELEBRATE EACH
OTHER.
ALL WE NEEDED WAS A FEW GOOD
FRIENDS, SOME FAMILY MEMBERS, A
RECORD PLAYER AND THE RADIO.
SO I WANT TO INVITE YOU RIGHT
NOW TO JUST COME ON, GET UP ON
YOUR FEET AND LET'S CELEBRATE
THE WAY WE SHOULD DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY.
I DON'T CARE.
I'LL DO IT ALL BY MYSELF, Y'ALL.
COME ON!
LET'S DO THIS!
YEAH!
*
>> ALL RIGHT.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOU GOT.
I SEE YOU OVER THERE.
PUT YOUR HAND IN THE AIR.
COME ON, LET'S CELEBRATE TODAY!
YEAH!
*
>> OH, COME ON.
IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT TIMES IN OUR NATION
WHEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T LOOK LIKE
EACH OTHER COME TOGETHER TO
CELEBRATE THE GOODNESS OF THIS
COUNTRY.
COME ON, Y'ALL!
* *
>> GIVE YOURSELVES A BIG HAND.
THANK YOU.
YOU MAY BE SEATED.
>> I NEED SOME OXYGEN RIGHT NOW,
BUT I'LL MAKE IT.
WELL, FOLKS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR COMING OUT TO CELEBRATE
WISCONSIN'S 38TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE
AND CEREMONY HONORING THE
REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
THIS DAY WE CELEBRATE IT ON HIS
BIRTHDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018, ON
THE ACTUAL DAY OF HIS BIRTHDAY,
OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED AS A
NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
THE 2018 THEME POSES A QUESTION:
DO YOU REMEMBER?
FOR THOSE WHO WOULD APPLY, THIS
IS AN INVITATION TO REVISIT
THOSE CHERISHED MEMORIES, THOSE
TIMES WHEN INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES
AND COMMUNITIES, IN SPITE OF THE
HARDSHIPS, IN SPITE OF THE
JOBLESSNESS, IN SPITE OF HATRED,
IN SPITE OF JUSTICE, WE FOUND A
WAY TO EMBRACE EACH OTHER IN THE
SPIRIT OF ACCEPTANCE, GOOD
COMMUNITY AND, AS DR. KING LIVED
AND TAUGHT US, IN THE SPIRIT OF
LOVE.
BY CONTRAST, 50 YEARS AFTER
KING'S ASSASSINATION, THOSE
TIMES BACK THEN ARE ODDLY
FAMILIAR TODAY, WHERE NASTY
PUBLIC DISCOURSE, VOID OF ANY
SOCIAL ETIQUETTE, HATRED TOWARD
THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT, FEAR OF
THE STRANGER, FEAR OF THOSE
WHOSE DAILY ATTIRE, COSTUMES,
CUSTOMS, LANGUAGE, BELIEFS AND
RITUALS ARE NOT LIKE OUR OWN,
SOME SAY.
WE SEE TODAY AN OVERT RACIAL
DIVISIVENESS.
IT AFFIRMS THAT WE AS A NATION
MAY HAVE NEVER REALLY OVERCOME
THE DISEASE OF RACISM.
AND YET WITH THIS BACKDROP, WE
REFER TO THIS DAY AS A HOLIDAY
OF DR. KING, A BENEVOLENT LEADER
WHO DARED TO DREAM FOR A BETTER
NATION FOR ALL OF ITS PEOPLE.
THERE IS A MOVEMENT AFOOT TO
UPROOT THE SEEDS OF HIS
SACRIFICE, MIRRORED BY SO MANY
WOMEN AND MEN.
BUT TODAY, BEGINNING TODAY, I
INVITE YOU, I ASK YOU, I PLEAD
WITH YOU TO REMEMBER THAT HIS
DREAM IS NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE ONE
TO REACH.
IN FACT, ALL OF OUR JOURNEYS ARE
FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES, IN
SPITE OF UNBEARABLE SORROW, NO
MATTER HOW HOPELESS, OUR LIVES
ARE FILLED WITH THE CHANCE TO
LOVE EACH OTHER, A LOVE THAT CAN
BE EXTENDED WITH A HANDSHAKE, A
HUG, A HELLO AND, ABOVE ALL, THE
ABILITY TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER,
TO EMBRACE EACH OTHER, EVEN IF
WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE.
SO TODAY, LET US LOVE, LET US
CELEBRATE EACH OTHER, LET US
REMEMBER THE LEGACY OF
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.
JOINING US TODAY ARE MEMBERS OF
THE SIKH TEMPLE OF WISCONSIN.
A SHOOTING TOOK PLACE AT THEIR
TEMPLE.
SIHKISM TODAY IS IN INDIA AND
PAKISTAN TODAY.
WHEN I ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD
COME, THEY SAID YES, BECAUSE WEWE
-- OUR RELIGION MIRRORS THAT OF
DR. KING.
SO HERE THEY ARE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING HARJINDER SINGH, A
PRIEST, SURJIT SINGH, A PRIEST,
BALHAIR DID YOU LAY, PRESIDENT,
WITH MEMBERS DHARMENDER SINGH
AND NIRMAL KAUR SINGH, PART OF
THE SIKH SE TEMPLE OF WISCONSIN FOR
OUR INVOCATION.
PLEASE WELCOME THEM.
[APPLAUSE]
[STANDING OVATION]
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US FROM
THE SIKH TEMPLE OF WISCONSIN TO
CELEBRATE DR. MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR.'S BIRTHDAY.
WE HAVE A PRIEST HERE BY THE
NAME OF HARJINDER SINGH AND HE
WILL RECITE OUR PRAYER FROM THE
SIKH RELIGION.
THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE ACCEPT MY GREETINGS.
[SPEAKING INVOCATION IN A
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH]
>> SO NOW I WANT TO SHARE MY
PRAYER, SO PLEASE STAND UP
EVERYONE FOR PRAYER.
IT IS AN HONOR AS SIKH AMERICAN
TO SHARE PRAYER OF MY FAITH.
SIKHISM, THE LARGEST RELIGION IN
THE WORLD, TO TRIBUTE MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR.
FIRST, MEDITATE UPON THE LORD
AND THINK ABOUT [SPEAKING IN A
LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH *
NGLISH.THE TRUE FATHER OF ALL, WE OFFERE
THIS PRAYER.
SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS AND NONVIOLENCE AND
PEACE.
ALSO SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR
FREEDOM OF ALL RELIGION,
NONVIOLENCE AND PEACE.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ALSO
STRUGGLED AND SACRIFICED HIS
LIFE FOR THE SAME PRINCIPLES.
HE BLESSED US WITH LOVE AND
PEACE.
PLEASE GIVE US SELF-CONFIDENCE,
LOVE AND PEACE.
[RECITING PRAYER]
>> WHICH MEANS WITH THE NAME OF
GOD, WE PRAY AND ASK THE ALL
MIGHTY FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL
HUMANITY, PROSPERITY FOR
EVERYONE IN THE WORLDWIDE
COMMUNITY, GLOBAL PEACE OF
ENTIRE PLANET.
