Tag Archives: Martin Luther King Jr.

MLK Jr. 2011 Memorial Edition: Reflections on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.- January ’09

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day from a young age has always been a special day to me. From the very first time I can remember learning about MLK Jr. in elementary school after watching a film strip of Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream Speech” I remember being deeply troubled, sickened, and disgusted by the injustices that black people faced/face.

Being from Utah my black history ties are limited. In fact according to the 2000 Census the black population in Utah was only .8% but for some reason the idea of a non-violent stand against clear injustice was something that I became passionate about at a young age. When I was in 4th grade I entered the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest where I recited an excerpt of the “I Have Dream Speech” and to my surprise won honorable mention that year.

Martin Luther King Jr., Washington, DC-The National Mall, 1963

President Barack Obama Inauguration Celebration, Washington, DC- The National Mall- 2009

Today, I attended the Inauguration Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial “We Are One” Concert in a crowd that many thought they would never see in DC.  I took a moment in the crowd of people to stand still and drown out the noise and as I looked around with my friends near by all I could see was the National Mall bursting with an estimated 400,000 people I couldn’t help but fight back tears. When Bono sang “In the Name of Love” it was over for me! I wonder if being in such a large crowd felt something like being the midst of Dr. King when he gave his famous “I have a Dream Speech” over 40 years ago.

President Barack Obama Inauguration Celebration, Washington, DC- The National Mall- 2009

Me, "NWtoSE" and my close friend

I am so proud to be an American, I have always been proud to be an American and I pray that more people will be able to continue the work of Dr. King and to continue the work needed to support President Obama.

One man cannot and should not run a country himself/herself along. It is a country of the people, for the people, and by the people. Serve your country in whatever capacity you are able.

God Bless America.

This post was originally published on:  January 19, 2009

2011 MLK Jr. Day of Service-Howard University & Neighbors

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When: Monday, January, 17, 2011, 10:00 am-3:00 pm

Where: College of Medicine, Numa P.G. Adams Building (520 W St. NW,D.C.)

Who: LeDroit Park Neighborhood please join- Howard University-

for the 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

What: Please bring gently used clothes and non-perishable food items throughout the day.

Please volunteer your time by helping students sort clothes and food to be transported to local non-profits in need.

For other "Day of Service Activities" Click on the badge

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GW’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of HALF Service

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Oh GW. . . I first must apologize for two things. . .
1. I personally was on the roll to attend this event but due to unforeseen events with my job I could not make it (no I did not have the day off)
2. I am somewhat harsh on GW because I am $100,000 in debt to them so I feel like I am entitled to be harsh

On any given day I hear statements around foggy bottom on the GW campus like the following
“Oh my gosh I only have $10,000 in my checking account”
“Hi Mom, I totally rode the Metro today to the mall and it wasn’t even scary”
“The money on my GWorld Card [student ID card] is not really money it is like fake money that I can buy stuff with”
“That Coach Purse is soooo last season”
“I just got back from my parents Beach House”
I have NEVER in my entire life heard these kind of statements until I entered this area. Ok, Ok I know I know- welcome to GW. It is not so much having the money that bothers me it is the sense of entitlement and the way I see the majority again the MAJORITY of the UNDERGRADUATE students treating each other and GW staff as a whole.

Picture it Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2009 GW kids are BUSSED (the irony) to Anacostia an area that I am sure many were unaware that there are other quadrants in the District besides NW/foggy bottom style DC to paint Anacostia High School.

Here is a little something from the Hatchet Newspaper:

Day of Service Draws Hundreds: Students Help out in Anacostia, 1/22/09

. . . GW students could be found all over the school, from the classrooms they were painting in robin’s egg blue, to the bathrooms that were missing most of their sinks. West said one of the reasons they chose to paint the classrooms in bright colors is the connection between higher test scores and color in schools.

