It took 25 years after Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous speech “I Have a Dream” for his dream to become America’s reality. One day after we celebrate the brave and inspiring work of Dr. King, Americans will share in watching his dream come alive at our nation’s capital when president-elect Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.
Before we witness this historic day, we can celebrate Dr. King’s good works by attending one of many local events:
Saturday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Capitol Rotunda “The Dream is Alive”
The Commisison, West Virginia State University, and West Virginia Division of Culture and History present an evening of entertainment in music and oratory to commemorate Dr. King’s dream and his legacy. Reception to follow.
· Monday, Jan. 19 at 8:30 a.m. there will be an ecumenical service at Asbury United Methodist Church, 501 Elizabeth Street
· Monday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. Governor’s Inaugural Parade - Ecumenical service attendees will join the Governor’s Inaugural parade at the corner of Elizabeth Street and Kanawha Boulevard.
· 1 p.m. Governor’s Inauguration Ceremony - There will be a bell ringing ceremony in remembrance of MLK Jr. will take place at the State Capitol. Reception to follow in the Cultural Center’s Great Hall.
It’s an encouraging day for us at the YWCA as we continue to work toward a world without racism. This Inauguration Ceremony is a tangible victory for civil rights leaders of the 60s and those of us today who continue striving to eliminate racism. The YWCA has a rich, proud history in our work of eliminating racism. On the national level, the YWCA’s efforts to eliminate racism date back to 1934 when the organization lobbied for members to speak out against lynching and mob violence, for interracial cooperation and for the basic civil rights of African Americans.
In our own community, the YWCA has joined other local organizations to host open forums to discuss issues of race, tolerance, peace and acceptance. This month, the YWCA is hosting an eliminating racism art contest. Some of the entries will be on display at the Clay Center for Arts and Sciences during Black History Month (Feb. 11-15).
As we near this historic day, many are reflecting on this day’s significance and how it affects them personally. The Charleston Gazette recently posed the question, “What does it mean to you to see the first black president of the United States?” to 25 members of our community. Their views are interesting. We encourage you to listen to their response and then answer the question yourself.
“What does it mean to YOU to see the first black president of the United States?”
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A Dream Realized
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1 comment:
I have to admit, I never thought I would see a black president. Even as I was watching the election numbers rolling in, I had a difficult time feeling happy about it because I kept waiting for the rug to get yanked out.
I don't think the election of a black president is the end of racism, but I think it shows a major improvement that we need to celebrate. I also think the election will force a lot of people to deal with feelings of bigotry they've been harboring for years.
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