As I have been reflecting this morning on the words from Dr. Cornell West's speech at the University of Utah yesterday, I'm reminded of an incident that happened on my 12th birthday 48 years ago this month. My mother had finally given in and allowed me to invite all the girls from my class, including two Black girls, to my birthday party because I had insisted that I didn't want to have a party if anyone had to be left out.
West's words inspired me to want to recapture that 12 year old attitude and determination as so much work still needs to be done not only in my personal life but as a nation, too, so that no one is left out.
Progress has been made as Linda Chavez reminds us in her article Our Better Angels: Martin Luther King's Legacy posted at www.townhall.com on January 18, 2008. Chavez notes that under the leadership of King in the Civil Rights movement, the hearts and minds of American people were changed and led out of complacency to exclaim, "This should not happen in America" The conscience of millions of Americans of all colors had been pricked, and they understood that the injustices they were witnessing on their TV screens were simply wrong. An army of men and women, young and old, black and white, was mobilized and the non-violent protests for democratic rights for all began.
West reminded us, though, that in spite of the progress that has been made, the journey isn't over until Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream has been totally realized. In order for this to happen, all of us must respond to what both King and Lincoln called the appeal to "the better angels of our nature" and get to work.
Friday, January 18, 2008
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