Governor Charlie Baker Commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
BOSTON – Today, Governor Charlie Baker delivers his address to celebrate the life of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury. Remarks as prepared for delivery:
“Thank you very much for inviting me to be with you today.
“When I first heard that I was being asked to speak from this podium at this church to celebrate the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I was reminded of a speech he gave to a group of 8th graders in Philadelphia around 1967.
“The speech was titled, “What Is Your Life’s Blueprint?”
“Dr. King told the students that a blueprint is a design. An aspirational representation of what someone would want a house or a building to look like.
“And he said a Blueprint for life should have three key elements.
“First, you should plan to live a life of significance and purpose, understanding you are subordinate to no one. Second, you should work hard to figure out what you are good at and be great at it. And third, make your life about beauty, love and justice.
“As was always the case, his talk to those students was riveting, entertaining, and perfectly delivered to the audience for which it was intended.
“If there has been a better communicator. A better speaker. A more glorious messenger in my lifetime, I have no idea who they are.
“I was only 11 when he was assassinated in April of 1968. But his words, his speeches, his vision have been with me and many others ever since.
“I still vividly remember the first time I saw his “I Have A Dream” speech. It was in an 8th grade social studies class in 1972 on a portable screen at the front of the room using 1960s audio and video technology. The relatively primitive technology didn’t matter. The power of his words – and his presentation – blew me away. The son of two preachers, he had clearly figured out what he was good at – and became great at it.
“So I stand at this pulpit. In the same place he preached from with more than a little trepidation. Anyone who stands here - stands at the feet of a Master. And while I think I am good at many things, preaching would not be one of them.
That said, I take enormous comfort from another one of his thoughts about a life well lived.
“’Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.’
“As I think about the polarity that exists in our politics and our culture these days, I wonder what Dr. King would think. I would hope he would be positively impressed by the progress we have made. African Americans have shattered barriers, holding the highest office in the US, achieving the ultimate honors in our cultural and professional echelons. On so many legal, economic, and social fronts, barriers have blown away and changes that would have seemed impossible 50 years ago have been with us for most of my adult life.
“On the other hand, I think he would be disappointed by our inability to fully embrace his vision of a beloved community. And while there are many interpretations of what he meant by that – I think the way he described it in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision ending the segregation of the seats on the busses in Montgomery, Alabama captures it best.
“’The end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the Beloved Community. It is this type of spirit and this type of love that can transform opponents into friends. It is this type of understanding goodwill that will transform the deep gloom of the old age into the exuberant gladness of the new age. It is this love which will bring about miracles in the hearts of men.’
“Dr. King was an optimist – always believing this nation’s best years could be ahead of it. And his work. The work for which he was shot and killed – made this nation better. Much better. On this, there is simply no room for debate.
“But much remains to be done. One only needs to turn on the news, read the paper, follow social media, or watch TV to understand that the kind of goodwill he believed in often eludes us. Politics is often about who or what you’re against. Not about what you are for.
“When I ran for Governor two years ago, I talked about building strong neighborhoods and communities across the Commonwealth. And I campaigned in many neighborhoods and communities where people told me – point blank – they had never met a Republican before!
“When the votes were counted, and we were declared the winners, I talked about building a bipartisan administration…about focusing on the work to be done…and working hard to represent all the people of Massachusetts.
“We built a bipartisan Administration – much to the chagrin of some people on both sides of the aisle. We have focused on the work: more funding for local road and bridge repairs, big increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit – helping 400,000 low income families here in Massachusetts, significant reforms and improvements in The Health Connector and the Registry of Motor Vehicles – saving working people time and money. Progress with the MBTA, which provides critical service to a million people every day in the Greater Boston community, with much left to do. Major reforms to the state’s program to encourage more women and minority owned businesses to do business with the Commonwealth. And after over 30 years of saying the state would stop sending women who were involuntarily committed because of a substance abuse disorder to Framingham State Prison, we will finally begin sending women to Shattuck and Taunton State Hospitals for treatment.
“We have many more “to dos.” More must be done to improve the quality of our schools in urban school districts. No one preached the value and the importance of good schools with more conviction than Dr. King. He was right then, and he is right now. It is one of the biggest opportunity gaps in American society.
We must find new ways to build and sustain more affordable housing. And while we have had some success reducing the number of families living in hotels and motels, much more must be done. Men and women need better runways to work and purpose as they come out of prison.
“I also know we need to hurry. Dr. King once said, ‘We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late.’
I know I only have three years left in my term. Every day is precious. But I also believe that getting things right matters. And that hearing others out before we act matters, too.
“And I hope our efforts to listen before we speak – and to speak when we do with measured terms and a sense of purpose – would please Dr. King. As the son of mom who is a Democrat and a dad who is a Republican, I’ve never bought the idea that any one group has all the answers. And while some people may bring malice to public discourse, I’m willing to presume most people – whatever their point of view – come by it honestly and only seek a chance to make things better.
“Dr. King once said, ‘That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind.’ Absolutely right. And it pains me to see so many people preaching – and in some cases practicing – hate and disdain. Most of the time, blame is not enough to solve a problem. It usually makes solving the problem more difficult. People choose sides and scream from across the street at one another. Finding fault is rarely about finding answers.
“I know many people are angry – and that anger seeks an outlet and a voice. But the beauty – and the benefit – of a democracy is the chance we have to be heard. And more often than not, progress is incremental, but it is relentless.
“Let me close with another quote of Dr. King’s that has always stayed with me.
“’The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.’
“I’m old enough to know that every age comes with challenge and controversy—Dr. King’s more than most. And as I have reflected on those words over the years, I am always reminded of my father’s favorite poem.
“If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise...
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
“While the author of that mighty work – Rudyard Kipling – died six or seven years after Martin Luther King was born, his signature work captures much of what made Dr. King so special.
“Very few people have ever been able to embody so completely the elements of Kipling’s most well known verse.
“They are, in fact, words to live by. Just like that talk Dr. King gave to those 8th graders in Philadelphia in 1967.
“Some ideals live beyond the moment, and stay with us, in word and deed. Dr. King embodied those ideals – knowing full well that in the end, they might cost him his life.
“The night before he died in 1968, he closed a speech with this.
“‘Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.’
“The next day, a man blinded by hate took Dr. King from the nation.
“We were graced by Dr. King’s glory. We lost him too soon. But if we strive to live by his ideals, we can keep his cause with us and carry on his work.
“And we should. Because he represented the very best within us. The ties that bind us together. The shared sense of purpose. The divine notion that we can do better. And the relentless spirit that says we must.
“God Bless the Commonwealth. God Bless Dr. King. And God Bless those who strive to walk in his immense shadow.”
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