Today we observed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day at the Carruth Administration Center with a stirring tribute by young writers and artists from the Austin School District.
As I told our students and staff, our theme for this observance was the very question that Dr. King asked in a speech in Atlanta in the last year of his life: "Where do we go from here?"
America was at a crossroads in 1967. This country had made some progress in civil rights, but it still had a long way to go. In AISD, we have made progress, but we still have a great deal of work to do before every child is well prepared for college, career and a successful adult life. We are facing additional challenges brought on by a significant decrease in our revenue that is driving significant changes in how our district will look in the future.
So our answer to the question, "Where do we go from here?" must be the same as Dr. King's answer was in 1967. He said the key to that answer was for people to "stand up...and develop an unassailable and majestic sense of values." Those values will drive us to do the right thing. We must continue to move forward. There is no turning back.
I was so amazed and moved by the student performances that were the highlight of this observation. Students from the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders performed interpretive dance, sang and gave a dramatic reading of Langston Hughes's poem, "Let America Be America Again." These students--Lillian Pellette, Jendayi Bonds, Angelique Price, Taylor Harris, Arianna Lopez, and Laura Herrera--did us proud.
We were also treated to an awesome performance by the Pecan Springs Elementary School Choir. Pecan Springs Sixth Grade student Lamar Watson left everyone spellbound by his recitation of his poem, "Need to Lead," written for this occasion. Lamar has given me permission to share this incredible poem with you (see below).
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| Pecan Springs Sixth Grade Choir with poet Lamar Watson, center. |
Need to Lead
By Lamar Watson
Pecan Springs Elementary School
Hello, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King, it is a pleasure to speak with you. Thank you for calling on us from heaven.
Dr. King, your dream lives on today. I see it in the diverse faces of my classmates, teachers and friends.
Dr. King, it is my dream that we honor your legacy by developing leaders who can fulfill their roles and inspire others.
I dream of those who would step forward and create world peace. From the mountains of Georgia to every hill and molehill of Mississippi. Then from the mountains of Afghanistan to the sands of Iraq.
Oh, how I dream peace will ring.
I dream that one day our nation will model what leadership can look like when we open our hearts and not just our eyes.
I dream that we will see more leaders like Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, and now President Barack Obama. Inspiring youth of all races of what can be done when we join together and see the character and content not just skin or religion.
Also, I dream that more of my peers, kids like me, realize their need to lead — now and in the future.
Mr. Volma Overton showed us a great example of how to right a wrong in Austin's segregated community not too long ago.
Dr. King, it is my dream to lead others in finding wrongs and finding answers.
It's my dream to lead....
Those are my words. That's my dream. Dr. King, thank you for calling on us from heaven.
