Editorial Column for Daily Herald
For Publication: 2/13/08

“The Legacy is Still Alive” by Savannah Copeland
Dr. Ervin V. Griffin, Sr.
President, Halifax Community College

Last month, I participated in the fifth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Celebration hosted by Oak Grove Baptist Church and the Piney Grove Baptist Church pastored by Dr. Charles McCollum, who also serves as President of Eastern Carolina Christian College. It was an outstanding and uplifting experience. While there, I heard a speech delivered by Savannah Copeland, an 11th grader at Roanoke Valley Educational Consortium/Halifax County School of Ecology. I was so impressed with her speech that I asked for a copy and wanted to share it verbatim with you below.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.” In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached these words to the world during the March on Washington. His “I Have a Dream Speech” sparked the Civil Rights Movement and altered the course of America's future. It led to the desegregation of public facilities, giving African Americans the opportunity to better themselves through quality education without fear of retaliation. This newly-acquired freedom was a light of hope that illuminated the darkness hindering African Americans for centuries. Unfortunately, however, African Americans today have diverted their attention away from this message of change. We are no longer striving to better the quality of life for our people as a whole; we have become a selfish people, consumed with the desire to live the materialistic fantasy that is the American dream. This greed has resulted in the dominance of “the man” in America today. If it continues, Martin Luther King's dream of equality for all may never be realized.

“In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds.” When Martin Luther King spoke these words, he was not solely referring to the physical retaliation that black protestors tried to exercise to gain equality. He was referring to the wrongful deeds of selfishness and greed that our race is guilty of today. These “wrongful deeds” are the black community's desires to live the superficial lifestyle that is “the American dream.” Many of us are obsessed with money, materialistic items, fame and social status. During the Sermon on the Mount, God told His people that they “should not have any gods before Him.” However, we idolize the celebrity way of life by lusting after things the wealthy possess. We have become so enthralled with this fabricated way of life that we have failed to notice the injustice around us.

“As a result of our selfishness, the African race is slowly descending in society. According to the federal government's Census Bureau, “nearly 25 percent of all African Americans (9 million) lived in poverty in 2004, an increase of over 250,000 over the past two years.” Not only is the African race steadily sinking into a pit of destitution, but we are rapidly deteriorating as a result of AIDS. According to AVERT, an international AIDS charity, 44 percent of people living with the disease in the United States are African American. In addition to poverty and ailment, illiteracy is wreaking havoc upon the black race. Much of our youth is mesmerized by the glam displayed in the entertainment industry; as a result, we are less focused on receiving a sound education. Inevitably, this creates negative stereotypes that lessen our possibility of attending top-ranked colleges and being employed by well-paid jobs. This increases our rate of poverty and disease, and as you can see, continually fuels this spiral of injustice.

“Although African Americans today have seemed to forsaken King's dream of equality, this dream is still tangible. Achieving it is possible, for as Philippians 4:13 says, “We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.” However, this will require us to abandon our selfishness and develop a “self-less mentality.” This means working to benefit not only ourselves, but society as a whole. Martin Luther King and those who believed in this dream united during the March on Washington; this resulted in the integration of the American race. If African Americans, along with every race in America, stand together and strive to change the social injustice present today, the same effect is possible.”

From the President's Perspective, I believe that Savannah is on the right track. People of all races need to refocus their energies on important priorities in life such as gaining a good education, spiritual growth and looking out for one's neighbors.

To find out more about our programs, contact HCC at (252) 536-HCC1 (4221) or visit us on the web at www.halifaxcc.edu. If you have comments about HCC or ideas to share, please email me at president@halifaxcc.edu.