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January 12, 200S
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Honored for Peace
Martin Lutlier King Jr. accepts Nobel Prize
“We must
accept finite
M retti »Im am ara it
but we must
never lose infinite
hope.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
Though he suffered through disappointments, l)r. Martin Luther King’s
legacy to us all is the invaluable gift of hope. N W Natural proudly stands
with our African American community in celebrating Black History Month.
4>
NW N a t u r a l
Editor ’s note: Forty years ago, on Dec. 6, a new sense of dignity. This same road has
1964, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered opened for all Americans a new era of progress
the following acceptance speech on the occa­ and hope. It has led to a new Civil Rights Bill, and
sion o f his award o f the Nobel Peace Prize in it will, I am convinced, be widened and length­
Oslo, Norway:
ened into a super highway of justice as Negro and
Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness, Mr. white men in increasing numbers create alliances
President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen: to overcome their common problems.
I accept the
Nobel Prize for
Peace at a mo­
ment when 22 mil­
lion Negroes of the
United States of
America are en­
gaged in a creative
battle to end the
long night of racial
injustice. I accept
this award on be­
half of a civil rights
movement which
is moving with de­ At the age o f 35, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was the youngest
termination and a man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize. Seen here preparing
majestic scorn for for his speech.
risk and danger to
establish a reign of freedom and a rule of justice.
I accept this award today with an abiding faith
I am mindful that only yesterday in Birmingham, in America and an audacious faith in the future of
Alabama, our children, crying out for brother­ mankind. I refuse to accept despair as the final
hood, were answered with fire hoses, snarling response to the ambiguities of history. I refuse to
dogs and even death. I am mindful that only accept the idea that the “isness” of man’s present
yesterday in Philadelphia, Mississippi, young nature makes him morally incapable of reaching
people seeking to secure the right to vote were up for the eternal “oughtness” that forever con­
brutalized and murdered. And only yesterday fronts him. I refuse to accept the idea that man is
more than 40 houses of worship in the State of
Mississippi alone were bombed or burned be­
cause they offered a sanctuary to those who
would not accept segregation. I am mindful that
debilitating and grinding poverty afflicts my
people and chains them to the lowest ning of the
economic ladder.
Therefore, I must ask why this prize is awarded
to a movement which is beleaguered and com­
mitted to unrelenting struggle; to a movement
which has not won the very peace and brother­
hood which is the essence of the Nobel Prize.
After contemplation, I conclude that this award
which I receive on behalf of that movement is a
profound recognition that nonviolence is the
answer to the crucial politi­
cal and moral question of
our time - - the need for
man to overcome oppres­
sion and violence without
resorting to violence and op­
pression. Civilization and
violence are antithetical
concepts. Negroes of the
United States, following the
people of India, have dem­
onstrated that nonviolence
is not sterile passivity, but a
powerful moral force which
makes for social transfor­
mation. Sooner or later all mereflotsom andjetsom in the river of life unable
the people of the world will to influence the unfolding events which surround
have to discover a way to him. I refuse to accept the view that mankind is
live together in peace, and so tragically bound to the starless midnight of
thereby transform this racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace
pending cosmic elegy into a and brotherhood can never become a reality.
creative psalm of brother­
I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation
hood, If this is to be achieved, after nation must spiral down a militaristic stair­
man must evolve for all hu- way into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I
The Gifford Pinchot:
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Urban Youth Programs
• Teachers in the Woods
I accept this award on
behalf o f a civil rights
movement which is moving
with determination and a
majestic scorn for risk and
danger to establish a reign
o f freedom and a rule o f
justice.
Sooner or later
all the people of
the world will
have to discover a
way to live
together in peace.
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•Environmental Education
WE SALUTE THE DREAM AND THE DREAMER
Fore more information about Gifford Pinchot Urban Forest programs, contact Terry
Durazo, Civil Rights Program Manager, at 360-891-5000. Gifford Pinchot Urban
Forest, 10600 NE 51 st Circle, Vancouver, WA98682.www.fs.fed.us/gpnf
L
USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider and employer
man conflict a m ethod
which rejects revenge, ag­
gression and retaliation. The
foundation of such a method
is love.
The tortuous road which
has led from Montgomery,
Alabama, to Oslo bears wit­
ness to this truth. This is a
road over which millions of
Negroes are traveling to find
believe that unarmed tnith and unconditional love
will have the final word in reality. This is why right
temporarily defeated is stronger than evil trium­
phant. I believe that even amid today’s motor
bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope fora
brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded jus­
tice. lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets
of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of
shame to reign supreme among the children of
continued
on page RIO