WJBC Forum: When thousands stand up together

A bird flies from the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

I’m honored to live in a community and country that recognizes and celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s Jr. contributions to humanity.

The Bloomington/Normal MLK awards luncheon was held a few weeks ago in which the Human Relations Commissions recognized four stellar individuals who are aiding in bringing Dr. King’s “Dream” to fruition.

I commend them all for their contributions and more importantly their commitment to challenge the status quo, advocate for the oppressed, and making our community a better place to live and raise our families. During the 1963 Freedom March in Washington DC, Dr. King said “When one person stands up, he is often not noticed; but when thousands stand up together they cannot be overlooked.”

I’m also very proud of our Nation for committing to building the King National Memorial in DC. Covering four acres, the memorial opened to the public on August 2011, after more than two decades of planning, fund-raising and construction.

Although this is not the first memorial to an African-American in Washington, D.C., Dr. King is the first African-American honored with a memorial on the National Mall and only the fourth non-President to be memorialized in such a way.

The mission of the national memorial is stated as follows:

“Dr. King championed a movement that draws fully from the deep well of America’s potential for freedom, opportunity, and justice. His vision of America is captured in his message of hope and possibility for a future anchored in dignity, sensitivity, and mutual respect; a message that challenges each of us to recognize that America’s true strength lies in its diversity of talents.

The vision of a memorial in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. is one that captures the essence of his message, a message in which he so eloquently affirms the commanding tenants of the American Dream — Freedom, Democracy and Opportunity for All; a noble quest that gained him the Nobel Peace Prize and one that continues to influence people and societies throughout the world.

Upon reflection, we are reminded that Dr. King’s lifelong dedication to the idea of achieving human dignity through global relationships of well-being has served to instill a broader and deeper sense of duty within each of us— a duty to be both responsible citizens and conscientious stewards of freedom and democracy.”

In the Struggle, this is Mike Williams for WJBC’s Forum.

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Mike Williams hales from Presque Isle, Maine. He has lived throughout the United States, the Carolinas, Alaska, and Hawaii. After a number of years traveling with his Military family, they finally settled in Champaign, Illinois. Mike’s a graduate from Champaign Central High School. After graduating from Champaign Central, Mike attended Eastern Illinois University. After two years at Eastern, Mike joined the United States Air Force, following in his father’s footsteps.

While in the military, he completed his Bachelors of Science Degree in Management and Information Systems. After graduating from Park College in North Kansas City, Missouri, he took employment in a Kansas City computer firm. After a year, Mike began working as a Data Processing Supervisor with State Farm Insurance in Columbia, Missouri.

During Mike’s travels he’s been exposed to many cultures, people, and places; his destiny was to become a humanitarian/civil rights activist. While in Missouri, Mike held many leadership positions with Columbia’s NAACP Branch, and was a recipient of the NAACP’s Roy Wilkins Jr. Award. He was also a member of Columbia’s Human Rights Commission.

Mike’s work for social and civil rights continues…he’s was recently re-elected for his tenth term as President of the Bloomington/Normal NAACP Branch. He also sits on many Boards for other organizations (American Red Cross, Family Community Resource Center, African-American Forum, Bloomington/Normal Achievement Gap Taskforce, McLean County Diversity Project, Partners in Recovery, Illinois People’s Action, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.).

In addition to Mike’s humanitarian efforts, he’s a Systems Manager at State Farm Insurance. Mike’s also a family man; his wife Lottie and son Stephen are Mike’s encouragers. Mike’s work requires him to be away from his family more often then he likes; nevertheless his family understands that sacrifices have to be made for the greater cause “CIVIL RIGHTS”. Lastly, he’s a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church and Bloomington/Normal’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Relations Award and the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for Human and Civil Rights, 2010 Roy Wilkins Jr. Award.

The opinions expressed within WJBC’s Forum are solely those of the Forum’s author, and are not necessarily those of WJBC or Townsquare Media.