[SPEAKING IN A LANGUAGE OTHER
THAN ENGLISH]
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU TO THE SIKH TEMPLE
OF WISCONSIN FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
WELL, WE'VE GOT SOME MUSIC FOR
YOU.
MAN, YOU ALL LOOK GOOD OVER
THERE.
LET ME SAY RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE
HERE, THE VICTORY TRAVELERS,
ORGANIZED BY DEACON REUBEN
BURTON IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
THEY JUST GOT OFF THE ROAD.
THEY HAD A CONCERT IN
MISSISSIPPI YESTERDAY?
AND THEY DROVE ALL THE WAY,
DIDN'T STOP IN CHICAGO, AND THEY
CAME HERE TODAY TO BE PART OF
TODAY'S CEREMONY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH SLEEP YOU
HAD, BUT WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND GET
THIS PARTY STARTED WITH THE
VICTORY TRAVELERS, ALL THE WAY
FROM CHI-TOWN.
PLEASE GIVE THEM A WARM
WISCONSIN WELCOME.
THE VICTORY TRAVELERS!
[APPLAUSE]
* FORGIVE ME, LORD
* TRY ME ONE MORE TIME
* FORGIVE ME LORD
* TRY ME ONE MORE TIME
* I KNOW I'VE BEEN WRONG
* GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M A LOOKING
FOR A BETTER PLACE *
* OH, LORD, I'M LOOKING FOR A
BETTER PLACE *
* FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M A LOOKING
FOR A BETTER PLACE *
* YES, I AM *
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING
* I'M SEEKING
* LORD, I'M PRAYING
* LORD, I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER
PLACE TO LIVE *
* YES, I AM *
* CAN I SAY IT ONE MORE TIME *
* FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING
* FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M A LOOKING
FOR A BETTER PLACE *
* FOR A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING
* I'M SEEKING
* LORD, I'M PRAYING
* LORD, I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER
PLACE TO LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING HERE AND THERE
* I'M LOOKING EVERYWHERE
* HERE AND THERE
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE *
* YES, I AM *
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE *
* YES *
* YES, I AM *
* YES, GOT TO BE A BETTER
PLACE *
* THERE'S GOT TO BE A BETTER
PLACE *
* I WANT TO LOOK *
* I WANT GO *
* YOU HAVE TO SING *
* CAN YOU HEAR ME SING *
* DO YOU WANT TO SEE HIM *
YES, I DO *
* ONE OF THESE DAYS *
* YEAH, YEAH *
* LOOKING HERE AND THERE *
* YES *
* YES, I AM *
* SEARCHING EVERYWHERE *
* YEAH, SEARCHING EVERYWHERE *
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING FOR
A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE *
* I'M LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE
TO LIVE *
* O, YE *
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> JUST A LITTLE UP TEMPO SONG.
IF YOU LIKE IT, JUST PUT YOUR
HANDS TOGETHER LIKE THAT.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT SAYS?
* * EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED *
* YEAH, YEAH, LORD *
* SINCE HE CAME AND TOOK MY
LIFE *
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED *
* SINCE HE CAME AND TOOK MY
LIFE *
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED *
* SINCE HE CAME AND TOOK MY
LIFE *
* EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED *
* O, YEAH, YEAH *
* I GOT A NEW WALK *
* SINCE HE CAME *
* I'VE GOT A NEW TALK *
* O, SINCE HE CAME *
* I GOT A WAY *
* SINCE HE CAME *
* I GOT A NEW WAY OF GIVING *
* SINCE HE CAME *
* ONE MORE TIME *
* I GOT A NEW WALK SINCE HE
CAME *
* I GOT A NEW TALK SINCE HE
CAME *
* I GOT A NEW WAY OF LIVING *
* SINCE HE CAME *
* I'VE GOT A NEW WAY OF GIVING *
* SINCE HE CAME *
* YEAH *
* SINCE HE CAME *
* YEAH, CHANGED ME *
* I LIKE A BIG CHANGE *
* MY LIFE HAS BEEN CHANGED *
* CAN YOU AGREE WITH ME *
* LIFT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR *
* I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED *
* SAID I KNOW I'VE BEEN
CHANGED *
* I KNOW I'VE BEEN CHANGED *
* THE THINGS I USED TO DO *
* I JUST DON'T DO NO MORE *
* THE PLACES THAT I USED TO GO *
* I DON'T GO NO MORE *
* I GO I BEEN CHANGED *
* I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED *
* YEAH *
* I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED *
* CLAP YOUR HANDS *
* I BEEN CHANGED *
[CLAPPING]
*
* I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED *
* ONE MORE TIME *
[CLAPPING]
*
* CAN I DO IT ONE MORE TIME *
* I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED *
* CAN YOU AGREE WITH ME *
* I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED *
* ONE MORE TIME *
* HELP ME OUT *
[CLAPPING]
*
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> I BEEN CHANGED.
COME ON.
DON'T LET THAT GO.
* I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED *
* KEEP IT ON *
* I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED *
* I CAN'T COME OVER THERE *
* I KNOW I BEEN CHANGED.
* BECAUSE YOU ALL SOUND GOOD *
* DON'T THEY SOUND GOOD *
* YOU ALL SOUND GOOD *
* THANK YOU *
>> GIVE A BIG HAND TO THE
VICTORY TRAVELERS!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> ALL RIGHT.
I'M SORRY.
IF YOU GOT CHURCH IN YOU, YOU
KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IN THESE
SITUATIONS.
I'M SO DELIGHTED TO GIVE YOU THE
OPPORTUNITY TODAY IN THE SPIRIT
OF DR. KING TO STAND UP AND
GREET EACH OTHER IN THE SPIRIT
OF DR. KING.
SAY HELLO RIGHT NOW TO A
STRANGER NEARBY.
PLEASE DO SO RIGHT NOW.
[ATTENDEES GREETING ONE ANOTHER]
>> THANK YOU TO LEOTHA STANLEY
AND ONE ACCORD.
GIVE LEOTHA STANLEY AND FRIENDS
A BIG HAND THERE.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LO LEOTHA IS MY VERY GOOD
FRIEND.
HE USED TO BABYSIT ME WHEN I WAS
A VERY SMALL, SMALL BOY.
YOU KNOW I'M GOING TO HEAR ABOUT
THAT.
ANYWAY, IT'S MY PRIVILEGE TO NOW
INTRODUCE TO YOU THE MILWAUKEE
CHILDREN'S CHOIR.
AND THEY ARE AGES FIVE TO 18,
WITH CHORAL MUSIC EDUCATION AND
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCES THAT
FOSTER CREATIVITY, PERSONAL
EXPRESSION AND SOCIAL GROWTH.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE
1994.
PLEASE WELCOME UNDER THE
DIRECTION OF MARCOS MELENDEZ THE
MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR.
PLEASE GIVE THEM A BIG HAND.
