Pasadena MLK Community Coalition

Keeping the Legacy of Martin Luther King Alive!

Pasadena MLK Community Coalition - Keeping the Legacy of Martin Luther King Alive!

Monthly Archives: February 2012

Nancy Mendoza Second Place 2012

The next essay is the second place winning entry penned by Blair School student Nancy Mendoza. We are pleased to see so many students from Blair participate. In particular, for her efforts, Nancy Mendoza will have the opportunity to share her thoughts here with you. Reprinted by permission.

Dr. Martin Luther King

Dr. Martin Luther King is a well known, inspiring man, to all cultures of the world. Dr. King was and still is one of the most influential heroes. His views and beliefs, which were similar to the non-violent ideas of Gandhi, helped African Americans through the 50’s and 60’s obtain the rights and liberties that was their birthright. King faced many obstacles on his quest like jail and even assassination attempts.

Despite these obstacles, he became a successful leader during the Civil Rights Movement, and even after his death, by guiding African Americans in a non-violent and positive direction for the fight to secure rights and equality. These reasons make Dr. King worthy enough of the title “hero.” Throughout his speeches he continuously talks about racial equality and harmony between Caucasian and African-American people also how Caucasian people treat African-Americans and vice versa. He also spoke about having a dream that all races will unite as brother and sister. I can personally say that until this day in my personal opinion his dream has come true.

[quote ]in our society today there remains an enormous division between the races when it comes to median income, home ownership, education, life expectancy, the incarceration rate, drug use and mortality rate.[/quote]

Martin Luther King has had many great accomplishments, many in which have affected today’s society in many ways. If it weren’t for Martin Luther King, many blacks today would still live the lives as slaves, as well as under the harsh rules they used to follow. Once he was elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association, it was then when he delivered his most famous speech on the Lincoln Memorial steps “I Have a Dream.” This is one speech that has touched many young and old blacks searching for freedom.

Yet, many would argue that even if you’re not African American he included a message that touched the hearts of many even in our current century. Dr. King made such a great impact on his society that he received the Nobel Peace Prize, on December 10, 1964. Dr. King gave up his job as a minister, to focus 100% to help fight [for] the Civil Rights Act. This was one way he demonstrated his true courage and inspiration towards fighting for accomplishing his dream.

[quote float="right"]He spoke out against the Vietnam War not as a “tragic well-intentioned mistake,” [/quote]

As he walked the freedom walk with 125,000 people, he continued to work towards helping those in need to speak up and make their voices heard. It was not too long after he became famous for his “I Have a Dream” speech. From that point forward Martin Luther King was looked upon as an over achiever who was devoted to his people and until his death made every possible act he could to see his dream come to life.

However, having done what he did if Dr. King saw that in our society today there remains an enormous division between the races when it comes to median income, home ownership, education, life expectancy, the incarceration rate, drug use and mortality rate.

The issue at the heart of all these problems is the idea that freedom and economic opportunity are interchangeable; that freedom really is economic opportunity. This to me is false knowing that in today’s world, freedom without economic opportunity is just an alternative form of oppression. Further, this thinking is dangerous because it is uncertain of the definitive criterion necessary in evaluating the realization of Dr. King’s dream for African Americans in the 21st century and beyond wealth.

Another example of today’s society would be Dr. King seeing domestic inequality as inseparable being linked with the foreign policy of U.S. corporations and the government. He spoke out against the Vietnam War not as a “tragic well-intentioned mistake,” as so many liberals described it, but the inevitable result of the U.S. Empire of corporate power expanding under a growing military umbrella.

In an audacious statement that would get him branded a dangerous “extremist” today, King declared on April 4, 1967 that the United States was “the greatest supplier of violence in the world today.” Dr. King was an early critic of corporate globalization, which exploited the misery of the world’s poorest nations. Those being capitalists of the West, which were investing huge sums of money in Asia, Africa and South America; only to take the profits out with no concern for the social betterment of the countries.

