MLK
keynote Gordon draws parallels between King, Obama
Drawing parallels between Martin Luther King's dream of
equality for all people with the historic inauguration
of Barack Obama as the United States' first African-American
president, Ed Gordon said both are men who sought change
and believed in themselves, but could not achieve their
goals without change in others.
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KING KEYNOTE: Ed Gordon makes a point
about the
opportunity for change that Martin Luther
King Jr.
and U.S. President Barack Obama represent
for
America. Gordon, an Emmy Award-winning television
broadcaster, was the keynote speaker for Eastern
Michigan University's MLK Day President's Luncheon
Jan. 19. |
"We stand at a unique moment. We are a country and nation
that have a real chance for change," said Gordon, host
of the nationally syndicated TV show, "Our World With
Black Enterprise," and the keynote speaker at Eastern
Michigan University's annual Martin Luther King Jr. President's
Luncheon Jan 19. "King saw that change could benefit us
all. Obama, like King, knows it will take all of us.
"...Obama has said we are responsible for ourselves, but
we rise and fall as one. Commit as King did and commit
of yourself. Change for the better. Because change starts
with you," Gordon said to enthusiastic applause from a
lunch crowd of approximately 500 who gathered in the Student
Center Grand Ballroom.
Gordon admitted it was ironic that Obama takes office
one day after the nation pauses in its annual remembrance
of MLK. But, as America, as a whole, typically thinks of
King only during January and February, Gordon cautioned
those listening not to let either King or Obama end up
just as images — as they are portrayed on posters
and T-shirts at every neighborhood gas station.
"If we only see them as images of the dream, we have failed
both of them," said the previous Emmy winner.
Shortly before the luncheon, Gordon spoke to a packed
audience in the Student Center Auditorium. There, he gave
a shorter variation of his lunch speech, providing more
time for a question-and-answer session.
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