[APPLAUSE]
*
* I LIFT MY EYES TO THE HILLS *
* KNOWING MY HELP IS COMING FROM
YOU *
* YOUR PEACE, YOU GIVE ME IN
TIME OF THE STORM *
* YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF MY
STRENGTH *
* YOU ARE THE STRENGTH OF MY
LIFE *
* I LIFE MY HANDS IN TOTAL
PRAISE TO YOU *
* LORD, I WILL LIFT MINE EYES
TO THE HILLS *
* KNOWING MY HELP IS COMING FROM
YOU *
* YOUR PEACE, YOU GIVE ME IN
TIME OF THE STORM *
* YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF MY
STRENGTH *
* YOU ARE THE STRENGTH OF MY
LIFE *
* I LIFE MY HANDS IN TOTAL
PRAISE TO YOU *
* AMEN, AMEN, AMEN *
* AMEN, AMEN *
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
*
* AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME
AROUND *
* TURN ME AROUND, TURN ME
AROUND *
* AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME
AROUND *
* I'M GONNA KEEP ON WALKIN',
KEEP ON TALKIN' *
* MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND
* AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME
AROUND *
* TURN ME AROUND, TURN ME
AROUND *
* AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME
AROUND *
* I'M GONNA KEEP ON WALKIN',
KEEP ON TALKIN' *
* MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND
* THERE ARE WORDS LIKE
"FREEDOM" *
* SWEET AND WONDERFUL TO SAY
* ON MY HEARTSTRINGS FREEDOM
SINGS *
* ALL DAY EVERY DAY
* AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME
AROUND *
* TURN ME AROUND, TURN ME
AROUND *
* AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME
AROUND *
* I'M GONNA KEEP ON WALKIN',
KEEP ON TALKIN' *
* MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND
* THERE ARE WORDS LIKE
"LIBERTY" *
* THAT ALMOST MAKE ME CRY
* IF YOU HAD KNOWN WHAT I KNOW
YOU WOULD KNOW WHY *
*
* I CANNOT TURN AROUND *
* NO, I CANNOT TURN AROUND *
* AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME
AROUND *
* AIN'T GONNA LET NOBODY TURN ME
AROUND *
* I'M GONNA KEEP ON WALKIN',
KEEP ON TALKIN' *
* KEEP ON SINGING *
* KEEP ON SHOUTING *
* MARCHIN' UP TO FREEDOM LAND
* FREEDOM *
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MARCOS
MELENDEZ, MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S
CHOIR.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> TODAY, WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO
GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR JUSTICE AND
EQUALITY.
AND WE DO SO WITH THE MLK HONOR
GUARD REPRESENTED TODAY BY
MEMBERS OF THE 2nd WISCONSIN
ARMY AND INTERNATIONAL GUARD,
PRINCE HALL MASONS OF CAPITOL
CITY LODGE NO. 2, TRUMPETER
SAVANNAH VALIGURA.
PLEASE STAND AS WE HONOR THOSE
WOMEN AND MEN WHO PAID THAT
ULTIMATE PRICE FOR FREEDOM AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
UPON THE HONOR GUARD'S EXIT, YOU
MAY BE SEATED, AS GOSPEL SINGER
MARY HENDERSON RENDERS "AMAZING
GRACE."
[BAGPIPES PLAYING]
*
[PRESENTATION OF COLORS]
[BAGPIPES PLAYING "AMAZING
GRACE"]
*
["TAPS" PLAYING]
*
[BAGPIPES PLAYING]
[RECESSIONAL OF COLOR GUARD]
*
* AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE
SOUND *
* THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME
* I ONCE WAS LOST, BUT NOW AM
FOUND *
* WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE
* 'TWAS GRACE THAT TAUGHT MY
HEART TO FEAR *
* AND GRACE MY FEARS RELIEVED
* HOW PRECIOUS DID THAT GRACE
APPEAR *
* THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED
* THROUGH MANY DANGERS, TOILS
AND SNARES *
* I HAVE ALREADY COME
* WAS GRACE THAT BROUGHT ME SAFE
THUS FAR *
* AND GRACE WILL LEAD ME HOME
* YES *
* NOTHING BUT GOD'S GRACE WILL
LEAD ME HOME *
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> MARY HENDERSON.
COME ON, EVERYBODY, GIVE HER A
BIG HAND.
WONDERFUL GOSPEL ARTIST.
THANK YOU.
MARY HENDERSON.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO
INTRODUCE TO YOU THE 2018MLK
HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENTS.
TO THE ORGANIZATION 100 BLACK
MEN OF MADISON, WHO SEEKS TO
SERVE AS A BEACON OF LEADERSHIP
BY UTILIZING THEIR DIVERSE
TALENTS TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTS
WHERE BLACK CHILDREN ARE
MOTIVATED TO ACHIEVE AND EMPOWER
AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO BECOME
SELF-SUFFICIENT STAKEHOLDERS IN
THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FABRIC
OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
WITH A COMMITMENT TO THE
INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT OF
YOUTH BASED ON RESPECT FOR
FAMILY, SPIRITUALITY, JUSTICE
AND INTEGRITY.
ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, 100 BLACK MEN OF
MADISON IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE
2018MLK HERITAGE AWARD.
HERE TO ACCEPT THE AWARD IS
DR. FLOYD ROSE.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[STANDING OVATION]
>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
KLEEFISCH, SECRETAR SECRETARY ALLEN, ON
BEHALF OF THE 100 MEN OF
MADISON, THE COMMUNITIES WE
SERVE, THANK YOU.
WE ARE INDEED HUMBLED BY THE
BESTOWAL OF THIS RECOGNITION.
TODAY WE HONOR DR. MARTIN LUTHER
KING, JR., A MAN WHOSE
LEADERSHIP RESHAPED OUR NATION'S
CONSCIOUSNESS AND WHOSE LEGACY
CHALLENGES ALL TO PURSUE
JUSTICE, EQUALITY AND PEACE.
HOPEFULLY, THIS GATHERING WILL
INSPIRE US TO REDEDICATE OUR
ACTIONS TO ACHIEVE THOSE IDEALS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU AND MAY GOD
CONTINUE TO GUIDE YOUR STEPS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> COME ON.
GIVE THEM A BIG HAND.
100 BLACK MEN OF MADISON.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> WELL-DESERVED.
VERY WELL-DESERVED.
THANK YOU, DR. ROSE.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW,
BROOKS BROTHERS AIN'T GOT
ANYTHING ON YOU FELLOWS OVER
THERE.
I WANT TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW.
ONCE AGAIN, THEY LOOK GOOD, TOO,
GIVE A BIG HAND FOR THE VICTORY
TRAVELERS FROM CHI-TOWN WITH OUR
GOSPEL MUSIC TODAY.
