Still work to do decades after Martin Luther King's ‘Dream’ speech
CRANBERRY TWP — The words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech still resound nearly 60 years later.
As a crowd of about 30 people watched the speech at Dutilh United Methodist Church on Sunday, township resident Angela Lawson said although the words are powerful, she hoped people watching the video would see the difference King made and be inspired to make a difference themselves.
She said there is still work to do to promote equity in the United States.
“I am hoping that people will realize that people can make a difference,” Lawson said. “If you hear something, say something. Otherwise things will never change.”
The church hosted a community celebration for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and invited community members to hear from speakers, including Lawson, and have discussions about race in observance of the holiday.
Tom Parkinson, the church’s senior pastor, said he and church administrators are working to “shine some light” on discussions of race and racial inequality, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day was a good chance to unite people.
“We wanted to be a positive voice of hope in the community,” Parkinson said. “The best thing that will happen today is the opportunity you will have to make a new friend and reconnect with old ones.”
Following an address by Parkinson and the viewing of King’s speech, attendees heard from speakers, including Lawson, Cranberry Township resident Char Woods and Jay Pendleton, pastor of Warren United Methodist Church.
Pendleton commended the church for organizing the event and challenged its attendees to take what they learned there out into the world.
“We have a responsibility to make the dream come true, and I believe that the only way we can do that honestly is through relationships,” Pendelton said. “We have had some very difficult conversations during our fellowship. As long as people are willing to push through that to get to the goal at hand, that’s all opportunity.”
Woods cited a number of statistics about Black Americans, including that more than 19% of Black people are living below the poverty level, and 38% of those in prison in the country are Black or Hispanic.
She also encouraged people to push harder in their communities for better access for all people.
“If Martin Luther King was alive today, he would say we have a lot more work to do,” Woods said. “My dream is that companies will no longer need to hire diversity, equity and inclusion officers because respect and equality is a way of life. My dream is that America gives much attention to education. ... Education equality can eliminate barriers to poverty, bring better health and economic growth for all.”
Following the speeches, Parkinson asked groups at each table to discuss prompts relating to race and inequality in the country, which closed out the event with continuing conversation.
Roberta Ward, of Cranberry Township, said she was happy to attend the event and seer a good turnout. Hearing all of the statistics was powerful, she said, but the real lesson she gained from attending was seeing the number of people also willing to join in the conversation.
“I was more encouraged that Dutilh is conducting these workshops for people,” Ward said. “I wish more churches would be at the forefront of that. We’re supposed to love one another and how can we tolerate racism.”
