by Aaron Schmelzer | Jan 22, 2014 | News Slider
A member of one of Ebony magazine’s Coolest Black Families in America stopped by Tuesday’s Gathering to share words of wisdom concerning the philosophy of Martin Luther King Jr. T.B. Boyd, III, president and CEO of R.H. Boyd Publishing and a leader in church supplies production, expressed his thoughts about faith and the impact of King’s dream that shaped his conviction to stand against mistreatment. Boyd is a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. He began by speaking about his faith and the role he believes it should play in our lives. “We as Americans must bear witness and live plain to the fact that the Lord must still be in the blessing business, passionately in the blessing business,” Boyd said. “We have a God who blessed us with the ability to dream, and dream we must do.” Boyd then transitioned into the dream of King. “I know that all of us have something in common with the dream of Martin Luther King,” Boyd said. “[He] dreamt of freedom and equality.” He spoke about the scrutiny that African-Americans faced before and during the civil rights movement. The opposition burned buildings and harassed those who stood for the movement. Boyd said that in the face of opposition, King encouraged the protesters to remain non-violent, which was a powerful philosophy to King. “Unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality,” Boyd said. Boyd said that people still must adapt to the change that King presented and to continue to be generous in our everyday living. “Dr. King’s legacy should tell us that we as a nation are going...
by Ariel Jones | Aug 29, 2013 | Uncategorized
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by their character. I have a dream today…” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pronounced those words Aug. 28, 1963, in his now-iconic ‘I Have a Dream’ address at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Fifty years after that speech punctuated the March on Washington, the words still provoke conversation among many, including Lipscomb’s Coordinator of International Student Services Sylvia Braden and acclaimed Nashville actor Barry Scott. “For me, [Dr. King’s speech] feels like a strong reminder of where we came from and how far yet we still have to go,” Braden said. “Looking back on, ‘The March’ and looking back on the things that were said in the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, there’s so many amazing calls to action.” Braden went on to say that African-Americans have more opportunities now because of the sacrifices that were made by those, both black and white, who fought for racial equality. “At the same time, I think we have lost momentum in really realizing that dream and what [those in the Civil Rights Movement] set out to do and how to collectively make [America] a better community,” Braden said. “Not just for our black kids or white kids, but for everyone who is here to work more cohesively to make this community we call our world a better place.” Scott has portrayed Dr. King on many occasions since 1968 and has traveled the world performing the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech for diverse audiences. To Scott, the speech...
