Roland W. Burris

Statement of U.S. Senator Roland W. Burris – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2010

Every so often, in the winding history of our country, there is an entire generation that rises to confront the challenges of the moment.

Every so often, there is a movement so powerful that it changes the course of history.

And every so often, there is a visionary leader – a person with singular ideals, who comes along at exactly the right time to harness the energy of a movement and capture the imagination of a generation.

These are the rare figures whose names are etched into our national consciousness, whose memorials dot the landscape of our capital, and whose words and actions help to redefine the very fabric of our nation.

Mr. President, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was just such a leader.

He rose to prominence as a key figure of the Civil Rights movement, but he came to transcend both the movement – and the generation – that brought him to national prominence.

On Monday, we came together as a nation to commemorate the life and work of Dr. King.

His message of equality and fairness for all inspired the transformative Civil Rights era, and continue to resound throughout the United States even today.

The legacy of Dr. King is one that lives on through the service and goodwill of Americans in communities across the country.

And this day serves as an incredible opportunity for people across the nation to give back and volunteer to help those who are suffering.

It was this generosity of spirit that defined Dr. King’s life and work.
And by living out his selfless dedication to our fellow man, we can honor his vision and continue the work he left behind.

Mr. President, the fact that I stand before you today on the floor of the United States Senate is proof of the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King.

Out of the chaos, violence, and injustice of segregation, Dr. King found the strength to speak of peace, hope, and righteousness.

Where many saw hate and resentment, Reverend King saw an opportunity to build bridges, to seek out the humanity of those on both sides, and to appeal to the compassion that lives in each of us.

There were some who lashed out with clenched fists. But although he knew he would be met with hostility, Dr. King came to the table, time and again, with arms outstretched.

Half a century ago, most people could barely conceive of a world in which someone like me could address the highest lawmaking body in our land.

Fewer still could have dreamed of the day when a man with a mother from Kansas and a father from Kenya would be sworn in as President of the United States of America.

I never thought I would live to see the day, Mr. President.
But even fifty years ago, when much of America could barely dream of such a future, Dr. King knew this day would come.

His vision never faltered, in spite of the dark days he witnessed and the tragic violence that eventually took his life.

The march towards equality has been long.
It began long before Martin Luther King walked this earth, and it will continue long after all of us are gone.

But so long as this great nation endures, Dr. King’s spirit will live on in our highest aspirations.
His voice rings through our history.

And although he did not live to see the promised land, his steadfast gaze still guides our every step – his booming voice sets the cadence of our march – and we know he will be waiting for us when we get there.

In the near future, a monument to Dr. King will rise on the National Mall, just a short distance from this Senate chamber.

He will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other giants in our history: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln – and King.

It is fitting that this great leader should be memorialized alongside other Americans who have helped to build a more perfect union.

And as we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. day this year, and as we build this monument, it is my hope that we can keep his spirit alive in our hearts.
Colleagues, as Dr. King might say, let us keep our feet on the march and our hands on the arc of history.

Let us look to the future with the same fierce urgency that he showed us more than forty years ago.

Let us complete this journey together, arm in arm, and make Martin Luther King’s dream a reality. Read More!