Hope and Transformation - A note from Richard

Sometime back I could not understand why people had to walk to say "no" to something. I heard of marches against HIV/AIDS, or against a dictator, or even peaceful walks, but still it was meaningless because I could not contemplate the effectiveness of the action. I felt this way until I was introduced to the ideas of a man who will always be remembered for the greatness of his spirit and thoughts: Martin Luther King, Jr. I was not captivated by the man since I knew his biography, but I was focused on the march on Washington where he delivered his famous speech "I Have A Dream".

The march on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, commonly referred to as "The Great March on Washington" as styled in a sound recording released after the event, was a large political rally in support of civil and economic rights for African Americans.  It took place in Washington D.C on Wednesday, August 28th, 1963. The march was an idea of a group of civil rights labor and religious organizations, under the theme "jobs and freedom." The walk gathered between 200,000 and 300,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial, under the steps of which Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the dream he had of a unified USA.

This for me is the walk that left a considerable legacy in a sense where it was credited with helping to pass the civil rights acts (1964) and the African Americans voting rights act (1965).

It reminded me that Walk to Remember should not be taken for granted. We've talked about it's exponential growth or expansion towards the world but I do not think that is a coincidence or by chance.  After the walk you may think it was just a time for you to stretch your legs but that is not the purpose. YOU have actually contributed to helping those who do not believe in the dream of a "genocide free generation and world" see how determined we are and how many of us are saying no to racism, divisionism and all evil ideologies intending to separate and exterminate.  When you walk this year, remember this one thing: this walk might be the one that gives hope and brings transformation.

Today the African American community says "the dream came true", yet it was almost impossible to think that it would come true one day. You might think the dream of a "genocide ideology free generation" will never come true, but I urge you to remember this while laughing at the dreamers - the dreamers will be acting.

Martin Luther King, Jr. knew that it wasn’t enough just to talk the talk, that he had to walk the walk for his words to be credible.

                    "I want you to say on that day, that I did try in my life...

To love and serve humanity."   

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Richard
Walk to Remember - Rwanda