AmeriCorps Week May 9-16, 2009

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Reflection

"Turn to your neighbor," the presenter at the MLK Day Celebration said, "and say 'Neighbor, we're not there yet,'" and so, I did. "but we'll get there…" she added, "if we work together..." The crowded Concordia gym was loud with echoes.  "and, neighbor," she stressed it, "I'll do my part...'" I repeated, "if you do your part…"  My 'neighbor' was a teenager sitting behind and to the right of me.  He's African-American, I'm white.  I knew nothing about him, had no context, felt no assurance that he would believe me, but it felt electrifying, as seemed the spirit of the entire crowd around us.  In those few words to him, and from him, however, we ignored and transcended that space of unknowns between strangers—which we are quick to leave unknown.  We said what we are quick not to say, and made a promise to a complete stranger, a promise that was direct and meaningful.  And I don't take promises lightly. 
I wasn't able to stay for the Celebration for long.  But it was certainly moving to be with people, in one place, and realize that indeed, we are not the only ones who care.  We, as individuals, are not the only ones who notice, who get upset, who get sad, who feel we have to do something, say something.  We are, individually, being gathered and encouraged by those who also feel those same things, but courageously lead us into an unknown, but more righteous way of existence, as people, together.  And so, I hope, that beyond a particular day when events are coordinated to help us remember particularly great people who have done great and sacrificial things, that we will hold ourselves accountable to the convictions that get stirred and the promises we consequently make on such days.  For me, that means I must be true to my neighbor from that day in a college gym—even if I never meet him again.

Becky Hampton
VISTA at Minnesota Internship Center

Martin Luther King Jr. Reflection

Martin Luther King, Jr was a man of eloquence and sincerity, and like revolutionaries and defenders of justice before him, Dr King wrote a letter from a jail cell. In that letter he expressed his hope "that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all of their scintillating beauty."

This year we once again honored the life of Martin Luther King, Jr; the next day we inaugurated an African American president. This by no means excuses the sins of this country's past, and does not even indicate that hatred and racial prejudice and gross injustices are now dead in the grave. But I believe it is a beautiful picture of what is possible through collective effort, common purpose, and sincere brotherly love, regardless of that which differentiates us. I share Dr King's hope that the light of love and justice will one day truly break the power of cloud and darkness.

Molly Riley
VISTA at Rondo Library

Launch of MLC VISTA Resource Library

Please find the complete book listing and descriptions of our resource library on the side bar.