As time continues to pass on by, we are never certain of the changes headed in our direction. Dr. King’s goals continue to be worked for by some and ignored by others. Yet, that is no barrier to creating and making a difference in this world. It only takes one person to seek and favor change. ♦ Nancy Mendoza

Matthew Teon Third Place 2012

Below is an essay composed by fourteen-year-old Matthew Teon from Blair School, our 3rd place winner in the high school division. We would like to thank Principal Trudell Skinner for encouraging such a fantastic turnout from the Viking campus. As you read Matthew’s reflections on Dr. King here, consider the powerful role of education in helping students gain a broad understanding of social consciousness in a culturally diverse world. Reprinted here with permission.

Dr. King’s Legacy

Dr. King has impacted America in a way that has shaped our modern-day society. He fought against discrimination and inequality in America through non-violent protests, and he is historically known as the “Father of the Civil Rights Movement.” Dr. King’s non-violent ways, peaceful protests, and inspirational speeches showed how much of his dreams were based on the ideals of Christianity he lived by. Thus, inspired by Christianity and the ideas of non-violence taught by Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. King sought to finally bring an end to the social injustices created by racial discrimination in America. In the following, you will see how Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dreams have significantly impacted our society today, as well as how they will help shape our future.

[quote]Thus, inspired by Christianity and the ideas of non-violence taught by Mohandas Gandhi, Dr. King sought to finally bring an end to the social injustices created by racial discrimination in America. [/quote]

Firstly, we know that Dr. King came from a long line of Baptist pastors. Therefore, he was raised in a home where the teachings of Jesus Christ were strictly adhered to. Thanks to his Christian beliefs, Dr. King was able to put an end to segregation. We no longer have separate places for white and black people. Colored people now share the same rights as white people. However, although segregation is no longer allowed, the reality of racial discrimination still exists in America. Racial discrimination is the practice of using some sort of prejudice to judge another human being. And the prejudice being used against African-Americans was the color of their skin. Although segregation is nonexistent, there are still those who discriminate against others based on the color of their skin, but they are fewer in number than they were in Dr. King’s time.

[quote float="right"]If only he could walk into one of our classrooms here at Blair [High School], he could see how white and black children walk and talk together to class every day. [/quote]

Despite this, Dr. King’s words and ideas were still able to help colored people gain their civil rights. It is the racial discrimination part our nation still has to deal with. We can put an end to this by continuing to educate people on the reality of racial discrimination and how they can help end it by learning about other cultures and embracing their differences as something to learn to love and not hate. We can teach others to be more tolerant of different races instead of hating one another by something as silly as the color of their skin.

In his world famous I Have a Dream speech, Dr. King said, “I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.” He expressed the hope that black and white people would one day get along despite the racial discrimination around them. If only he could walk into one of our classrooms here at Blair [High School], he could see how white and black children walk and talk together to class every day. In another line of speech, Dr. King mentioned, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Basically, Dr. King was expressing that people should be judged by the way they speak and act rather than by the color of their skin. I believe the way Obama spoke and acted throughout his campaign said a lot about his character, and to make him an even better candidate, he [is] of mixed race. Thus, who better than he to represent the “melting pot” that we call the United States of America?

Based on the aforementioned, I predict that the future will be even better for colored people. I strongly believe that there will be even less racial discrimination than there already is simply because more people will learn about the words and dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Moreover, people now are more and more of mixed race. Thus, they cannot discriminate based on race because they will not want to discriminate against themselves. They will embrace who they are and accept others for who they are on the inside and not on the outside. Moreover, with Barack Obama as our president, he is living proof that America is now a country with citizens of mixed race. Barack Obama is half African-American and half white. Yet, he considers himself proud to be both. If only Dr. King had lived to see Barack as our president, he would see living proof that his dream of racial equality is slowly coming true.