* I'LL BE STANDING AT THE
JUDGMENT BAR *
* YEAH, I'LL BE STANDING
* YEAH, JUST AS SOON
* I GOT TO GET MY
* I'M GOING HOME *
* YES, I AM *
* I'LL BE STANDING AT THE
JUDGMENT BAR *
* YES, I WILL *
* I'LL BE STANDING AT THE
JUDGMENT BAR *
* YES, I WILL *
* YEAH, JUST AS SOON
* I GOT TO GET MYSELF
* ONE MORE TIME
* YEAH
* I'LL BE STANDING AT THE
JUDGMENT BAR *
* YES, I WILL *
* YEAH, I'LL BE STANDING
* I WISH I HAD ONE WITNESS IN
HERE *
* JUST AS SOON I'VE GOT TO GET
* GOING HOME, YES, I AM
* YEAH, YEAH *
* I'LL BE STANDING AT THE
JUDGMENT BAR *
* YES, I WILL *
* I'LL BE STANDING THERE TO TAKE
MY PLACE *
* YES, I WILL *
* JUST AS SOON AS I CAN GET *
* YEAH, JUST AS SOON AS I CAN
GET *
* YEAH, JUST AS SOON *
* YEAH, SOMEBODY, I'LL SEE
JESUS *
* JUST AS SOON *
* O, JUST AS SOON *
* YEAH, JUST AS SOON *
* I GOT TO GET MY ANSWER *
* I'M GOING HOME *
* YEAH, I'M GOING HOME, GOING
HOME *
* I'M GOING HOME, YEAH *
* I'M GOING HOME *
* YEAH, I'M GOING HOME *
* YEAH *
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE VICTORY TRAVELERS FROM
CHICAGO.
THANK YOU.
COME ON, GIVE THEM A BIG HAND.
THEY TRAVELED A LONG WAY TO COME
HERE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> OUR GUEST TODAY, OUR GUEST
SPEAKER, HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE
TO HELPING OTHERS NAVIGATE THEIR
WAY THROUGH PAINFUL EXPERIENCES,
AND HE'S DONE SO BY CONNECTING
PEOPLE WITH THEIR PURPOSE.
ORIGINALLY FROM MILWAUKEE,
WISCONSIN, HE WAS BORN THERE AND
RAISED IN THE INFAMOUS 53206,
SAME AREA I GREW UP IN IN
MILWAUKEE, THE MOST INCARCERATED
ZIP CODE IN AMERICA.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT MANY OF
HIS CHILDHOOD PEERS FELL PREY TO
HOMICIDE AND INCARCERATION, HE
MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE PITFALLS
OF INNER CITY LIFE AND
ULTIMATELY ACHIEVED AN IMPORTANT
GOAL: GRADUATING FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE WITH A
BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN EDUCATIONAL
POLICIES AND COMMUNITY STUDIES.
THERE AT UW-MILWAUKEE HE
DISCOVERED HIS PASSION FOR USING
HIS VOICE TO GIVE HOPE TO THE
HOPELESS CHILDREN OF THE GHETTO,
NEVER FORGETTING THAT THE MANY
THAT WERE NOT AFFORDED THE SAME
OPPORTUNITIES AS HE.
FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC MURDER OF
HIS GOD SON, HE CO-FOUNDED THE
FLOOD THE HOOD WITH DREAMS
ORGANIZATION AND CO-FOUNDED I
WILL NOT DIE YOUNG CAMPAIGN.
WITH A MISSION ROOTED IN THE
PROMISE THAT HE GAVE HIS GOD SON
UPON HIS DEATH, THAT HIS DEATH
WOULD NOT BE IN VAIN.
PLEASE WELCOME OUR GUEST
SPEAKER, MUHIBB DYER.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME
IS MUHIBB DYER.
I REPRESENT AN ORGANIZATION OUT
OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN CALLED
"FLOOD THE HOOD WITH DREAMS" AND
THE "I WILL NOT DIE YOUNG"
CAMPAIGN.
WHY DO WE CALL OUR ORGANIZATION
"FLOOD THE HOOD WITH DREAMS"?
ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO WE STARTED
GOING TO SCHOOLS ASKING YOUNG
KIDS THE QUESTION WHAT DO YOU
WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
THEY WOULD SAY, I WANT TO BE A
DOCTOR.
I WANT TO BE A LAWYER.
I WANT TO BE A BUSINESSMAN OR
BUSINESS WOMAN.
I WANT TO OWN A FORTUNE 500
COMPANY, RULE THE WORLD.
THEN THERE WOULD BE ONE KID IN
THE BACK THROWING SPITBALLS.
I'D SAY YOUNG MAN, WHAT YOU WANT
TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
I SAY, REALLY, YOUNG MAN, WHAT
DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW
UP?
AND HE'LL LOOK ME DEAD IN THE
EYE AND EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE, HE
WOULD SAY DON'T COME AROUND HERE
TALKING ABOUT NO DREAM, BECAUSE
WHERE I COME FROM WE DON'T MAKE
IT PAST THE AGE OF 21.
AND WHERE I COME FROM I WAS
WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND I
SAW MY FRIEND GET SHOT IN THE
HEAD AND THE HOOD TOLD ME I
BETTER NOT TELL.
WE AIN'T SEEN OUR DADDIES ONE
DAY IN MY LIFE.
MY LITTLE SISTER GOT MOLESTED BY
MY AUNTIE'S BOYFRIEND.
THEY SAID SHE WAS TOO FAST AND
DESERVED IT ANYWAY.
SO WE STARTED CALLING OUR
ORGANIZATION "FLOOD THE HOOD
WITH DREAMS" BECAUSE WE BELIEVE
LIKE THE GREAT DR. KING THAT ALL
GOD'S CHILDREN, EVEN THE KIDS
WHO COME FROM STREETS IN
MILWAUKEE LIKE BURLEIGH,
GARFIELD, GALENA, VINE, CENTER,
BUFFUM, THE SO-CALLED THROW-AWAY
CHILDREN OF THE STATE, THEY
DESERVE A DREAM TOO.
IF YOU BELIEVE LIKE I BELIEVE,
CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME
NOISE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
DR. KING WAS A BLACK PREACHER.
AND IN THE BLACK CHURCH THEY
HAVE A TRADITION CALLED THE
RESPONSE.
AND THAT TRADITION IS MEANT TO
RAISE THE SPIRIT OF THE ROOM.
SO LET'S RAISE THE SPIRIT OF THE
ROOM IN THE GREAT DOCTOR'S
HONOR.
IF YOU'RE GLAD YOU WOKE UP THIS
MORNING, SAY YES.
>> YES!
>> IF YOU KNOW THERE'S A GOD
INSIDE YOU, SAY YES.
>> YES!
>> IF YOU'RE TIRED OF THE WRICH RICH
GETTING RICHER AND THE POOR
GETTING POORER, SAY YES.
>> YES!
>> IF YOU KNOW DR. KING'S DREAM
IS STILL ALIVE, SAY YES.
>> YES!
>> WHEN I SAY LOVE, YOU SAY
LIFE.
>> LOVE.
>> LIFE.
>> LOVE.
>> WHEN I SAY FREEDOM, YOU SAY
FREEDOM.
>> FREEDOM.
>> CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME
NOISE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IF DR. KING WERE HERE TODAY,
HE WOULD SAY IT'S A BEAUTIFUL
DAY REGARDLESS OF THE INCLEMENT
WEATHER.
AND HE PROBABLY WOULD BE SO
HAPPY THAT HE HAS A HOLIDAY, A
NATIONAL HOLIDAY IN HIS NAME.
CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE IN
NOISE FOR THAT, BECAUSE HE
DESERVES IT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> HE WOULD BE HONORED THAT ALL
OF YOU GOOD PEOPLE WEATHERED THE
STORM AND CAME HERE TODAY.
HE MAYBE WOULD BE SO IMPRESSED
BY THE CHOIR, BY THE SINGING, BY
THE STATESMEN, BY THE DIGNITY
TEARS.
BUT HIM, BEING THE MAN THAT WAS
GIVEN THE PURPOSE OF CHALLENGING
OUR CONSCIOUSNESS, HE MAY SAY IT
IS EASY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF
A DEAD MAN.
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO LIVE BY
THE PRINCIPLES HE ESPOUSED.
DO YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME?
'CAUSE IF YOU REALLY REMEMBERED
ME, IT WOULDN'T BE SO EASY FOR
YOU TO FORGET ABOUT THE CHILDREN
OF 53206.
THE MOST INCARCERATED ZIP CODE
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
MY HOMETOWN.
AND IF YOU REALLY REMEMBERED ME,
YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THERE
WAS A LITTLE BLACK BOY THAT IS
THERE LIVING IN A DELAPIDATED
BUILDING THAT REALLY WANTS TO
HEAR ABOUT MY DREAM, BUT THE
JAIL KEEPS DROWNING IT OUT.
AND THE JAIL SAYS WEAR MY SUIT,
AND THE LITTLE BOY SAYS NO.
IF I GO TO SCHOOL AND GET AN
EDUCATION, I CAN BEAT YOU.
YOU CAN'T BEAT ME.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE JUST LIKE
YOUR NO-GOOD DADDY.
YOU GOING TO BE LIKE EVERYBODY
WHO LOOK LIKE YOU, TALK LIKE
YOU, GREW UP IN THE SAME
NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE YOU.
THIS IS WHERE YOU BELONG.
WHAT, YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR?
NO.
THAT'S FOR WHITE PEOPLE.
YOU WANT TO BE A LAWYER?
YOU WANT TO BE A BUSINESSMAN?
YOU WANT TO OWN A FORTUNE 500
COMPANY?
NO.
THAT'S FOR THE SMALL PEOPLE OF
THE WORLD.
AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT LITTLE
BLACK BOYS AREN'T SMART.
SO HE WILL PUT THIS SUIT ON AND
HE WILL SAY I WILL WEAR YOUR
SUIT BECAUSE AFTER ALL WHAT ELSE
DO I HAVE TO LIVE FOR?
AND IMAGINE THE LITTLE BOY
LOOKING UP TO THE HEAVENS AND
CURSING GOD MAYBE, BECAUSE HE
KNOWS THAT 50 YEARS AFTER THE
DEMISE OF THE GREAT DR. KING HE
IS STILL NOT AFFORDED THE RIGHT
AS SOME OF HIS WHITE
COUNTERPARTS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND THE BOY LOOKS UP TO THE
HEAVENS, AND HE SCREAMS
EMPHATICALLY, IT'S LIKE I'M
SITTING IN THE JAIL CELL, LORD.
SOMEBODY REMEMBER ME.
IT'S LIKE I'M SITTING IN THE
JAIL CELL, LORD, SOMEBODY LISTEN
TO ME.
IT'S LIKE I'M SITTING IN THE
JAIL CELL, LORD, ON DEATH ROW,
COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS, 'CAUSE I
KNOW THEY COMING.
THEY ALL COMING.
AND IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE
LIKE THIS.
YOU SEE, LORD, THEY NEVER TOLD
ME THAT THE DREAM WAS IN ME.
THEY NEVER TOLD ME THAT YOU WAS
ALWAYS THERE.
SO IN TURN I BELIEVED WHAT I
SAW.
AND WHAT I SAW WAS A DADDY THAT
WAS NEVER AROUND AND A MOMMA
THAT WAS ALWAYS CRYING 'CAUSE WE
WERE ALWAYS BROKE WHEN THERE WAS
MONEY OUTSIDE.
AND RATS AND ROACHES AND
MATTRESSES WE SLEPT ON AND
PEOPLE TOLD ME I HAD TO WAIT 12
YEARS TO GET PAID.
MY TEACHERS TOLD ME I HAD TO
WAIT 12 YEARS TO GET PAID WHILE
SOME OF THEM GOT PAID OFF OF ME
MR.WHETHER I LEARNED OR NOT WHEN
THERE WAS MONEY OUTSIDE.
WHAT ELSE WAS I SUPPOSED TO DO?
THEY NEVER TOLD ME THE DREAM WAS
IN ME.
THEY NEVER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS
ALWAYS HERE.
AND IF DR. KING WAS HERE TODAY,
HE MAY SAY HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU
REALLY REMEMBER ME, WHEN THE
REASON WHY GOD CREATED ME IN THE
FIRST PLACE WAS FOR THE POOR,
WAS FOR THE OPPRESSED, WAS FOR
THE VICTIMIZED, WAS FOR THE
CHILDREN OF 53206.
NEVER SAY YOU REMEMBER ME UNLESS
YOU REMEMBER THEM.
CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME
NOISE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND IF DR. KING WAS HERE
TODAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HE
MAY LOOK OVER THE WHOLE UNITED
STATES AND HE WOULD BE SO PROUD
THAT 900 STREETS IN THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA ARE NAMED
AFTER HIM.
AND HE WOULD BE PROUD THAT MAYBE
WE BUILT A BIG STATUTE IN THE
MALL IN D.C. IN HIS HONOR.
BUT HIM BEING A SPECIAL MAN, A
MAN OF CONSCIENCE, MAYBE HE
WOULD STILL SAY DO YOU REALLY
REMEMBER ME?
YOU SEE, IT IS EASY TO CELEBRATE
THE LIFE OF A DEAD MAN.
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO LIVE BY
THE PRINCIPLES HE ESPOUSED.
DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
[APPLAUSE]
>> 'CAUSE IF YOU REALLY REMEMBER
ME, YOU WILL REALIZE THAT SAYING
THAT I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH IS
EASY.
SAYING THE PART ABOUT THE LITTLE
BLACK GIRLS AND THE LITTLE BLACK
BOYS AND THE LITTLE WHITE BOYS
AND THE LITTLE WHITE GIRLS IS
EASY.
LITTLE BLACK GIRLS AND LITTLE
BLACK BOYS JOINING HANDS IN
SISTER AND BROTHERHOOD.
BUT HOW CAN THEY REALLY JOIN
HANDS IN SISTER AND BROTHERHOOD,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WHEN THEY
ARE LETTING GO OF THE HAND OF
LIFE RIGHT HERE IN WISCONSIN
EVERY DAY?
WHEN LITTLE WHITE BOYS AND
LITTLE WHITE GIRLS IN THE
NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE ARE
DYING OF AN OPIOID ADDICTION AND
LITTLE BLACK BOYS AND LITTLE
BLACK GIRLS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN
PART OF THE STATE ARE DYING IN
THE HAIL OF BULLET FIRE.
