To the King Family, Rev. Raphael G. Warnock of Ebenezer Baptist Church, other clergy and distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning.
“Mother, mother, there’s too many of you crying…..”
Brother, brother, brother there’s far too many of you dying
Father, father we don’t need to escalate
You see war is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today….
To bring some understanding here today……
Now what’s goin’ on….
Tell me what’s goin’ on……….
What’s goin on?”
40 years after Marvin Gaye penned these words and nearly 40 years after the assassination of Martin King
We are asking the same question….
“What’s goin’ on?
As we celebrate the life, work and legacy of Martin King, the courage and vision of Coretta King, the homecoming of the King Papers, the new voices in our democracy………
we still ask the question …….
What’s going on?
Millions can’t find jobs, have no health insurance and struggle to make ends meet working minimum wage jobs.
What’s goin on?
Thousands of Black and Latino students drop out of high school believing an education will not matter…..
and national statistics say it doesn’t because they can’t get jobs even if they have a high school diploma.
What’s goin’ on?
I stand before you this morning
as the Mayor of Atlanta, GA
knowing my position was paid for
by the personal sacrifice
and struggle of Martin and Coretta King
and so many others, whose names we know not
and knowing this city, owes a debt of gratitude
to Martin, Coretta and countless men and women young and old
who did not rest until the doors
of economic and political opportunity were opened.
For their lives and work we are thankful.
And we say thanks.
However, my friends,
It is not enough to come to this historic place
at this historic time
It is not enough to march, rally, and sing unless this time
You and I are prepared to make a serious commitment to act… to demonstrate our commitment in a tangible way.
The promises we make in Martin’s name
must be more that the typical new year’s resolutions
that fade with time,
that are forgotten in a few days.
We must hold ourselves
and those who celebrate the dream
and speak Martin’s name accountable
to act on the dream…..
to change our ways…
to turn hate and distrust to love, despair to prosperity,
and war to peace.
We are expected to work for peace, fairness and justice.
Don’t say one thing on Dr King’s birthday
and then contradict the dream a few days later.
We have much work to do to finish
Dr King’s work
We need to know who is committed to
the dream of a righteous and just world.
That we might build an army for peace,
That we might love our neighbors unconditionally…
those with documents and those without
That we will know the power of God through his presence in our lives……
as it was manifested in Martin’s life and work
May our commitment be so strong, so steadfast
that our message will reach both sides of the aisle in Congress,
the boardrooms and checkout counters of business,
the hearts of our people,
the camps in Darfur, the halls of the United Nations
the barracks in Iraq and the streets of the Middle East
under the bridges, in the shelters across America,
the hearts of our people
that our children’s children
May live in peace and harmony
with love and respect for each other and nature,
that they will live the dream because we made it so.
Dr King said, “there comes a time when one must take a position…….. because Conscience tells him it is right”.
Now is such a time…..
Act with conscience
“You see war is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate”
What’s goin’ on…?
Act with conscience because it is right.