PBS Wisconsin Public Affairs

>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION. >> BECAUSE I HAVE A DREAM THAT MY FOUR LITTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE IN A NATION WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER. I HAVE A DREAM TODAY.

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>> HELLO. I'M JONATHAN OVERBY. WELCOME TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN'S 40TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. COMING UP, YOU'LL SEE HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY'S EVENT RECORDED HERE IN THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA. THE THEME THIS YEAR IS "STAND FOR JUSTICE. " TODAY'S GUEST SPEAKER IS DR. OLLIE WATTS DAVIS, AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED PERFORMER AND PROFESSOR OF VOICE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS. OUR COVERAGE OF TODAY'S EVENT INCLUDES MUSIC, THE PRESENTATION OF TWO MLK HERITAGE AWARDS, AND PLENTY OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THESE HIGHLIGHTS OF TODAY'S TRIBUTE HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ALL IN HIS HANDS I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL OF MY BURDENS, PROBLEMS IF I HAVE A QUESTION I PUT IT ALL YES, I PUT IT ALL I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL IN HIS HANDS I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL IN HIS HANDS I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL OF MY BURDENS, PROBLEMS IF I HAVE A QUESTION I PUT IT ALL YES, I PUT IT ALL I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL IN HIS HANDS I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL IN HIS HANDS I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL OF MY BURDENS, PROBLEMS IF I HAVE A QUESTION I PUT IT ALL YES, I PUT IT ALL I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL IN HIS HANDS I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL IN HIS HANDS I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS ALL OF MY BURDENS, PROBLEMS IF I HAVE A QUESTION I PUT IT ALL YES, I PUT IT ALL I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS

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WHATEVER THE PROBLEM I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS I KNOW THAT HE CAN SOLVE IT I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS THIS AND THAT I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS HE CAN HANDLE IT; THAT'S A FACT I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS NO MATTER HOW GREAT OR SMALL HE'S THE MASTER OF THEM ALL I PUT IT ALL YES, I PUT IT ALL I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS

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WHATEVER THE PROBLEM I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS I KNOW THAT HE CAN SOLVE IT I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS THIS AND THAT I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS HE CAN HANDLE IT; THAT'S A FACT I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS THIS AND THAT THIS AND THAT THIS AND THAT THIS AND THAT THIS AND THAT THIS AND THAT THIS, THIS, THIS AND THAT THIS AND THAT I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS HE CAN HANDLE IT; THAT'S A FACT I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS NO MATTER HOW GREAT OR SMALL HE'S THE MASTER OF THEM ALL I PUT IT ALL YES, I PUT IT ALL I PUT IT ALL YES, I PUT IT ALL I PUT IT ALL YES, I PUT IT ALL I PUT IT ALL I PUT IT ALL IN HIS HANDS

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>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> I'M GOVERNOR TONY EVERS. >> YES!

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>> AND I WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO WISCONSIN'S 40TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

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>> I'M PLEASED TO JOIN YOU ALL AS WE GATHER ONCE AGAIN TO CONTEMPLATE AND CELEBRATE THE PURSUIT OF EQUALITY FOR ALL. TODAY'S THEME, "STAND FOR JUSTICE," BRINGS TOGETHER THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ACROSS OUR STATE AND THE MIDWEST, MANY OF WHOM SEEK TO ELIMINATE WHAT DEVISEDDIVIDES US. AND NOW PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND DIRECTOR OF OUR ANNUAL MLK TRIBUTE, WISCONSIN'S OWN DR. JONATHAN OVERBY.

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CURTIS EUBANKS IS A SINGER, SONGWRITER AND MUSICIAN FROM MILWAUKEE. HE SHAIRDZ HIS SHARED HIS MUSIC ACROSS THE U.S., AFRICA AND THE U.K. HE SERVED AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE MARQUETTE GOSPEL CHOIR. HE OVERSEES WORSHIP AND CREATIVE ARTS AT THE ADULLAM OUTREACH ORGANIZATION. PLEASE WELCOME GOSPEL ARTIST CURTIS EUBANKS.