MAYBE DR. KING WOULD SAY HOW DID
YOU FORGET ABOUT THE CHILDREN?
AND WHAT MADE YOU FORGET ABOUT
THE CHILDREN?
WHAT MADE US CREATE A WORLD WHEN
CHILDREN ARE RUNNING TOWARDS
DREAMS, HOPES, ASPIRATIONS, THEY
RUNNING FOR THE CASKET.
YOU SAY YOU REMEMBER ME?
NO, YOU'VE FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT
ME.
WHY HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN ABOUT ME?
WAS IT THE POWER?
WAS IT THE PRESTIGE?
WAS IT THE TITLES?
WAS IT TRYING TO BE A BIG MAN OR
A BIG WOMAN?
OR WAS IT THE MONEY?
YEAH, MAYBE IT WAS THE MONEY.
MAYBE DR. KING SAY YOU FORGOT
ABOUT GOD AND YOU WORSHIP MONEY.
YOU SAY, PLEASE, LORD, MONEY,
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY, GOD, NEVER
LEAVE ME, BLESS ME WITH YOUR
CAUSE AND CLOTHES AND DIAMOND
SINGS.
MONEY, NEVER LEAVE ME.
IF DR. KING WAS HERE, HE'D SAY
YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME BECAUSE
YOU FORGOT ABOUT THE CHILDREN.
YOU DON'T REMEMBER MEAL 'CAUSE
YOU FORGOT ABOUT GOD HIMSELF.
BUT IF WE WANT TO DO BETTER THAN
THAT, CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE
SOME NOISE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> BUT IF DR. KING WAS HERE
TODAY, MAYBE HE WOULD SAY TO
HIMSELF, BEING SO THANKFUL THAT
THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BOOKS
TODAY THAT ARE WRITTEN IN HIS
NAME.
CLAP YOUR HANDS FOR THAT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND MAYBE THE GREAT KING
WOULD BE SO HONORED THAT SO MANY
SCHOOLS BEAR HIS NAME.
BUT HIM BEING A SPECIAL MAN WITH
A SPECIAL PURPOSE, HE WOULD
STILL QUESTION US.
HE WOULD SAY, IT IS EASY TO
CELEBRATE THE LIFE OF A DEAD
MAN.
SO, SO MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO
LIVE BY THE PRINCIPLES HE
ESPOUSED.
DO YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME?
DO YOU REMEMBER MY SACRIFICE?
DO YOU REMEMBER THE WATER HOSES?
DO YOU REMEMBER THE JAIL TIME?
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW THE FBI HAD
ME UNDER SURVEILLANCE?
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MY HOUSE WAS
FIRE BOMBED?
DO YOU REMEMBER?
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT I WAS
STABBED IN THE CHEST AND THEY
SAID I CAME A COUGH AWAY FROM MY
DEATH?
DO YOU REMEMBER THE LORRAINE
HOTEL?
DO YOU REMEMBER THAT SNIPER?
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW I TOOK THE
BULLET TO SAVE THE SOUL OF
AMERICA?
DO YOU REMEMBER?
[APPLAUSE]
>> DO YOU REMEMBER?
DO YOU REMEMBER?
DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT WHAT I
REALLY GAVE UP?
I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO SEE MY
KIDS GROW UP.
I NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO WALK MY
DAUGHTER DOWN THE AISLE.
THE LAST 40 YEARS OF MY WIFE'S
LIFE I WAS NOT THERE TO HOLD HER
IN MY ARMS.
DO YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME?
'CAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER ME, THEN
HOW COULD YOU BE SO OFFENDED BY
A FOOTBALL PLAYER TODAY KNEELING
IN THE PROTEST?
[APPLAUSE]
>> IF YOU REMEMBER ME, THAT'S A
BABY PROTEST.
THAT'S A BABY PROTEST IN TERMS
OF WHO I REALLY WAS.
IF YOU REALLY REMEMBERED ME, HOW
COULD YOU BE SO OFFENDED WHEN A
YOUNG ACTIVIST SAYS THAT BLACK
LIVES MATTER BECAUSE THE VERY
REASON YOU HERE TODAY IS TO
HONOR A BLACK LIFE THAT
MATTERED?
[APPLAUSE]
>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE
LADDER, THE LADDER THAT WAS ME,
THE PROTONS, NEUTRONS,
ELECTRONS, THE 46 CHROMOSOMES,
THE 100 MILLION CELLS, THAT WAS
ONCE ME.
YOU ARE SAYING TODAY THAT IT WAS
GREAT AND THAT SAME GREATNESS IS
IN YOU AND IS IN YOU AND IS IN
YOU REGARDLESS OF YOUR RACE,
YOUR CREED, YOUR COLOR.
AND THAT'S WHAT I REALLY MEANT
WHEN I SAID WE WANT TO SPEED UP
THE DAY WHEN ALL GOD'S CHILDREN,
BLACKS AND WHITES AND JEWS,
GENTILES, PROTESTANTS, CATHOLICS
AND MUSLIMS.
IF HE WAS HERE, HE PROBABLY
WOULD EVEN SAY MUSLIMS AND SIKHS
WOULD ALL JOIN HANDS AND SING IN
THE WORDS OF THAT WHOLE NEGRO
SPIRITUAL.
DO YOU REMEMBER ME?
DO YOU REMEMBER THE GREAT KING?
BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBERED THE
GREAT KING, THEN MAYBE, JUST
MAYBE, TAKE A FEW WORDS OF
ADVICE FROM A DEAD MAN.
YOU SEE, THERE WAS THE STORY OF
THESE TWO BROTHERS.
THE TWO BROTHERS LIVED SIDE BY
SIDE FOR 40 YEARS.
JUST LIKE SOME BROTHERS
SOMETIMES, THEY FALL OUT AND
THEY HAVE A DISAGREEMENT.
ONE DAY, A CARPENTER KNOCKED ON
THE DOOR OF ONE OF THE BROTHERS.
THE BROTHER LET HIM IN.
THE CARPENTER ASKED FOR SOME
WORK.
THE BROTHER SAID SURE.
I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU TO DO.
BUILD ME A GREAT, BIG, OLD
FENCE.
I DON'T WANT TO EVER SEE MY
BROTHER AGAIN IN MY LIFE.
I DON'T CARE IF HE DIES.
I'M NOT GOING TO HIS FUNERAL.
I HATE MY BROTHER.
CAN YOU DO THAT FOR ME?
AND THE CARPENTER SAID, SURE, I
CAN.
I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.
SO THE BROTHER WENT TO TOWN.
MUCH TO HIS SURPRISE, WHEN HE
GOT BACK, THE CARPENTER DIDN'T
BUILD A FENCE AT ALL, BUT HE
BUILT A BRIDGE THAT WAS BETWEEN
THE PROPERTY OF THE TWO
BROTHERS.
BEFORE HE COULD GIVE THAT
CARPENTER A PIECE OF HIS MIND,
HIS BROTHER WAS ALREADY RUNNING
ACROSS THE BRIDGE SAYING, OH, MY
BROTHER, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
YOU SEE, I WOULD HAVE BUILT A
FENCE MYSELF.
