SEMO MLK speaker: Solving our problems starts with loving others

I have been to several Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinners at Southeast Missouri State University. The one held Jan. 26 was the best I have had the pleasure of attending. Dr. Carlos Vargas gave brief remarks, quoting Dr. King on choosing love and how hate is “too great a burden to bear.” He challenged the audience to seek kindness — in ways big and small. Vargas said groundbreaking actor Sidney Poitier, who died Jan. 6, marched with Dr. King on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 and witnessed the civil rights leader’s iconic speech. “One of the things I admire about Mr. Poitier was the approach he took during the civil rights movement in the 1960s,” Vargas said. “He was criticized by some for not being vocal enough or radical enough. I think the path he chose was very powerful and made an impact that we can still see today. His philosophy is encapsulated in his famous quote, ‘I have chosen to use my work as a reflection of my values.’ And that is exactly what he did. He refused to take the stereotypical roles of Black male actors. Instead, he took on groundbreaking roles in iconic films, like ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ and ‘The Heat of the Night and ‘To Sir, with Love.’ Sydney Poitier understood the power he had with his professional choices. The message he sent through the roles he played reached millions over decades. I really admire and respect that approach.” Vargas encouraged the crowd of several hundred attendees to find ways to make their community better and stronger, considering the example of the great Sidney Poitier and, of course, the namesake of the evening’s dinner Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Another highlight was soloist Peighton Robinson who, accompanied by her mother, Ramona Bailey, on piano, gave a stirring rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer.” Other musical performances included the Southeast Jazz Collective and Dr. Jonathan Bibbs — both excellent. The words of prayer offered by the Rev. Calvin Bird were heartfelt and inspiring. The evening’s keynote speaker gave a powerful message, one of hope and inspiration that captured the spirit of the late civil rights leader. Judge Brian S. Miller, a U.S. Navy veteran and federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, spoke about growing up in Helena, Arkansas. His great-grandfather was born a slave in 1851, his grandfather became a doctor, and his father their hometown’s first Black mayor. While his family had great successes through education, they did not escape heartache. In 1919, four of Judge Miller’s great uncles were killed in the Elaine Massacre, where mobs of white-Americans murdered what has been reported to be upward of 200 Blacks. Judge Miller said his grandfather, Robert Miller, who was 13 at the time, was so troubled by the killing that his mother sent him to a boarding school in Boston. Following high school, he went to Howard University and then medical school and then back to his hometown. “Now think about it. In my family, one generation we went from plantation slavery to medical school,” he said, with the horror of the massacre in between. Judge Miller said his grandfather would go on to serve as a doctor for the 1952 Jamaican Olympic team. But despite all his accomplishments, he was never allowed to practice at the helm of the Regional Medical Center or the Helena Hospital because he was Black. Though never attaining great wealth as a physician, he would take care of those who couldn’t afford to pay for care. Judge Miller said growing up the elected officials in his hometown were all white. Today, they are all Black. It’s good equity of opportunity exists regardless of skin color, but many of the problems of poverty and crime have not been solved simply by this change. The poverty rate is 45% in his hometown. While there has been a rise in the Black middle class, he said there’s also been a persistent level of poverty. The challenges in this small Arkansas town do not stand alone. Judge Miller pointed to similar issues around the country. “Just read the newspaper or watch the evening news, and you’ll see that we have more billionaires Black and white, more millionaires Black and white and more diversity in politics than we’ve ever had. And despite this, as we sit here in our nice clothes eating good food and enjoying the company, our public schools are struggling. And many of our state universities appear to have lost their collective minds. Many of our neighborhoods are about as valid as you could ever imagine. A large number of our children are out of control. And in fact, many studies indicate that more children are depressed now than ever before. And y’all, our leadership has no clue what to do.” Judge Miller referenced the 1970 song “Ball Of Confusion” by the Temptations which talks about the problems of the day and politicians who say more taxes will solve the problems. “Here it is 50 years after that song came out, and you tell me what has changed. Is our leadership still telling us the same things? You tell me. Let me ask you this: Is it time for us to stop looking for some leader to solve our problems? Is it time for you, is it time for me to love somebody? Is it time for us to feed the hungry? Isn’t it time for me to clothe and make it myself? And I’m going to tell you something. It’s taken me a lifetime to come around to this point of view. But in doing so, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no grand solution to the world’s problems. But I can personally help in the ways available to me.” The judge said he used to believe the plight of Black children could be improved if we only had more Black people in charge of education. Or if there was some public policy solution. And while he’s been involved with local education and community initiatives, he’s come to some additional conclusions. “First, historic racism has played a role in how we got here. When a community is divided, it’s not pulling together. And the effects are long lasting. At the same time. I do not believe that racism or existing present racism is preventing my community from solving its problems. That’s just not true. Too many of our friends and people I know in my community right here are excelling beyond belief for that to be true. Now many people disagree with me on things. And I think that’s OK. We all come to our conclusions based on our experiences. And if we’re ever going to make progress on these issues, we have to be able to honestly and forthrightly discuss these issues with each other and not call each other names and we have to talk about it and work through.” His second conclusion offered a very practical take-home message. What is the individual doing to love others? Judge Miller visits the individuals who he has put behind bars, checking up on them to make sure they are doing what needs to be done so they can be productive members of society when they get out of prison. “Every person I put in prison deserves to be there. I don’t put anybody in prison unless I know they deserve to be there. But that does not mean that I should send them there and throw them away.” Additionally, he purchases low-income housing for the working poor and hires individuals who need a hand-up in society to fix the property. These are individuals who have had alcohol or drug dependency issues or been in prison. For some of the individuals, it’s started them on a path where they can own their own rental property. He shared several smaller ways he tries to help his community and asked the audience to find their own opportunities to serve in ways big or small. It was a sobering and yet unifying message, one of historic pain, hope and equality of opportunity. Thank you to Dr. Vargas and all those at the university who organized this year’s event, an inspiring and unifying evening that celebrated and honored the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. May we all choose kindness and seek opportunities to help others individually. That’s the best way we can honor King’s life, even in the face of difficulties. Lucas Presson is assistant publisher of the Southeast Missourian.

Lucas Presson