MLK Symposium

“America is at it’s best when times are the worst,” actor Louis Gossett, Jr. told the audience, referring to the aftermath of 9/11 and Katrina. “But when it’s done, we go home and close the doors. We have to learn to keep the doors open in our hearts and minds.”

“It’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day every day, 24/7, for the rest of time.”The Button, her dad, and I were in the second row at Hill Auditorium this morning for the opening lecture of the University’s 22nd Annual MLK Symposium. Though calling it a “lecture” was a bit of a stretch. On stepping up to the lectern, Mr. Gossett admitted that he hadn’t brought a speech or any notes. “If I don’t know what to say by now…” he said, shrugging.

And at first, it was a bit like watching your dad ramble off track during the toast at your sister’s wedding. The award-winning actor was all over the map. But he ultimately found his path.Mr. Gossett told the audience of about 1,000 people about growing up in Brooklyn in the 1940s and 1950s, when the strong matriarchal influence–starting with his great-grandmother –provided the “connective tissue” that passed on values and strength to the children.

He also explained how he and other children benefited from being taught by educators fleeing the Black List in New York City, as well as sharing classes with the children of those men and women. Today, Mr. Gossett said, many of those children have grown up to be leaders in society. How did you do it? he asked. “We learned it’s a sin not to dream,” a friend explained.

Clearly wishing to underscore the parallel to Dr. King’s most inspiring speech, this brought Mr. Gossett to his main point. “Teaching in the home is not happening!” he exclaimed. “Where do our young men learn that it’s okay to have babies with different women, or to ‘cap’ someone?” he asked, “they don’t pick that up all by themselves!”

“Grandmothers. Family. Men. They all should be teaching a values system in the home,” he said. “We need to take responsibility for our own.” And we need to be teaching our children that it’s a sin not to dream.Mr. Gossett closed his talk with the Prayer of St. Francis for peace (view clip). “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace…that where there are shadows, I may bring light.”

“Martin Luther King had a dream, and we must keep the dream alive,” Mr. Gossett concluded. “and remember, it is more than Dr. Martin Luther King’s day, or Black History month. It’s a 365 day, 24/7 job!”