BUT THAT'S WHY YOU SO BLESSED.
YOU'RE SO FORGIVEN.
YOU'RE SO CARING AND I LOVE YOU.
SO AS THE CARPENTER WAS PACKING
UP HIS TOOLS, THE BROTHERS
LOOKED OVER TO THE SIDE AND THEY
SAW HE WAS LEAVING AND THEY
SAID, PLEASE, DON'T GO, WE WANT
TO PUT SOME MORE MONEY IN YOUR
POCKET.
THE CARPENTER SAID, I'M SORRY,
BROTHER, I HAVE MORE BRIDGES TO
BUILD.
IF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
WERE HERE TODAY, HE WOULD ASK
YOU ARE YOU A BRIDGE-BUILDER OR
YOU ABOUT SETTING UP FENCES?
[APPLAUSE]
>> HE WOULD ASK POLITICALLY HERE
AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, ARE WE
BUILDING BRIDGES OR ARE WE
BUILDING FENCES?
ARE WE JUST TRYING TO COLOR THE
STAGE RED OR BLUE, OR ARE WE
WORKING TOGETHER?
CLAP YOUR HANDS AND MAKE SOME
NOISE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IF HE WAS HERE TODAY,
DR. KING WOULD SAY I BE BUILDING
BRIDGES BETWEEN THE RACES.
I BE BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN
THE CITY AND THE SUBURBS.
I'LL BE BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN
THE TOP HALF OF THE STATE AND
THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE STATE.
YOU SEE, IF DR. KING WAS HERE
TODAY, HE WOULD SAY IT IS EASY
TO CELEBRATE A DEAD MAN.
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO LIVE BY
THE PRINCIPLES HE ESPOUSED.
DO YOU REALLY REMEMBER ME?
'CAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER ME, IF
YOU REMEMBER ME, UNDERSTAND THAT
I HAVE A DREAM WAS NEVER
INTENDED TO BE A SPEECH.
IT WAS INTENDED TO BE A WAY OF
LIFE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THE BATON IS PASSED TO YOU.
TAKE THAT BATON AND LIVE IT OUT.
THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL MY WORDS
"FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST,
THANK GOD ALL MIGHTY WE ARE FREE
AT LAST" NOT BE A SPEECH, BUT
REALITY.
DO WE REMEMBER HIM?
[APPLAUSE]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[STANDING OVATION]
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> OKAY.
I'M DONE.
MUHIBB DYER.
GIVE HIM ANOTHER ROUND WARM OF
APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> AND NOW TO SHARE AN EXCERPT
OF DR. KING'S 1963 SPEECH "I
HAVE A DREAM," HERE IS JALEN
MCCOLLUM, FIRST-YEAR STUDENT AT
MATC.
[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 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 THAT ONE DAY,
EVEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
WILL BE TRAN FORMED INTO AN
OASIS OF FREEDOM AND JUSTICE.
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
MEN, 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
SNOW-CAPPED 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, WHEN WE
LET IT RING FROM EVERY VILLAGE
AND EVERY HAMLET, EVERY STATE
AND EVERY CITY, WE WILL BE ABLE
TO SPEED UP THE DAY WHEN ALL OF
GOD'S CHILDREN, BLACK MEN AND
WHITE MEN, JEWS AND GENTILES,
PROTESTANTS AND CATHOLICS, WILL
BE ABLE TO SING IN THE WORDS OF
THE OLD NEGRO SPIRITUAL "FREE AT
LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD
ALL MIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST"!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
[STANDING OVATION]
>> JALEN MCCOLLUM.
ONCE AGAIN, ALL THE WAY FROM
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AND THEY
LOOK REALLY, REALLY HANDSOME
HERE, ALL THE WAY FROM THE CITY
THAT I GREW UP IN, A LOT OF
FOLKS -- ARE THERE OTHER FOLKS
HERE IN MILWAUKEE IN THE
AUDIENCE HERE?
ALL RIGHT.
SO IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME, HOPING
THAT YOU WOULD GET HERE OVER THE
YEARS AND FINALLY YOU ARE HERE
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MARCOS
MELENDEZ.
WE'RE SO DELIGHTED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND DON'T THEY SING WONDERFUL?
BEAUTIFUL SINGING.
SO HERE THEY ARE AGAIN, THE
MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S CHOIR.
[APPLAUSE]
*
* WHEN THE WAVES ROLL ON OVER
THE WATERS *
* AND THE OCEAN CRIES
* WE LOOK TO OUR SONGS AND
DAUGHTERS *
* TO EXPLAIN OUR LIVES
* AS IF A CHILD COULD TELL US
WHY *
* THAT AS SURE AS THE SUNRISE
* AS SURE AS THE SEA
* AS SURE AS THE WIND IN THE
TREES *
* WE RISE AGAIN IN THE FACES OF
OUR CHILDREN *
* WE RISE AGAIN IN THE VOICES OF
OUR SONG *
* WE RISE AGAIN IN THE WAVES OUT
ON THE OCEAN *
* AND THEN WE RISE AGAIN
* WHEN THE LIGHT GOES DARK WITH
THE FORCES OF CREATION *
* ACROSS THE STORMY SKY
* WE LOOK TO REINCARNATION TO
EXPLAIN OUR LIVES *
* AS IF A CHILD COULD TELL US
WHY *
* THAT AS SURE AS THE SUNRISE
* AS SURE AS THE SEA
* AS SURE AS THE WIND IN THE
TREES *
* WE RISE AGAIN IN THE FACES OF
OUR CHILDREN *
* WE RISE AGAIN IN THE VOICES OF
OUR SONG *
* WE RISE AGAIN IN THE WAVES OUT
ON THE OCEAN *
* AND THEN WE RISE AGAIN
* WE RISE AGAIN IN THE FACES OF
OUR CHILDREN *
* WE RISE AGAIN IN THE VOICES OF
OUR SONG *
* WE RISE AGAIN IN THE WAVES OUT
ON THE OCEAN *
* AND THEN WE RISE AGAIN *
* AND THEN WE RISE AGAIN
* WE RISE AGAIN *
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> THE MILWAUKEE CHILDREN'S
CHOIR!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> HERE TO PRESENT THE OFFICIAL
STATE PROCLAMATION HONORING
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. IS
REBECCA KLEEFISCH, THE 44TH
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF
WISCONSIN.
SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE POSITION
ON NOVEMBER 2 OF 2010 AS THE
RUNNING MATE TO GOVERNOR SCOTT
WALKER.
PLEASE WELCOME HER TO THE
PODIUM.
[APPLAUSE]
>> TODAY IS A SPECIAL DAY TO
HONOR AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN.
DR. KING WAS A PATRIOT.
HE WAS A POET.
HE WAS A PIONEER.
BUT WE MUST NOT FORGET HE WAS A
PASTOR.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
LOVED THE LORD.