Finally, we can take these words of Mr. King to heart in our quest for equality for all. “We will match your capacity to inflict suffering with our capacity to endure suffering….We will so appeal to your heart and conscience that we will win you in the process.” These words tell us that some people may come to hate us on our quest, but we will embrace them with love, inspire them with our persistence, and then win them over. We are all Americans that can work together to achieve a dream of equality for all, as Dr. King had envisioned.♦ Matthew Teon

Aidyn Cooper First Place Essay 2012

Among our trio of high school winners is Aidyn Cooper. He is the first place winner representing the CIS Academy campus under the administration of Principal Jack Roos. Aidyn composed an empassioned reflection on Dr. King’s influential legacy and we have it reprinted here with permission. 

“Let Freedom Ring”: The Significant Impact of Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King, Jr. was the man who redefined America. In a nation where all men were thought to have been created as equals proud men with hateful hearts roamed the streets of discrimination. In a country woven by the hands of the young and liberated, freedom became less of an ideal and more of a trademark. The intrinsic value of freedom was in desperate need of revival and that was the reality of Martin Luther King’s dream. Through nonviolent protests, letters, speeches and campaigns a war to a better America was being fought and the likelihood of its arrival was dim but our hero remained hopeful. [quote style="boxed"]His defiance is what led America into a new era of intuitive morality based on integrity not identity,[/quote]

Martin Luther King had a dream where segregation, racism, injustice, and inequality were things of the past. He saw a brighter future, a future which we’ve come to know as the present. A world where every man is granted their unalienable rights, where justice is based on action and not appearance, where children see the souls beneath the skin and welcome them with open arms, a world where we are proud to call ourselves Americans. As far as the institution and the individual are concerned we are far from flawless but with our heroes in mind, such as Dr. King, we continue to strive towards the greater good in the ongoing fight to preserve the truths we hold to be self-evident.

[quote float="left"]‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’” With the same message, within its original context, we enforce the words of Dr. King, whether it is in light of blacks, gays, women or any other community, on the receiving end of injustice.[/quote] Martin Luther King inspired the belief of equality and the unalienable rights of which we are granted by birth, it is through his example we act with unfaltering persistence to keep this idea of equality afloat in all aspects of life. For example, the government protects us from any discrimination in the workplace using the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Laws. No matter your sex, race or religion you lie under the vigilant hand of civil rights and equate opportunity with egalitarianism. It is under these laws we find that possibilities are infinite and it is with great pride that we take advantage of the freedom at hand. However, freedom is still in its early stages of development and although we’ve come a long way, we have yet to grasp its intended potential.

Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King’s widow, believed that same-sex marriage was a civil rights issue; she is quoted saying, “I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice. But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King, Jr. said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’” With the same message, within its original context, we enforce the words of Dr. King, whether it is in light of blacks, gays, women or any other community, on the receiving end of injustice. It is our duty as Americans to be the successors of Martin Luther King, Jr. because if there is one thing he has proved it is that one man can make a difference. “When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the ‘unalienable Rights’ of ‘Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’”
America’s past is proof that the judicial system is in constant need of refinement and through interference we can hope to diminish every last remnant of injustice.

Martin Luther King led the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 and as a result his house was bombed, he was arrested, and the United States District Court ruling that followed, Browder vs. Gayle, ended racial segregation on all Montgomery public buses. He understood that radical change was in direct correlation with sacrifice that in order to encounter equality we must endure discrimination. His defiance is what led America into a new era of intuitive morality based on integrity not identity, a new era of courageous Americans ready to exercise their right to the first amendment. The Militant reported a recent protest in Alabama where 3,000 people marched and rallied against a new anti-worker law which allows police to arrest immigrants believed to be undocumented citizens. In these situations families are forced to separate and friends must say goodbye, it is with sympathy and outrage people rally together to fight what they know to be wrong. It is with Martin Luther King’s example they stand up before the law, accepting sacrifice and inviting change. “One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty. I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law.”

