Martin Luther King, Jr–A Testament to Infinite Possibility
It’s Martin Luther King Day. I love that there is a
holiday celebrating the life and contribution that
MLK, Jr. made to our nation.
I was a teacher in the South Bronx in 1969,
ambitiously wanting to eliminate racism from
the NYC school system, and prepare the children
to stand up inside themselves to choose a life
of their own dreams.
I remember I was teaching a class in Black Studies
as a first year teacher, relieving the main teachers
for their break. These were 5th graders, deemed the
most promising students. The only white child in
the school was in this class.
I had just finished sharing a Langston Hughes poem,
What Happens To a Dream Deferred? I asked
the class what Martin Luther King’s dream was.
One of the students stood up to say it, quite impressively.
Marvin woke up out of his usual disinterested stupor
as she spoke, but immediately slunk back down, with
“That’ll never happen,” muttered under his breath. So
I asked him, “So, what happens to that dream, Marvin?”
And for a brief moment, I saw his brain in gear, wondering,
looking for an answer. The whole class was quiet, also
wondering what he would say.
But then the main teacher, Mrs. Spiliotos had entered the
room and interrupted the rapt silence–”What do you mean
it’ll never happen? Why, Mrs. Winfield is here [my name at
the time]. And, look, James is here [the single white child
in the school].
Marvin looked at me with the Light gone out of his eyes again.
The moment was gone. I have always thought about it’s possibility.
Mrs. Spiliotos took back the class.
And today, there is Martin Luther King day, over 40 years later.
Where are those children today? How many survived? How many became an entrepreneur?
(I hope everyone of them, including Mrs. Spiliotos, gets to see Joyful Noise
and celebrate the distance. If you haven’t seen this pure good vibration–go.)
Hi my name is Sharon Gist and I’ve been self employed for over 20 years. I’ve had an unusual journey that led me from teaching to corporate executive to Licensed Professional family counselor and back into business for myself.
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That is such an inspiring post, I would LOVE to know what happened to those students! And you’re right, it is so wonderful to have a day to celebrate this man and his legacy after all these years! Chris
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