As we formally celebrate the King Holiday on Jan. 20, 2014, rolling out spoke with black educators, businessmen and other leaders about their thoughts on this King holiday:
“Sometimes the most revolutionary action we can undertake is the least glamorous and exciting, like teaching children to read and think. But, those are the acts that plant seeds that will blossom into a new world in a little while.”
–Dr. Robert Franklin, Director of the Religion Department, Chautauqua Institution and Senior Advisor to the President of Emory University, President Emeritus Morehouse College
“The M L KING holiday serve to acknowledge the complex of contributors that gain popular recognition for their dedicated efforts to work for social equality and human dignity of peoples of African descent through the establishment of this celebration. King’s life and works reside on a continuum replete with freedom fighters, and he serve as the clue to the discovery of these sacrifices and commitments.”
–Dr. Illya E. Davis, Morehouse College, Instructor of Philosophy”
“As we celebrate one of the greatest People Holidays in our country (MLK Holiday), I challenge people to commit to and embrace a role of “doing something” that helps to better the lives of others and impact their local and global communities with emphasis on shaping the minds of our young people—For it is our young people who hold the master keys to the fulfillment and realization of his dream.”
–Dr. Tyrone Bledsoe, Founder-CEO, Student African American Brotherhood National Headquarters, www.saabnational.org
“In these economic times, I think of of King’s ‘I have a Dream’ speech. In that speech he said”
“The sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood “
He was also talking about the table of economic parity. If there was ‘Economic Parity’ instead of ‘Economic Disparity’ we would be eating real food not intellectual garbage. We would be feeding ourselves. It is ‘Economic Parity’ that allows you to look across from this table and not look down.”
–Munson Steed, CEO, Steed Media Group, Publisher rolling out magazine www.rollingout.com