Honoring Dr.Martin Luther King
As we went out into the world following our graduation, I doubt that any of us had any idea of what our country would face in the 60’s much less for the rest of our lives. The home that I was raised in had a strong “southern” heritage. Whenever the subject of Dr. King came up, he was not spoken of with any degree of respect. How was it in your home?
Now fifty years later, I have come to have the greatest respect for this man of peace and what he stood and spoke out for in our generation. I urge my fellow classmates to join me today in honoring the memory of Dr. King by listening to the burden of his life as a loyal Christian and a loyal American.
For what it is worth, the cause for which he gave his life appears to me one that continues to demand breaking the silence now more than ever in America. But we must learn to do so in a peaceful, non-violent way that respects our neighbor and their right to disagree publically. And Dr. King can serve as a model of how we can learn to do that even on the most difficult subjects.
A tribute to Dr.King’s vision in song, by Nina Simone
A related post on my E4Unity blog from May 2008
A name from the Virtual wall- Viet Nam War Memorial
Class of 1960-Kansas City-SOUTHEAST 
Dr. King said, “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” It was not until I read his “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” and listened to his “I Have a Dream” speech, and saw what this one man was able to accomplish in his short life, that I overcame my own prejudice and began to appreciate the stature of this man. As he did, we must do the work which the Lord puts in front of us.
Thanks for your comment, Dean, and happy birthday! Politics aside, another beautiful American shares your birthday- First Lady, Michelle Obama. How special is that?
PLease help us honor our classmates that served in Viet Nam by sending us their names. Does anyone know that a classmate’s name is on the Wall at the Memorial in Washington DC?
July Update-
Reading the inaugural edition of SEHS Alumni Association newsletter, I learned the name of our classmate who has the distinction of being the First Afro-American graduate of Southeast- Oliver Story. He is mentioned in the excellent interview w/ Preston Washington, class of ’62 who was actually the first Afro-American to attend Southeast starting in 1957.