1 00:00:00,835 --> 00:00:04,235 - I have a dream that my four little children will one day 2 00:00:04,235 --> 00:00:07,035 live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color 3 00:00:07,055 --> 00:00:09,955 of the skin, but by the content of the character. 4 00:00:21,815 --> 00:00:24,755 - The third Monday in January, marks Martin Luther King Jr. 5 00:00:24,895 --> 00:00:25,915 Day. And as I worked 6 00:00:25,915 --> 00:00:27,795 with James from Balancing Life's Issues, 7 00:00:28,095 --> 00:00:29,875 our DEIB director, which 8 00:00:29,875 --> 00:00:33,155 - Stands for Diversity, equity, inclusion and Belonging, 9 00:00:33,635 --> 00:00:35,795 - I thought to myself, why do we celebrate 10 00:00:36,035 --> 00:00:37,075 MLK Day in January? 11 00:00:38,625 --> 00:00:41,235 Well, some quick Googling, find a reputable source, 12 00:00:41,335 --> 00:00:42,555 the king center.org. 13 00:00:43,175 --> 00:00:46,195 Aha. Turns out it was a legislation introduced days 14 00:00:46,245 --> 00:00:50,515 after his murder that took until 1983 to become law signed 15 00:00:50,515 --> 00:00:52,155 by President Ronald Reagan amongst 16 00:00:52,155 --> 00:00:54,275 controversy because he didn't wanna do it. Bill today 17 00:00:54,475 --> 00:00:56,555 - Creating a national holiday honoring Martin Luther King. 18 00:00:56,815 --> 00:00:58,915 - The White House staged an impressive ceremony. 19 00:00:59,005 --> 00:01:00,355 Today the president and Dr. 20 00:01:00,375 --> 00:01:03,355 King's widow walking into the rose garden together in an 21 00:01:03,355 --> 00:01:04,435 effort to spruce up Mr. 22 00:01:04,475 --> 00:01:06,115 Reagan's tattered civil rights image. 23 00:01:06,655 --> 00:01:08,515 The president signed the bill, which he had 24 00:01:08,515 --> 00:01:11,355 so strongly opposed, making Martin Luther King Jr's 25 00:01:11,515 --> 00:01:14,275 birthday, a national holiday, and he delivered remarks 26 00:01:14,275 --> 00:01:16,315 before some 200 invited guests, 27 00:01:16,645 --> 00:01:18,555 which while not quite calling Dr. King, 28 00:01:18,635 --> 00:01:21,435 a great American were designed to honor him. In 29 00:01:21,675 --> 00:01:24,715 - 1968, Martin Luther King was gunned. 30 00:01:24,815 --> 00:01:26,435 - Ah, there's your answer to why January. 31 00:01:27,145 --> 00:01:29,195 It's his birthday and fun fact. 32 00:01:29,255 --> 00:01:31,995 You know the song Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder, it's 33 00:01:32,355 --> 00:01:33,355 - Birthday. 34 00:01:34,065 --> 00:01:36,275 - Well, it turns out that was composed for the campaign 35 00:01:36,275 --> 00:01:38,355 that helped bring attention to the legislation. 36 00:01:38,785 --> 00:01:40,395 That song hits different now, doesn't it? 37 00:01:41,175 --> 00:01:43,915 And aside from the King center.org being an extremely 38 00:01:44,275 --> 00:01:45,555 valuable resource about the life 39 00:01:45,555 --> 00:01:47,715 and teachings of Dr. King, it's incredible 40 00:01:47,715 --> 00:01:48,795 to read about the programming 41 00:01:48,935 --> 00:01:50,875 and their message that this holiday is really about 42 00:01:51,395 --> 00:01:52,395 - Everyone in our society. 43 00:01:53,135 --> 00:01:55,155 - And that is what James would like to remind us all about. 44 00:01:55,215 --> 00:01:57,075 Not just today, but every day. 45 00:02:07,735 --> 00:02:10,395 - My name is James Francis and I'm the DEI 46 00:02:10,395 --> 00:02:12,675 and B director here, balancing life issues. 