We are at the beginning of a brand new decade, a future as uncertain as the past once was and everyday there is evidence that our nation will continue to bloom with all the integrity of the original constitution intact. During the time of the African American Civil Rights movement segregation was an issue that not only prevented the internal acceptance of another race, but stripped children of their dignity when faced with the negative emphasis on their skin color. In 2007 the students of Turner County High School had their first integrated prom, “It’s been a dream of all of ours,” senior class president James Hall said. This is exactly the kind of acceptance that Martin Luther King dreamt of, where there was no place for segregation because there were no boundaries based on color. Both Turner County High School and all of America are saying goodbye to old traditions and welcoming this reformed way of thinking with open minds and open hearts. “We cannot walk alone and as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.”

[quote]As far as the institution and the individual are concerned we are far from flawless but with our heroes in mind, such as Dr. King, we continue to strive towards the greater good in the ongoing fight to preserve the truths we hold to be self-evident.[/quote]

On the third Monday of January each year we celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and from sea to shining sea to him we are indebted. He is the reason our heads are held high without fear of oppression and our nation is not governed with a narrow mind. He inspired the meek, instilled hope in the broken, and pieced a crumbling nation back together again. It is through Martin Luther King’s dream we have arrived at the root of a forever prospering nation, rather than shy from enlightenment we will continue to welcome new traditions and every day we will unfold into another dimension of equality. “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.” .♦Aidyn Cooper

Laritza Montelongo Third Place 2012

Laritza Montelongo is a student at Washington Accelerated Elementary in Dr. Green’s 4th grade class. She is also the third place winner in the annual MLK essay contest sponsored by the Pasadena MLK Community Coalition. We thank Principal Clark for encouraging students and staff to participate. Below is Laritza’s essay, reprinted by permission.

How Dr. King Changed the World

Martin Luther King, Jr. lost his life by helping the world. Martin really is a hero to me. When you look at our school, you can see what he did. Kids from other races are playing together. Boys are playing with girls. Once two students of different races got into a fight, but my Mom encouraged them to get to know each other. They did and now it doesn’t matter about their color because they play together as friends.

[quote]If Dr. King had not sacrificed his life for world peace, our schools would look different. [/quote] We might not see children of different grades playing with each other, or girls playing with boys or even different grades playing with different grades.

Martin Luther King grew up in the south which was hard for his family. ML, as he was called, was one of the greatest persons alive. I hope everyone thinks this way, too. But not just because he fought so that African Americans could have a better life, but Dr. King also fought for the rights of everyone.

Dr. King refused to be violent no matter what: You hit him, and he wouldn’t hit you back. That’s one thing I loved about him. Mahatma Gandhi was a hero of Dr. King’s. Dr. King was inspired by Gandhi’s nonviolent campaigns to bring about justice in India. Because of Gandhi, King would stay peaceful even when others were violent against him.

There were some difficulties King faced when he was fighting for us, but he never gave up on us. There were some unfair laws called “Jim Crow” that treated people differently because of color. Today, these laws no longer exist because of Dr. King.

When ML gave his “I Have a Dream” speech, it inspired a lot of people. I don’t think anyone should give up on their dream, and I intend to never let go of mine. I think the future will be fairer because of Dr. King’s message of world peace. I plan to share in his dream of peace and equality by being fair and not being racist. ♦ Laritza Montelongo

Donors, Sponsors and Friends 2012

The Coalition would like to thank all of the students, parents, volunteers and community leaders for all of their assistance through the years. It has been a pleasure to see students share their thoughts and have the courage to voice those opinions in a public forum.

We would also like to thank the Pasadena NAACP for their continued commitment to the City of Pasadena. They have been more than instrumental in assisting the Pasadena MLK Community Coalition through the years, as they have in 2012.

We also want to thank the following friends and sponsors of the Pasadena MLK Community Coalition for their monetary donations that make it possible for the coalition to offer awards and prizes to the winning contestants.