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NOT A SECOND OR ANOTHER MINUTE NOT AN HOUR OR ANOTHER DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL, WITH MY ARMS OUTARMS OUTSTRETCHED LORD, I NEED YOU TO MAKE A WAY AS YOU HAVE DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE YOU MADE A WAY THROUGH A WINDOW OR AN OPEN DOOR I STRETCH MY HANDS TO THEE COME RESCUE ME I NEED YOU RIGHT AWAY I NEED YOU NOW I NEED YOU NOW I NEED YOU NOW I NEED YOU NOW NOT ANOTHER SECOND OR ANOTHER MINUTE NOT AN HOUR OR ANOTHER DAY GOD, I NEED YOU RIGHT AWAY

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THE THE AGONY OF BEING ALONE THE FEAR OF HAVING TO DO THINGS ON MY OWN THE TESTS AND TRIALS THAT COME TO MAKE ME STRONG I HAVE FEELINGS OF GUILT, HURT, SHAME AND DEFEAT THE WAVES OF TRIAL THAT BEAT ON ME BUT TO KNOW, LORD, THAT IN YOU I'VE GOT VICTORY

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I NEED YOU NOW O, I NEED YOU NOW I NEED YOU RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT NOW I NEED YOU NOW, NOW NOT ANOTHER SECOND OR ANOTHER MINUTE NOT AN HOUR OR DAY BUT, GOD, I YOU NO ONE LOVES LIKE YOU GOD, I NEED YOU NO ONE HEALS LIKE YOU GOD, I NEED YOU AS WE TRAVEL THROUGH THIS STRANGE LAND, I NEED YOU I NEED YOU LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING HAD A DREAM NO ONE MAKES DREAMS COME TRUE LIKE YOU I NEED YOU AND I NEED YOU RIGHT AWAY CLAP YOUR HANDS AND SAY I NEED YOU RIGHT AWAY

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>> CURTIS EUBANKS. PROBABLY GOING TO COME UP HERE AND TOUCH EVERYBODY. WELL, HE'S FROM MILWAUKEE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE END OF OUR MILWAUKEE REPRESENTATION. THIS AFTERNOON FROM BREWTOWN, WE HAVE THE VIOLIN AND CELLO DUO, SISSISTASTRINGS. THEY INFUSE THEIR MUSIC WITH GOSPEL. THEY'VE PERFORMED AT CARNEGIE HALL, WITH THE MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. THEY'RE ON THE FACULTY OF THE WISCONSIN CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC. PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO SISTASTRINGS.

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BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER BRIDGE OVER WATER IN THE WATER DON'T TROUBLE THE WATERS WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T YOU LET IT BE STILL WATER RUNS DEEP YES, IT O YEAH WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND OUT ON THE STREET WHEN EVENING FALLS SO HARD I WILL COMFORT YOU I'LL TAKE YOUR PART, OH, WHEN DARKNESS COMES AND PAIN IS ALL AROUND LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER I WILL LAY ME DOWN LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER I WILL LAY ME DOWN SAIL ON SILVER GIRL SAIL ON BY THE TIME HAS COME TO SHINE AND ALL YOUR DREAMS ARE ON THEIR WAY SEE HOW THEY SHINE OH, WHEN YOU NEED A FRIEND WHEN YOU FRIEND I'M SAILING RIGHT BEHIND LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER I WILL EASE YOUR MIND LIKE A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER I WILL EASE YOUR MIND DON'T TROUBLE THE WATER WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T YOU LET IT BE STILL WATER RUNS DEEP YES, IT DO O YEAH DON'T TROUBLE THE WATER MOVE ON WHY DON'T YOU, WHY DON'T YOU LET IT BE STILL WATER RUNS DEEP YES, IT DO O YEAH OOOH

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

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>> CORINDA RAINEY-MOORE CURRENTLY WORKS AS AN OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT MATTER, SERVANT LEADER. SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY'S DOC COMMISSION, MADISON LEAGUE OF THE GUILD. SHE SERVES ON THE FOUNDATION FOR BLACK WOMEN'S WELLNESS, LEADERSHIP WISCONSIN, BRIDGE LAKEPOINT COMMUNITY CENTER AND MORE. SHE IS A PEACEMAKER IN THE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE COURT AND A MEMBER OF THE ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY. YOU HAD TO SLIP THAT IN THERE. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT CORINDA RAINEY-MOORE IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE WISCONSIN 2020 MLK HERITAGE AWARD.