47 00:02:13,055 --> 00:02:14,835 And it's once again, the top of the year. 48 00:02:15,555 --> 00:02:20,355 I find myself reflecting, um, not only on the life and times 49 00:02:20,495 --> 00:02:23,115 and message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 50 00:02:24,595 --> 00:02:26,575 But also his dream 51 00:02:27,715 --> 00:02:31,255 and asking myself, has this dream become one 52 00:02:31,605 --> 00:02:32,655 that has been deferred? 53 00:02:33,645 --> 00:02:36,785 You know, I feel that as a society should certainly 54 00:02:37,335 --> 00:02:40,145 move towards continuing to move the needle 55 00:02:41,005 --> 00:02:44,545 to become a more equitable and caring society. 56 00:02:45,145 --> 00:02:46,475 That was Dr. King's dream, 57 00:02:47,785 --> 00:02:50,885 and as a proud father of two beautiful, 58 00:02:50,885 --> 00:02:53,905 intelligent black girls, I began to wonder 59 00:02:53,935 --> 00:02:54,985 what their feelings were. 60 00:02:56,005 --> 00:02:57,335 Even at 11 years old. 61 00:02:57,925 --> 00:03:00,925 What came out was, dad, we all have a lot of work 62 00:03:00,945 --> 00:03:03,785 to do, and that's important. 63 00:03:05,605 --> 00:03:07,695 This is a way when speaking to younger people 64 00:03:07,755 --> 00:03:10,855 or speaking to a different generation isn't gonna give you a 65 00:03:10,855 --> 00:03:14,095 different form of inspiration, a different perspective, 66 00:03:14,915 --> 00:03:18,535 and that's really the lens that I truly needed. 67 00:03:19,675 --> 00:03:21,375 We can certainly do other things 68 00:03:21,595 --> 00:03:23,855 to continue this message by Dr. King. 69 00:03:25,225 --> 00:03:28,245 One of them is certainly a virtual volunteer program. 70 00:03:29,415 --> 00:03:32,195 No matter where you are in the country, no matter 71 00:03:32,195 --> 00:03:33,715 what time you have, it's flexible. 72 00:03:34,295 --> 00:03:38,715 The ideas of letters against isolation for senior citizens, 73 00:03:38,815 --> 00:03:41,515 for those who are veterans of this great country. 74 00:03:42,575 --> 00:03:46,755 And lastly, signing up to read references of Dr. King, 75 00:03:47,385 --> 00:03:51,635 reading quotes, reading age appropriate books, all 76 00:03:51,635 --> 00:03:52,675 of these things can be done, 77 00:03:53,735 --> 00:03:55,995 and my challenge to not only yourself, 78 00:03:56,095 --> 00:04:00,995 but to me, continue to do these things on a 79 00:04:01,555 --> 00:04:06,495 progressive basis, not just January, not just February, 80 00:04:06,555 --> 00:04:07,855 but on a continual basis. 81 00:04:08,525 --> 00:04:11,135 That is how we impact and inspire change. 82 00:04:12,295 --> 00:04:16,135 I want to read this quote. We must accept 83 00:04:16,775 --> 00:04:17,815 finite disappointment, 84 00:04:19,165 --> 00:04:23,325 but never lose infinite hope, never losing hope. 85 00:04:24,365 --> 00:04:28,165 Although Dr. King was murdered years ago, 86 00:04:28,535 --> 00:04:31,285 these words are still relevant today with the things 87 00:04:31,315 --> 00:04:33,645 that tend to go on in our society. 88 00:04:33,705 --> 00:04:36,565 At times, we are certainly making progress, 89 00:04:37,505 --> 00:04:39,445 but let's make sure 90 00:04:39,445 --> 00:04:41,645 that the dream has certainly not been deferred. 91 00:04:42,535 --> 00:04:43,765 Let's all take actions 92 00:04:43,785 --> 00:04:45,965 and steps to continue this dream 93 00:04:46,665 --> 00:04:49,685 for everyone in our society, for everyone. 94 00:04:50,655 --> 00:04:51,085 Thank you.