Academia & the Pursuit of a Dream Still Unfulfilled

A few years ago I had the honor of speaking at the annual Arlington MLK Celebration dinner and came across a draft of my talk this morning. Given the context of that talk and the environment in which we find ourselves today I thought I'd share it (with a few minor changes in removing sentences that referenced that occasion specifically) in the hope that it will add to the drive for us to do more, to do better, to finally look deep within and take steps to fulfill what is more than a dream - its a necessity.

In 1963, Reverend King spelled out his vision for America when he said:

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged on the color of the skin, but by the content of their character.”

That statement, however, could just as easily have been made about educational opportunity in 1963 and unfortunately in a number of places – even today. Very few of us can outshine the eloquence and oratory of Dr. King.  But, as individuals and as a community, we must ask ourselves what our role is in carrying his legacy forward and putting it into action. We must ask ourselves: What can I do to advance the dream?

We should not just reflect on this question for a few days in January; this question must permeate all our work. At institutes of higher education we must take seriously the responsibility to ensure access and opportunity to people of all colors, ethnicity, and economic backgrounds. We know that through education we provide the pathway to social and economic mobility for so many. We cannot let them down. We must be cognizant of how we measure potential, how we offer support, and how we guide and direct our students within one of the most diverse universities in the country. Diversity is redefining society – and redefining education. We must embrace our diversity as a sign of our strength. We must celebrate our diversity.

Numbers can help in defining progress. But in striving to live the dream Dr. King envisioned for us, we should not just measure our progress in numbers. On our campuses we must ensure that students of all genders, ethnicity, and religious beliefs share the same dorms, walk on the same sidewalk to class, eat in the same cafeteria, go to the same basketball games, and share a common set of experiences that blur and destroy dividing lines and ensure that our students become members of a single community, where they are not judged on the color of their skin – but as Dr. King envisioned – by the content of their character.

At Universities across the nation, we can and must continue to break down barriers that divide us and live up to the vision embodied in Dr. King’s immortal words. For Dr. King’s dream to be realized, institutions of higher education must be at the forefront to close gaps, and create meaningful and lasting learning and social environments that exist without demographic divides.  To see this change continue, we must not be afraid to acknowledge existing inequities. Ignoring reality will not lead to success. We must recognize where we need to improve, face the reality that there are areas where we fall short, and then strategically implement plans to address these issues.

Change can be hard. I recognize that there are times when we may be driven to despair by the climate of unfairness and blind hatred, of the lack of understanding and the increasing rhetoric of intolerance and prejudice, of actions borne of racial discrimination and injustice. It is at these darkest of moments that we must remember the inspiring words of Dr. King:

“When evil men plot, good men must plan

When evil men burn, good men must build and bind

When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love.”

So, I ask each of you today, to join with me, to join as a community to work together, recognizing that the violence, injustice and hate do not represent solutions and that mutual respect and love are the only way forward to a better tomorrow, towards a nation that truly represents freedom, opportunity, and justice.