Communities along the Front Range are celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with conversations about the civil rights movement. Among the activities in Greeley, the University of Northern Colorado will feature a keynote address by author, activist and social commentator Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever.
Interview Highlights with Jones-DeWeever
On The Topic Of Race After Ferguson
"This is a movement that started in August with the death of Michael Brown but has not let up since then. In my mind there is nothing to suggest it will let up anytime soon… And so what I think we're witnessing now a movement that is just as legitimate as the movement that we witnessed in this country 50 years ago, but it just looks different and we need to understand that leadership is leadership even if it takes a different form."
On Discrimination
"If you don't see it in your life, if you don't connect with anyone else who sees these challenges then you might diminish them, you might not believe that it's possible or that it's true or that it impacts you in any way. But let's think about this in a macro sense. In less than two generations, this will be a majority people of color nation. We need to prioritize the idea of making sure that we produce the best human capital possible and we cannot do that if we don't provide the best opportunities to each and every human being regardless of race, of gender of any other point of quote on quote difference."
On The Continued Relevance Of Dr. King
"He's symbolic of hundreds, if not thousands, quite literally who gave their blood sweat tears. I mean, if it wasn't for the civil rights movement we would not have seen the advancements that we saw in the women's movement, we would not see other communities of color be able to come to this nation and have a more fair playing field to compete upon. And so really it was the work of that movement that pushed this nation closer to its originally stated ideals. And that's why it's important to recognize him, that's why it's important to remember him that's why it's important to honor him, because I can guarantee you America would not be the success that it is today if he never existed and if that movement never took place."
On What People Should Remember Past Dr. King's Holiday
"At the end of the day it's about looking at the base humanity of our neighbors across difference and making sure that we can move in the direction as a nation to lift up the commonalties and the humanity in all of us. It sounds like a cliché but it is true. What makes us special as a nation is our diversity. And we need to protect that. That's our uniqueness, that's our spark. And we need to keep that spark lit."
