Anti-Racism and the Power of Language
by Marissa GutierrezMy brother and I rarely talk now that he is a naval officer in South Carolina. So one can imagine my surprise when he hits me up for USC football tickets via email, and it absolutely shocks me when he sends me a link to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. “After all, it’s the anniversary, Marissa...in case you didn’t know.”
But to be honest, that particular fact did not cross my mind. On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a speech regarded as one of the most famous in all of history. A speech that has inspired, uplifted, and challenged humans throughout the world to dream of a more perfect world...for all people.
Elois is an African-American woman, around sixty years old by my estimate. She is considered to be the “senior secretary” in the office where I work. I have known her to put up several MLK quotes around the office, and on one occasion I spotted her with a book by the famous civil rights leader. I questioned her about all this and the “I Have a Dream” speech in particular. A fire inside of her was immediately inflamed.
“Why is it so important? What does it mean to me? For me, it is the hope that one day all people can live in peace with one another. It gives us something to dream for...to work toward. That children of different races can one day join together: to love one another, to accept each other’s cultures. The idea of it, simply gives me chills...” The fact that people rejoice in a speech delivered almost forty years ago perplexes me. Yet the actions of my brother and my co-worker are not unusual. MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech has and I feel will continue to ignite the emotions of people. I go into the AFL-CIO building downtown, a poster of King and “I have a dream” is on the wall. It’s on a plaque in the park at my university. The words are on a t-shirt. "Why?", one might ask. I can only attempt to explain. First, it was brilliant. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a powerful, charismatic leader. Second, it was radical. The idea that blacks and whites were equal and could live together side by side was a radical idea at that time. This speech proved that the power of language is supreme. It proved the power of language could rally people to create change.
I don’t know if all people are blessed with such a gift as Dr. King had. I don’t know if these people who do have this gift use it to its full potential. I do know that when such a beautiful gift is used, its effects are truly amazing. I know that I definitely do not have that gift. In all honesty, my public speaking abilities are horrible. But I feel that it is something I am trying to work on. And it’s something I encourage all leaders to work on, especially those in Young Religious Unitarian Universalists (YRUU). Especially the social action coordinators in our districts or anyone else working for social change. Our voices are dying to be heard. We may not all be Dr. Kings, or Dolores Huertas, but we definitely have an opinion, a belief that must not be silenced.
Language is the activists’ tool against injustice. With such a power, we are capable of stirring up the emotions of people. We are capable of making them passionate about an issue. We can give people the motivation to change themselves and change the world. So challenge yourself to take a speech class, or facilitate a meeting in your district. Read a book on public speaking or maybe even study the speeches of some famous leaders. Anything. Speak up and speak out loud. Learning these tools and becoming a better leader, makes us one step closer to the world that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so boldly envisioned on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial forty years ago. We have to continue the legacy and motivate people for the next generation.
Click here for
a copy of MLK’s speech.
And be inspired…again.
For more information contact youth @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