AND SO WHEN I REFLECT ON TODAY'S
SPEECHES, ONE IN PARTICULAR, I
THINK TO MYSELF THAT ALL OF THE
CHILDREN OF WISCONSIN WERE
CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, AND
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO
THE HARD THING, NOT JUST THE
SIMPLE THING, REMEMBERING A
LEGACY OF HOLDING THOSE
CHILDREN'S HANDS, BUT THE HARD
THING OF HOLDING ON TIGHT EVEN
WHEN IT SEEMS THEY WANT TO LET
GO.
SO LET US RESOLVE TODAY ON THIS
38TH CELEBRATION TO DO THE HARD
THING AND TRULY HONOR THE LEGACY
OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
WHEREAS THIS IS THE OLDEST
OFFICIAL STATE CEREMONY HONORING
DR. KING AND THE 38TH YEAR THAT
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAS HELD
A COMMEMORATION IN DR. KING'S
HONOR, IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF
GOODWILL AND COMMUNITY BY LIVING
THE DREAM AND SERVING THE CAUSES
OF EQUALITY, PEACE, JUSTICE AND
FREEDOM, AND THIS YEAR'S THEME
IS "DO YOU REMEMBER," NOW
THEREFORE I, SCOTT WALKER,
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM
MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 2018 AS THE
REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR. DAY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN AND I COMMEND THIS
OBSERVANCE TO ALL OF OUR
CITIZENS.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH.
AND NOW AS IT HAS BEEN THE
TRADITION, WE PASS THIS OUT TO
THE AUDIENCE AND FOR 37 YEARS IT
HAS ALWAYS COME BACK.
SO WHO WOULD LIKE TO --
[APPLAUSE]
>> MAY I ASK YOUR NAME?
DIANE SMALL?
YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR LIKE
THREE OR FOUR YEARS, HAVEN'T
YOU?
ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A
RESERVE NEXT TIME IN THE
AUDIENCE.
ALL RIGHT.
THERE IT GOES.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
KLEEFISCH.
AND NOW, AS PROGRAM
PARTICIPANTS, PRODUCTION CREW
MEMBERS, ORGANIZERS, DAIS GUESTS
AND VOLUNTEERS, I OFFER SPECIAL
THANKS TO THE DELTA SIGMA THETA
SORORITY, AS THEY COME ON STAGE
TO JOIN ME NOW.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LET US STAND TOGETHER
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, ALL OF THE
VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE HELPED.
PLEASE CONTINUE GIVING THEM A
BIG HAND AND JOIN ME HERE AS THE
PODIUM.
[APPLAUSE]
>> LET US STAND TOGETHER
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, AS WE
DEPART THIS PLACE.
EVEN IN THE MIDST OF
CELEBRATION, MINDFUL THAT THERE
IS MUCH TO OVERCOME, BUT
TOGETHER WE SHALL.
THERE ARE FAILURES.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT
HAPPEN THAT WE DIDN'T INTEND AS
A NATION.
OUR FAILURE TO ACCEPT OTHERS WHO
ARE DIFFERENT, INCLUDING THOSE
WHO SPEAK AND DRESS AND WHOSE
LANGUAGE AND CUSTOMS ARE
DIFFERENT.
BUT THERE'S ALSO BEEN AN
AWAKENING, LARGELY BY WOMEN AND
GIRLS, WHO HAVE HAD THE COURAGE
TO SAY "ME TOO," BUT THEY ALSO
SAY" NO MORE."
LET US SING TOGETHER THAT WE CAN
BE A BETTER NATION.
WE CAN OVERCOME.
* WE SHALL OVERCOME
* WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY
* OH, DEEP IN MY HEART, I DO
BELIEVE *
* THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOMEDAY *
>> ONE MORE TIME, LET'S SING IT.
* WE SHALL OVERCOME
* WE SHALL OVERCOME SOMEDAY
* OH, DEEP IN MY HEART, I DO
BELIEVE *
* THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOMEDAY *
[APPLAUSE]
>> EVERYONE, THAT CONCLUDES THIS
ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY
HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING,
JR.
ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
REBECCA KLEEFISCH AND ALL WHO
HELPED MAKE THIS PROGRAM
POSSIBLE, INCLUDING THE LATE
REVEREND VERNON VISICK, THANK
YOU.
I'M JONATHAN OVERBY.
AND MAY YOUR WEEK BE FILLED WITH
PEACE AND HARMONY.
>> LET'S GO OUT WITH A
CELEBRATION.
I WANT TO CELEBRATE.
LET'S GO!
*
* I ASKED MY MOTHER, HOW COULD I
KNOW THIS MAN *
* DON'T YOU SEE, YOU GOT TO BE
BORN AGAIN *
* GOT TO BE BORN *
* OH, YOU MUST HAVE THE FIRE IN
THE HOLY GHOST *
* AND THE BURNING FIRE *
* GOT A RELIGION *
* YOU GOT TO MOVE, SHOUT *
* I CLAP MY HANDS *
* JESUS' NAME *
* YOU KNOW THAT I'M FREE *
* FREE FROM SIN *
* I BEEN BORN AGAIN *
* SAY IT ONE MORE TIME *
* LONG AGO I DIDN'T KNOW
NOTHING *
* 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 *
* WELL, YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST
HAVE *
* YOU MUST HAVE, YOU MUST HAVE *
* EVERYBODY MUST HAVE *
* YOU GOT TO HAVE *
* THE HOLY GHOST *
* DID YOU KNOW YOU GOT IT *
* YOU KNOW YOU GOT IT *
* THE HOLY GHOST *
* LET SOMEBODY KNOW IT *
* YOU GOT THE HOLY GHOST *
* HOLY GHOST *
* HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY *
* HOLY GHOST *
* KNOW YOU GOT IT *
* I KNOW IT *
* HOLY, HOLY, HOLY *
* I GO I GOT THE HOLY *
* I KNOW I GOT THE HOLY *
* FIRE, FIRE, FIRE, FIRE *
* BURNING, BURNING IN MY HEART *
SNET L* LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOLY,
HOLY *
* LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOLY,
HOLY *
* LET'S TALK, COME ON, LET'S
TALK ABOUT THE HOLY *
* FIRE, FIRE, BURNING, YEAH *
* BURNING, FIRE, FIRE *
* LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOLY,
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY *
* HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY *
* HOLY, HOLY *
* EVERYBODY GOT THE HOLY GHOST *
* ANYBODY GOT THE HOLY GHOST *
* YES, YOU KNOW YOU GOT IT.
*
* IF YOU KNOW YOU GOT IT *
* PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER *
* PUT THOSE HANDS TOGETHER *
* LET SOMEBODY HEAR IT *
* LET SOMEBODY HERE KNOW *
* THAT YOU GOT THE HOLY GHOST *
* YOU GOT THE HOLY GHOST *
* ANYBODY NEED A BLESSING *
* IF YOU KNOW YOU NEED A
BLESSING *
* IF YOU KNOW YOU NEED A
BLESSING *
* IF YOU KNOW YOU NEED A
BLESSING *
* WHO YOU BLESSING SNOW *
* WHO YOU BLESSING NOW *
* WHO YOU, WHO YOU, WHO YOU, WHO
YOU *