01/20/2020
“Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Born Jan. 15, 1929, King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39. A life cut short but a life packed with many accomplishments, inspirations writings and speeches. King could communicate in a way that moved people and painted pictures in their minds. He spoke most often about racial equality, but he also spoke about family.
King’s most famous quote about his children is, of course, the one he delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 to a massive crowd gathered on the Washington mall.
“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 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 …"
These famous words, however, did not appear in the prepared text of King's speech. When he uttered these famous words he was adlibbing. And he was adlibbing because the gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson, who was seated nearby, spontaneously cried out to King during the speech: "Tell them about the dream, Martin! Tell them about the dream!"
What if Jackson had never cried out? What if King had not listened to her and adlibbed? What if these memorable words had never been uttered? The world would be poorer, indeed.
Very few of us have the oratorical skills of King. Fewer still will ever command an audience of 250,000 people like the one gathered that day. But any of us could cry out words of encouragement, like Mahalia Jackson did, to talk about the dream we have for our children. Any one of us is capable of having a dream for our children and working hard to make it reality.
Not a dream for wealth or prosperity, but a dream for opportunity and equality.
What’s your dream for your children or grandchildren? What’s your dream for the children of our state and nation? Make your dream for them as noble as King’s. And while you’re dreaming, shout out words of encouragement to others to talk about the dream.”
Jim Priest for The Oklahoman
https://oklahoman.com/article/5652310/family-talk-the-dream-of-martin-luther-king-jr
