“I consider it a most rewarding experience
to have the opportunity of discussing with
college students one of the vital issues of
our day.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke here on
February the 9th, 1961.
It is a special joy in welcoming Mr. Martin
Luther King III here at Kean University.
It’s always a special honor to speak where
my father spoke, and I believe I have my own
message to carry out.
But, my father had an unusual gift of communication,
and I hope I'm bringing that spirit to the table
College students, the same age as many of
you, played a critical role in the historic
non-violent uprisings of the American civil
rights movement.
The great struggles for justice and human
rights we face today will require the same
courage and commitment.
For 20 years, I’ve spoken with young people
around this nation.
I think now people want to be more engaged,
and I think we see that by the #MeToo movement.
We see that by #BlackLivesMatter.
We see that by other diverse movements that
are, if not emerging – that are already
working to bring about change in communities.
The thing I’m really gonna focus on is trying
to find my small thing that I can help to
implement in the world, so I can make that
impact larger.
Mr. King said that his father would talk to
anybody in power to see change which is something
that, I think, resonates now.
If we want to see change, we need to talk
to the people that can make it happen no matter
how we feel about them.
What I took home from tonight's lecture was
that I can make a difference here on campus.
Him hitting the points of human rights and
voting, it was just something that was shouting
out to us — “Go make a change!” — instead
waiting for people who are older than us.
They already had their chance.
Now it's our turn.
We can and we must do a better job, in 2020,
in motivating people to use the power of the
ballot to improve their lives and their communities.
