| Reverend Lucius Walker is a man I knew absolutely nothing about, but is now the man that inspired me to post tonight. I have taken the liberty of quoting from the program's biography of Reverend Walker to give those of you, who like me, may not know of him, an idea of what an incredible individual he is. His address was remarkable and I will comment on some of the points that are still resounding in my head.
"Keynote speaker, The Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., will speak on "Making the Dream a Reality." Rev. Walker has served as Executive Director for the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) since 1979, and founded Pastors for Peace following a 1988 Contra attack on a group of civilians he was traveling with in Nicaragua. He has led IFCO in challenges of inequities and pioneered program development in marginalized communities throughout the US and in many other countries. He has organized against apartheid in South Africa , supported self-determination in Puerto Rico and provided humanitarian aid for Chiapas, Mexico, several Central American countries, Haiti and Cuba. In 2005, Pastors for Peace organized two humanitarian aid caravans to Louisiana and Mississippi following Hurricane Katrina. Rev. Walker is an ordained American Baptist minister and is pastor and founder of Salvation Baptist Church in Brooklyn , New York."
Our County Executive, Dennis McNerney was to honor and present the awards to some of the most distinguished high school students in the county of Bergen. I will have to assume that due to an unforeseen legislative commitment, Executive McNerney (nor any of County Freeholders) was able to attend the event. I quote again from the evening's program.
"Dr. King's commitment to social change will be honored with the recognition of outstanding Bergen County high school students who are deeply involved in service to their communities. County Executive Dennis McNerney will present the awards to honorees who have been selected by their schools, including: a student who has raised funds to help the victims of genocide in Darfur; two students who helped the rebuilding of New Orleans, and provided relief aid in Mississippi, following Hurricane Katrina; and another student who has collected and shipped school supplies to children who were left with no belongings by Hurricane Katrina. All the students will also receive a commendation from the New Jersey State Legislature."
Why would the county reps not attend THIS event (of ALL events)? This is why I say that I am just beginning to learn about local politics. I have no answer for that question.
Governor Corzine, Senator Weinberg, Assemblyman Johnson, Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Teaneck Deputy Mayor Lizette Parker and Audra Jackson (Teaneck) were all present. Tenafly Mayor Peter Rustin gave the words of welcome. The Governor seemed exhausted and his speech certainly reflected that it had been a long day. I'm not sure anyone was able to make sense of his words.
The District 37 Legislators all read quotes from Dr. King's speeches. Senator Weinberg read a quote. The Assemblymembers were provided sentences seemingly picked at random. Whosever task it was to choose these quotes needs to rethink his or her assignment for next year.
The Teaneck delegation presented a resolution from the Township declaring January 15, MLK Day in Teaneck. This, of course, to reinforce the fact that it is already a national day, but props to Teaneck and the honorable councilwomen anyway.
Since McNerney was absent, Weinberg, Johnson and Huttle presented the awards and citations to all the evening's honorees, including Reverend Walker and Bergen County's Observance Committee.
Reverend Walker's speech was stunning. Stunning mostly because of my ignorance. He highlighted a quote in which Dr. King noted free universal health care access as a critical component of the civil rights movement. Reverend Walker highlighted three modern day issues that he felt Dr. King would champion today. The most obvious, of course, is the atrocity that is the occupation of Iraq. The second was the issue of healthcare. To my surprise, he spoke of Cuba, and while I do not remember his exact words, Reverend Walker said something along the lines of "if Dr. King were alive today, he would have a soft place in his heart for this island." He talked of the revolution, the counterproductive nature of the embargo imposed by our nation and the model that Cuba in many ways is setting for the world with the humane treatment of its citizens through progressive healthcare initiatives and policies. I do believe this was a direct quote from his speech, Reverend Walker said, "in Cuba, it is against the law to be sick!" And the third was the most depressing, that if alive today, Dr. King would still be fighting against much of what he fought to overcome four decades ago. Not only the pervasive omnipresent nature of pernicious racism but the failure of our schools to reach our youth and make history significant. He gave the example of a time he spoke in Mississippi to a group of about fifty students. Two of which raised their hands when asked if they had heard of Malcolm and six when asked if they knew of MLK.
Personally, I had never attended such a service before. And for the most part I have never quite grasped the significance of designating one day to honor the legacy of one man or woman. Today I think something happened. I am not sure what. But it is 3:12 in the morning and I feel compelled to write tonight to all of New Jersey. And to listen one more time to Dr. King's speech before I sleep tonight.
Thank you Reverend Walker.
Much respect to Jordan Wilson of Dwight Morrow High School (Englewood, New Jersey) and all the 2007 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Certificate of Merit Awardees. |