If you likewise feel moved to donate to the Pasadena MLK Community Coalition, please contact us at [email protected]

Diamond Sponsor

Pasadena Tournament of Roses $3,600

Golden Sponsor

Martin Luther King Coalition Members $700

Friends Circle

Fantasy Tours / Ms Samella Yarbrough $200

National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Pasadena Branch $200

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald and Alice Peterson $200

Scott United Methodist Church Men’s Fellowship / Mr. Joel McCombs, President $200

Ecumenical Council of Pasadena Area Churches $150

Mayor William Bogaard $100

Ms. Mary G. Wilson-Greene $100

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Chrisney $100

Ms. Beth B. Gertmanian $100

Ms. Ellen Ligons $100

Delta Sigma Theta Pasadena Alumnae Chapter $100

Dr. Jeanette Mann $65

Mr. Elbert J. Claridy $50

Mrs. Frances G. Dyer $50

Ms Vanessa Staton $25

Ms. Dolores Hickambottom $25

Ms. Sonya Amos $25

Ms. Rose V. Ohm $20

Thank you!

Marissa Langley Third Place 2012

Rounding out our middle school winners is Marissa Langley, third place winner from Sierra Madre School. We hope the students and staff are proud of their winning entries. We certainly are because Marissa makes it a sweep for Sierra Madre School with her reflection on Martin Luther King, Jr’s legacy. Below is Marissa’s essay, reprinted by permission.

Free at Last!

Freedom. The dictionary’s interpretation of this word is described as a state in which somebody is able to act and live as he or she chooses without any restraints and restrictions. But Martin Luther King Jr. had something to add to that: no one was free until everyone was free. This stood for Dr. King himself, as well as his ultimate goal. His first step in accomplishing this was to introduce hope. He was a river of hope that cut through the earth and created a channel to the sea of freedom for all the races of our nation. His dream helped shape America as we know it today and will hopefully inspire its people of tomorrow.

Unlike most members of the human race, Dr. King knew what was right and committed the unthinkable: he did something about it. He was passionate about his dreams and no matter how hard the rest of the world hit back, he accomplished them with no violence. This in itself was the beauty of his resistance. He peacefully led the bus boycott, proclaimed many speeches of his hopes for a better future for all mankind, and marched at the front of marches that changed our nation. He fought for mere trash collectors, for fair working hours and pay, equal rights, and for an end to segregation. He longed for a world that would judge people for the beauty of their heart and not of their appearance.

But although Dr. King changed the lives of many African Americans, he fought for all races’ equality in America. In an interview for Playboy in 1965, he expressed his ideas for a government program that would raise and donate fifty billion dollars over the next ten years to all disadvantaged races. He simply would not settle for a “white man’s world,” and committed his life to making sure it changed.

Because of Dr. King, African Americans and whites are now allowed to merely blend. Blacks can vote and share their opinions now as well as run our country, as President Obama proves. Today, friends come in all sorts of different colors and groups. There is no longer a need to build separate schools, or paint “White Only” signs for everyday aspects of life. African Americans are literally as well as figuratively, able to walk down the street as the worthy person of life they were meant to be. He also encouraged them to dream.

Dr. King pulled them out of their pits of despair, reminding them of their capability to hope, thus renewing their opportunities to dream. Once his candle for a brighter future was lit, other matches were struck. A path was depicted and followed until the door of nondiscrimination was illuminated in light and beaten down. This is what needs to be happening to the people of our nation today. The recuperation of America rests on the shoulders of its people and right now, its people need a spark of hope. It’s nearly impossible to drive by a corner not inhabited by a homeless person. People’s countertops are stacked high with bills, with no income to balance it out. If the good of America continues to fade, our nation will begin to rot and decay.

We need to start fulfilling Dr. King’s dreams of a better future. Our markets need to stop buying from outside the country and using the less fortunate’s labor. If we stop obsessing over getting things cheaper, it will lead to more job availability and less hopeless people. Remembering our fellow man and working together will guide us along the path of Dr. King’s example. He drove on, no matter how utterly impossible and fruitless the battle seemed. And we, as fellow Americans of the United States, must persevere as he did in order to shape the world of tomorrow that Dr. King fought so perilously and died for. ♦ Marissa Langley