Today marked the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech. Dr. King’s address, delivered to 250,000 supporters, immortalized the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. This year, the magnitude of that moment has been remembered in a week-long series of events which ended in remarks from President Obama on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial this afternoon.
As President Obama spoke, a trend on Twitter – #AdvancingtheDream – developed. The hashtag represented reflections of how people are keeping Dr. King’s dream alive.
Admittedly, I am one of the people that sees change happening at a slower pace than most. No one’s burning crosses in my yard or calling me derogatory names to my face, but I would be less than honest if I said I felt equal. So it was important for me today to reflect on my contribution toward change.
Mentorship is my contribution. Since ’05 I’ve been a mentor to teenage girls in my community. I’ve seen girls literally grown from a child into women with college degrees. It’s a rewarding feeling to know you were a part of that growth process in some way.
I’m also strongly entertaining the pursuit of a PhD so I can share my experiences at a collegiate level. I’ll keep you posted on that.
What are you doing to Advance the Dream?
Good to see you back in the saddle.