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January 9, 2008
2008 special edition
Page B20
Experiences For A
lifetime
R emembering
Martin Luther
King, Jr.
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A large crowd
in back-alley
Chicago hears
King's pitch to
build a move­
ment against
slum condi­
tions in their
heartland city.
C ourageous A frican A mericans
A Tribute to Dr. King
bv
J une A costa P otter
Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
was born on Jan. 15.1929 in Atlanta,
Ga.
Early baptized, both he and his
father. Michael, both took the name
Martin in 1935. As he matured, the
young King developed an uncanny
intuition and sensed what the future
held for him.
Well and thoroughly educated, Martin Luther
King Jr. earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from
Morehouse College in 1948 at a just 19 years
old. He received his Divinity degree from Crozer
Theological Seminary in Chester, Pa., in 1951,
and a Doctorate from Boston University in
1955.
Following his earlier ordination in 1947, he
became pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church
in Montgomery, Ala. in 1954: the same year the
U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision;
declared segregated education to be illegal, of
“outlaw status.”
The next year, 1955, Dr. King followed enthu­
siastically upon seamstress Rosa Parks demon­
stration of sheer courage, by refusing to surrender
her seat on a crowded bus to a white man.
In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize.
Dr. King led the extraordinary successful
boycott of the Montgomery, Ala. bus company;
and this led to active leadership in the Civil
Rights Movement.
A pure and gentle man, but possessing steel
courage and greatness of spirit, Dr. King was
arrested countless times and sentenced to jail.
He was a follower of Gandhi and adhered to
non-violence in seeking justice, in confrontation
with authorities.
Wise and learned as well, King was familiar
with the writing of New Englander Henry David
Thoreau and the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy
(both of whom believed in non-violent methods of
working for changes in society). Dr. King ex­
tended his influence into northern cities. ■
Unmatched in rhetorical skills, he was
as well a poet. The combined talents
produced powerful and glorious visions of
what the future might hold.
Black writer James Thomas Jackson
wrote in an essay published in the Los
Angles Times, in February 1976, and
subsequently republished in the book
“Waiting in Line at the Drug Store” in 1993 by
University of North Texas Press:
“He was a Messiah to innumerable blacks and,
one must admit, to innumerable whites. The whites
marched along with us in the civil rights move­
ment, were abused and even died for Dr. King’s
causes and dreams, because they are the univer-1
sal causes and dreams of mankind.”
Throughout the centuries of recorded history,
there have been those few of diverse race, who
have thrilled and enlivened us with their elo­
quence, and with the power and glory of their
words and phrases.
I still hear, and am moved again, by Dr. King’s
words spoken, following the 1963 March on
Washington in his 1968 “Mountaintop” speech.
“ I may not get there with y o u ...” he intoned,
foreseeing, with almost divine vision, his own
death. But he said, “we, as a people, will get
there, to the Promised Land,” and, when there,
we will cry as he did, “Free at last! Free at last!
Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!”
In accord with his belief in non-violence and
forgiveness, he undoubtedly forgave his assas­
sins, before he breathed his last on April 4, 1968.
After that awful day, his family, following his
example, forgave those who had been instrumen­
tal in his death.
In honoring Dr. King this month on the occasion
of his birthday, we are honoring the best and
noblest within us.
One of America’s greatest gifts to the world;
Martin Luther King Jr.
N M N BM M M M M
King Day o f Service Activities
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s
vision of purposeful community
engagement will be honored with
the help of Hands on Greater
Portland and United Way.
On the national Martin Luther
King Jr. Holiday, Monday, Jan.
21, volunteers will beautify the
front entrance of Marshall High
School, help those with mental
illness by upgrading facilities at
the David’s Harp socialization
center, apply protective covers
to David Douglas School Dis­
trict library books. Fix up the
Black Parent Initiative’s new
home in northeast Portland, build
a food pantry at Shiloh Christian
Center and create a handprint
mural with youth at Hacienda
CDC.
Contact Mindy Coolidge at
503-413-8902 for more infor­
mation or to volunteer.
Sisters to March with 'Strength o f Love'
The com m unity-advocacy
group Sisters of the Road invites
everyone to join their annual
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
march and rally. This year’s
them e “Em powered by the
Strength to Love" combines the
wisdom of Dr. King’s sermons
with the local organization's
current campaign focusing on
empowerment.
On Monday, Jan. 21 at2p.m „
people will begin gathering at
the Sisters of the Road center,
133 N.W. Sixth Ave., to enjoy
some snacks. The march be­
gins at 3 p.m. toward First Uni­
tarian Church, 1011 S.W. 12th
Ave., where a program will fea­
ture speakers from Sisters’ Civic
Action Group and Paul Boden
of the Western Regional Advo­
cacy Project.
For more information or to
volunteer, contact Mary at 503-
222-5694
or
visit
sistersoftheroad.org.
C h a s e & W eil, L L P
In the sprit of Dr. King, support a youth in our community
by becoming a mentor with Mentor Portland!
Learn how you can give back
January 15th anytime between 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Laurelwood Brewery
5115 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
Contact Elaine at 503-542-2312 or visit
www.mentorportland.org for more information
Boys & Girls Aid
l
www.boysandgirlsaid.org
S a lu te s
Martin L u th er
K ingJr.
Gerald M. Chase
Richard L. Weil
/Attorneys at Law
722 SW 2nd Ave. Suite 240
P o rtla n d ( )rc g o n 0 7 2 0 4
P h o n e 5 O 3 -2 Ö 4 -1 4 1 4
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