Through his dream, a message of service

Thursday night in the Lincoln Performance Hall, Marian Wright Edelman stepped forward at PSU to celebrate the life and messages of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing that a dream such as his will never die and a wish such as his can be realized.

Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, the first woman to pass the Mississippi bar, whose résumé boasts over 100 honorary degrees and multiple awards, moved the sold-out crowd–who clutched the arms of their chairs and curled their bodies forward–as she explained that the way to Dr. King’s dream for human equality and civil rights is through America’s children.

Americans have two choices, explained Edelman: one will push America backwards, the other shows a glimmer of hope.

“We must be the voice of change,” she said. “Dr. King would have been this voice.”

The event, sponsored by Oregon Public Broadcasting, PSU’s Multicultural Center, as well as a number of other university and student organizations, began with an introduction from Multicultural Center Director Jon Joiner. “Tonight we will be highly moved,” he said.

The evening began with the Highland Ministries Choir, singing renditions of “We Shall Overcome,” “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and “The Best is Yet to Come.”

Edelman took the stage, confident and composed, listing fact after fact, figure after overwhelming figure.

“One in three black children will serve jail time,” she said. “With five months worth of the money we spent on the war in Iraq last year, every woman and child in America could receive health care for two months.”

“Sure, we need strong leaders in the White House,” Edelman added, “but we need to be the leaders we’re looking for.” And America needs to think about social change, she said, stressing that the children need to come first.

In the end Edelman’s emotions rose, pausing for a brief moment to take in a deep breath, exhaling, then delivering a quote from Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, the mentor of King and a man she admired: “He always used to say,” she said, “‘If you can’t fly, drive. If you can’t drive, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But keep moving.'”

The crowd stood and applauded as Edelman took her seat.