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Highlights from April Ryan's Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Luncheon keynote address

January 22, 2020

During her 30-minute keynote address at USI's annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Luncheon on Monday, January 20, April Ryan, journalist, political correspondent and award-winning author, spoke about King's work to advance civil rights, addressed inequalities in our country today and challenged those in attendance to consider what they can do to carry on King's legacy. (Photo gallery from the event)

The following are excerpts from her address:

"We think about the speeches. You know that speech the night before he died in Memphis. But we also think about 1963 and Dr. King's 'I Have a Dream' speech. But we don't always remember what it took for him to give those speeches. He was a clear voice in a troubled time. And when I say he was a clear voice in a troubled time, this is a man who had a dis-ease in his spirit … I didn't say disease like something we go to the hospital for, but he had a dis-ease in his spirit in the 50s and 60s. In 2020, we still have a dis-ease in our spirit."

"Every day I think about Dr. King. And that is the truth. If it weren't for him and his dis-ease, I would not be at that White House celebrating 23 years last week asking questions of four American presidents, and all of them calling me by name."

"Let's go to 1963, the March on Washington. You guys remember all the good stuff, the things that make you feel good from that speech. But again, he made the comfortable uncomfortable. Dr. King said, 'It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check. A check which has come back marked insufficient funds. But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt.' In that right there, he had hope for a better day. Hope. There's still hope. Where there's life, there's hope; where there's love, there's hope."

"This day in 2020, the African American community still has the highest numbers of negatives in almost every category. Where is your dis-ease? Where is that clear voice in a troubled time? What's unfortunate is we're still at a time when we're wondering if our water is safe to drink. We're still at a time when we are receiving foreclosure notes and being preyed on by banks. We're at a time when, oh, we have a vision. 'I want to build a business. I want to go out there and do something for my community.' But guess what. Access to capital is zero for us. There are still concerns about a community that has the highest number of negatives … in almost every category."

"It is not over. People are still fighting for equality, for justice. You know, we hear that the economy for black and brown America is great. It's getting better. It's better than it's ever been. Dig into the weeds. The devil is in the details. There is still a wealth gap between races. Access to capital and home ownership … Dr. King wanted us to stand on a strong foundation. He knew that the economics of it all played a major part. It's not just about buying nice things. It's about being able to breathe. Being able to breathe-lessening the dis-ease. But where are we today?"

"On this day, as we are still trying to figure out these growing pains we are going through as a country, I fall back on two major women. Mary Frances Berry, who was the former head of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, she's a friend of mine. She said on this day, every year, while Coretta Scott King, the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King, was alive, they would talk on the phone for hours, all day, on this day. And the question was, 'What would Martin do?' … They said, organize, strategize and leverage. That's what Dr. King would do on this day, his 91st birthday."

"I come to you today as a kid from Baltimore who saw so much in her life. Where Freddie Gray was picked up, I get my hair done not far from there. When we had the standoff at Penn and North-that place that they would watch when the police and the protestors would gather every night after the funeral of Freddie Gray-that was where my mother and father used to take me to the health clinic when I was a kid. None of us in this room are that far removed from those who are still in need. What are we going to do? I'm in a unique perch. Mine is to ask questions about all America. What are you going to do? Where is your dis-ease? What has Dr. King's memory done for you, for you to make change?"

"There's still hope in a weary land. I'm hopeful today. I'm hopeful because you're here, this diverse room … I'm not here just to ignite a fire for today. I want to leave something with you for tomorrow and the next day. The question is, what are you going to do? Keeping his memory alive is not about reciting 'I Have a Dream.' It's about the state of your dis-ease."

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