Labor Day and Back to School and Dr. King
There was a conjuncture of important days last week. Labor Day and Back to School and the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s March on Washington for Jobs and Justice.Labor Day spoke to the jobs part of the Civil Rights March. But educational opportunities spoke to justice. And the 50th anniversary brought out the continuing need for educational justice for all students – preschool to graduate school.
Dr. King began his speech from a carefully prepared text. We see him referring to his notes in the black and white footage from newsreels. What we do not see was the singer Mahalia Jackson who had just electrified the multitudes singing “I’ve Been ‘Buked and I’ve been Scorned” sitting behind Dr. King. She says, “Tell ‘em about the dream, Martin. Tell ‘em about the dream.”
And Martin looked up from his prepared text. His friend, who had helped with the speech, said to another, “We’re about to go to church.” And that crowd did become a congregation and the steps of the Lincoln Memorial did become a holy place as the man who would not live to see his 40th birthday spoke with the all the power of his heart. This is the part of his address that still can bring adults to tears.
What brought me to tears as our NEA family stood together for that 50th commemoration was how many retired members stood with us in the place they had been 50 years before as young, passionate activists. They returned and generously shared their hearts with our wonderful NEA members and staff. It was our honor to lift up their voices.
It is my honor to offer some of them as guests in this space. Listen and be