Reverend Jesse Jackson was the keynote speaker for the University of Utah’s 29th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration.
Held at the Huntsman Center at noon on Jan. 24, 2013, Jackson sought to inspire the crowd with a cheer while still revealing the truth about life.
“You belong. You are God’s child. You matter,” says Jackson.
Jackson asked a series of questions and asked the crowd to stand after each one. When he asked who knew someone who had considered suicide, almost everyone at the Huntsman stood.
“People have an obligation to not self-destruct,” says Jackson. “You must choose future over funerals.”
King’s work is not done though we have come a long way.
“In 50 years, we are free but not equal. All of the battles that have been won have been battles of freedom,” says Jackson.
The wins have been circumvented. For example, gerrymandering has effectively nullified the effects of the right to vote.
“We are early in the morning of a new day,” says Jackson. “We’re headed forward to high noon not midnight.”
By coming together, being connected and learning to live together, Jackson says that we are making progress.
“When the walls come down, the sun is able to shine on all of us. Let the walls come down,” says Jackson.
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