One day before President-elect Barack Obama’s historic inauguration, people around Boulder took time to reflect upon another historic African American figure.
“I would like to pay tribute to the young people of the city and university,” said Polly McLean, CU School of Journalism and Mass Communication professor. “Your commitment to build a new society is steeped in what Dr. King called the beloved community.”
McLean began a speech on Monday morning in the University Memorial Center’s Glenn Miller Ballroom with a salute to the city of Boulder, the university, the “laborers in the vineyards of peace”, and the young people of Boulder.
Using the beloved community as a theme throughout her speech, McLean referenced many instances of students uniting for civil justice, including the recent election.
“When young people came out in record numbers to exercise their civic duty in the 2008 election, they were bringing the beloved community closer to realization by taking up the mantle for change,” McLean said.
Before a festive crowd, McLean asserted King’s dream has not yet been achieved despite the inauguration of the nation’s first African American.
“Because of this historic election many of us have come to believe that we have lived to see the fruition of Dr. King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech,” McLean said. “But Martin Luther King is as relevant today as he was yesterday and will be tomorrow.
“We are here to honor Dr. King’s memory. The worst thing we can do is get caught up in King-isms and the dream talk.”
McLean also reminded the crowd that human rights don’t stop with Tuesday’s inauguration.
“While many of us believe that Dr. King would be tickled pink to see these changes, he would be the first to tell you: reaching the Promised Land is not a black thing, but a human thing.”
McLean incorporated the celebration’s theme.
“I think that the real discussion we ought to be having is not about Obama’s blackness,” McLean said. “But one that comes from a speech Dr. King gave: ‘We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.’”
McLean’s speech earned a standing ovation from the crowd, and was well received by many, including CU alumna Alfreda Hall.
“She hit on some very important points,” Hall said. “She feels as I feel that we are moving forward although King is still a very strong memory.”
Ariel Amaru, Boulder High School freshman, also enjoyed McLean’s speech and felt that it echoed King’s philosophies.
“Living in Boulder I don’t get to see a lot of diversity, so I try to immerse myself in it as much as I can,” said Amaru. “I think (McLean) really enforced his message and that you can still apply that to today and these times.”
A rally followed McLean’s speech, accompanied by an air of excitement and eagerness in the crowd. The rally included speakers from the Youth Opportunities Advisory Board and CU.
“You have no idea how gratifying it is for me to look out on this terrace and know that this is possible,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor Alphonse Keasley. “I am quite, quite satisfied.”
Debra Frazier, who works in the Center for Multicultural Affairs Office at CU, summed up the day’s excitement and passion.
“This is a time to celebrate. I’m so glad to see the children here, the parents here,” Frazier said. “It is a time to say, ‘Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last.’”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Emma Castleberry at emma.castleberry@colorado.edu.
