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2008 Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Contest
1st Place Winner: Jonathon Brasfield '11
January 24 , 2008
Dreams are God's way of showing his mercy on us. A dream can be a manifestation of a supernatural thought or image. Slaves had dreams of one day being free. People have short memories for it appears today's generation is so quick to forget their roots. People died for us just to express ourselves and voice our opinion. God has showed his grace on us time and time again by giving us the ability to have better opportunities than our forefathers. Difference means loneliness, because ultimately, to be different, you must be set apart and willing to face rejection. But it's this difference or loneliness that has enabled African Americans of today to have a chance. Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglas, Sojourner Truth, Dr. Martin Luther King, and countless others standing up for our right Civil Rights went against the normal code of conduct that Blacks were suppose to follow.
Going against the trend activist enabled African Americans of our day a chance to the tree of life. "I Have a Dream," does that ring a bell? On August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, D.C., (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would finally voice his opinion in the name of Jesus). Martin Luther King, Jr. was a wise and strong black man. But even he needed the support of his people to open the public's eyes. A prophet of his time, Dr King, Jr., he foretold a day when people would be judged by not the color of their skin but the content of their character. Dr. King saw a day when people could live in unity as one, not just blacks and whites but humanity as a whole. Look around this room and what do you see?. Do you see a particular race? No you see people as one living in unity. Dr. King envisioned people living and loving each other for who we are. People are the only thing in life that has any substance. (You can't take your Mercedes up to heaven can you?)
Dr. King wanted people to love each other the way that the Lord made them. Why be separate but equal when, in actuality, we are all equal. We all are breathing and in the land of the living. Life is too short to hate people for the way they are made. Look upon the many faces around this room; what do you see? I'll tell you what I see. I see wonderful people who are God's beautiful creation. Dare to be different. Don't be part of the trend. Stand up for peace and liberty. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be disgusted by all the violence the world has taken up. People killing each other--over what? Bloods, Crips, what does it truly mean, absolutely nothing? We should eliminate the violence, starting here forth. The Martin Luther King parade down Crenshaw Blvd. is supposed to be celebration representing an ambassador of goodwill. But what has it become? It has become a way for people of color—and when I say color, I don’t just mean blacks. I mean all races to show their true colors. Ignorance, and fighting one another, is not the answer we need to seek.
I don't see why people look so much into skin tone. It's astounding to me because I believe that because I'm black don't put me in that typical Negro category, 'cause if you ask me, nothing about me is typical. My heritage roots from the richness of the Niger Delta; now tell me, is that typical? I'm tired of hiding my heritage. It's for me to be different. I am not my skin, meaning that the color of skin doesn't define me for the well-rounded person I am. I love everybody the same no matter what. (Dare to be different; separate yourself from the trend; forget what people may think). It's time for people to grow up and stop limiting their lives to a social discourse that they think is the only acceptable way of living. For when you live this way, you miss out on all the beautiful people that God may put in your life for a reason. Live, Life, Love. And cherish your friends because they can show you a new appreciation for culture. All these jokes about the immutable differences that God has endowed us with are not okay. "Ghetto," "Wetb****," "Ch***," "N*****"—all those terms need to be taken out of your vocabulary for they are the derogatory terms that condemn this entire nation to poverty and social immobility.
I'm not trying "take you to church," as we call it in the south. But the Bible says in St. Matthew 7: 1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." What that's saying is that you don't have to right to judge anybody 'cause were all made of the same fabric. We all go the same way; even the richest man one day must lie down and die and turn to dust. Leave all the worldly things behind. Just because you make a six figures and your neighbor is barely making ends meet doesn't give you the authority to judge and critic. In the Book of Revelations 1:8, it states, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end." Now what this means is that we have no right to judge anybody. God is the King of his kingdom, and he's a jealous God (oh yes he is).
When you spend so much time trying to find something not to like about a person, you miss out on your blessings. Look around the room. Dare to be different. Now what I want I want you to do is give thy neighbor a hug. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a powerful man whose words will lift every voice and sing till earth and heaven ring, ring with the what, ring with the harmony of liberty. Let's break down the barriers that lies have put up in our past. Dr. King spoke for all races alike; he was truly a blessing from God.
Willing to give his life for a cause greater than himself Dr. King knew what was to come. April 3, 1968—a day before Dr. King would be assassinated—he stated:
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life.
Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now.
I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain.
And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land.
I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will
Get to the promised land!
And so I'm happy, tonight.
I'm not worried about anything.
I'm not fearing any man!
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!
In his statement, Dr. King is referring to Deuteronomy 34:4, when Moses goes onto the mountain top and looks and sees the promised land, just before the Lord took him home. Dr. King's reference to this powerful scripture in the Bible shows as a testimony to his willingness to die for a greater cause. In the book of St. John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Are you willing to be different? Are you willing to make the ultimate sacrifice? The legacy of Dr. King precedes his teachings and should inspire us as people to make a change.
Life is what you make it; don't expect a utopian society if you're not willing to sacrifice to make sure that this goal is met. Don't be a spectator and expect a change to just happen. Dare To Be Different. Stand up for what you believe. Be proud of your heritage because it's the only piece of your lineage that attributes to you.
Be a participant, and make the change. Dare to be different, for nothing worth having in life is easy to attain. Rise up against oppression, for culture enslaves society. Break down the color lines, cutting the chains of disparity with love. For when we make these changes, the heavens will sing and the angels will rejoice. For we as a people will dare to be different! For finally we will be—in the words of Dr. King—"Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