Isn’t that nice. . . . helping the kids in the “hood” WELL GUESS WHAT??!!!
For now you will have to trust me until I can get there myself, but a friend who was at Anacostia HS last week told me that when he was in one of the classrooms he thought to himself. . .
“why are the walls two different colors and half painted?” and I nearly fell out of my chair!!! They volunteers apparently didn’t finish the painting and when the time limit ran out. . . and now the school has rooms that are HALF PAINTED.

AGAIN GW, you get a DEPLORABLE rating from me. . . so I will look into how we can get some volunteers back there or hell I love painting I can take my crew and head back.

This post To Be Continued. . .

GW’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of HALF Service

Posted on
2

Oh GW. . . I first must apologize for two things. . .
1. I personally was on the roll to attend this event but due to unforeseen events with my job I could not make it (no I did not have the day off)
2. I am somewhat harsh on GW because I am $100,000 in debt to them so I feel like I am entitled to be harsh

On any given day I hear statements around foggy bottom on the GW campus like the following
“Oh my gosh I only have $10,000 in my checking account”
“Hi Mom, I totally rode the Metro today to the mall and it wasn’t even scary”
“The money on my GWorld Card [student ID card] is not really money it is like fake money that I can buy stuff with”
“That Coach Purse is soooo last season”
“I just got back from my parents Beach House”
I have NEVER in my entire life heard these kind of statements until I entered this area. Ok, Ok I know I know- welcome to GW. It is not so much having the money that bothers me it is the sense of entitlement and the way I see the majority again the MAJORITY of the UNDERGRADUATE students treating each other and GW staff as a whole.

Picture it Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2009 GW kids are BUSSED (the irony) to Anacostia an area that I am sure many were unaware that there are other quadrants in the District besides NW/foggy bottom style DC to paint Anacostia High School.

Here is a little something from the Hatchet Newspaper:

Day of Service Draws Hundreds: Students Help out in Anacostia, 1/22/09

. . . GW students could be found all over the school, from the classrooms they were painting in robin’s egg blue, to the bathrooms that were missing most of their sinks. West said one of the reasons they chose to paint the classrooms in bright colors is the connection between higher test scores and color in schools.

Isn’t that nice. . . . helping the kids in the “hood” WELL GUESS WHAT??!!!
For now you will have to trust me until I can get there myself, but a friend who was at Anacostia HS last week told me that when he was in one of the classrooms he thought to himself. . .
“why are the walls two different colors and half painted?” and I nearly fell out of my chair!!! They volunteers apparently didn’t finish the painting and when the time limit ran out. . . and now the school has rooms that are HALF PAINTED.

AGAIN GW, you get a DEPLORABLE rating from me. . . so I will look into how we can get some volunteers back there or hell I love painting I can take my crew and head back.

This post To Be Continued. . .

Reflections on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

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MLK Jr. Day from a young age has always been a special day to me. To be honest my reasons have no deep ties and are very simple. From the very first time I can remember learning about MLK Jr. in elementary school I remember being deeply troubled, sickened, disgusted and feeling guilt for the injustices that black people faced/face. There is nothing that really ties me to any rooted black history in general I am from Utah where the black population in 2000 was .8% but for some reason the idea of non-violence and taking a stand was something that wasn’t right and the way that Dr. King communicated these ideals was always felt strongly about. When I was in 4th grade I entered the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest where I recited an excerpt of MLK Jr.’s “I Have Dream Speech” and to my surprise won honorable mention that year.

Today, being at the Inauguration Celebration in a crowd that I would have never thought I would see in DC I took a moment for the crowd to almost stand still and as I looked around with my friends near by, black friends, white friends, and to see the National Mall bursting with people I couldn’t help but fight back tears. When Bono sang “In the Name of Love” it was over for me! I wonder if being in such a large crowd felt something like being the midst of Dr. King?

I am so proud to be an American, I have always been proud to be an American and I pray that more people will be able to continue the work of Dr. King and to continue the work needed to support President Obama.

One man cannot and should not run a country himself/herself along. It is a country of the people, for the people, and by the people. Serve your country in whatever capacity you are able.

God Bless America.