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>> I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M SO HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS AWARD TODAY ON BEHALF OF MY HUSBAND, MY KIDS, WHO ALLOW ME TO BE ALL THAT I NEED TO BE IN THE COMMUNITY, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, BECAUSE I COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU ALL. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY BOSS, BECAUSE I HAVE A BOSS THAT ALLOWS ME TO BE FLEXIBLE WHEN I NEED TO BE SO THAT I CAN DO WHAT I DO IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE GOVERNOR. THANK YOU FOR THIS AWARD. AND JUST LIKE DR. KING, SERVICE IS WHO I AM AND IT IS THE PRICE THAT WE PAY FOR BEING HERE ON EARTH. WE ALSO KNOW THAT OUR KIDS CAN'T SEE US IF. IF THEY DON'T SEE US, THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT. AND SO WE HAVE TO BE THERE FOR OUR YOUTH SO THAT THEY CAN KNOW THAT THEY CAN BE ALL THAT THEY CAN BE. I WANT TO THANK YOU, JONATHAN OVERBY, AND THE REST OF THE MLK COMMISSIONERS FOR GIVING ME THIS AWARD. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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>> CONGRATULATIONS, CORINDA RAINEY-MOORE. >> WITH MEMBERS REPRESENTING VARIOUS CITIES ACROSS WISCONSIN, I'M DELIGHTED TO HAVE FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE KING CELEBRATION UNDER THE DIRECTION OF LATRICE STANLEY THE FALL GOSPEL FEST CHOIR. PLEASE GIVE THEM A HAND.

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WE WORK FOR HIM WITH ALL THAT WE SAY AND DO SNOAFT LIFT HIM HIGHER, LIFTS HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER WHILE YOU HAVE A CHANCE WE'VE COME TO WORSHIP HIM IN ALL THAT HE SAY AND DO WE'VE COME TO WORSHIP HIM IN ALL THAT WE SAY AND DO WE COME TO SING OF HIS GOODNESS AND SING OF HIS LOVE WE'VE COME TO SING OF HIS GREATNESS THAT'S SENT FROM UP ABOVE WHY NOT JUST LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE LIFT HIM HIGHER WHILE YOU HAVE A CHANCE LIFT YOUR HANDS IN THE SANCTUARY AND BLESS THE LORD WITH ME GIVE THANKS FOR WHAT HE'S DONE AND THE HEALING IN MY LIFE LIFT YOUR HANDS IN THE SANCTIONING WEAR AND BLESS THE LORD WITH ME GIVE THANKS, O, O, O, O LIFT HIM HIGHER HIFTLIFT LIFT HIM HIGHER FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE LIFT HIM HIGHER WHILE YOU HAVE A CHANCE LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT YOUR HANDS IN THE SANCTUARY AND BLESS THE LORD WITH ME GIVE THANKS FOR WHAT HE'S DONE AND THE HEALING IN MY LIFE LIFT HIM HIGHER HAD LIFT HIM HIGHER FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE SNOAFT LIFT HIM HIGHER WHILE YOU HAVE A CHANCE

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>> LIFT LIFT HIM UP. LIFT HIM UP LIFT HIM HIGHER. LIFT HIM UP. LIFT HIM UP SNOAFT LIFT LIFT HIM HIGHER SING OF HIS GOODNESS SING OF HIS MERCY SING OF HIS GOODNESS LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER FOR ALL THE LIFT HIM HIGHER FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER LIFT HIM HIGHER WHILE YOU HAVE A CHANCE

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> AND NOW IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU OUR GUEST SPEAKER TODAY. DR. OLLIE WATTS DAVIS IS A DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF MUSIC, PROVOST, FELLOW AND CONDUCTOR OF BLACK CHORUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN. SHE'S AN AUTHOR. THESE CITATIONS ARE A MERE GLIMPSE INTO THE MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF OUR SPEAKER TODAY, ORIGINALLY FROM WEST VIRGINIA. PLEASE WELCOME DR. OLLIE WATTS DAVIS.

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MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY OF THEE TO THEE WE SING LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED LAND OF THE PILGRIMS' PRIDE FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE LET FREEDOM RING >> IT WAS EASTER SUNDAY MORNING.

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>> THANK YOU. IT WAS EASTER SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 9, 1939, WHEN AMERICAN MARIAN ANDERSON STOOD AT THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON D.C. IN FRONT OF 75,000 PEOPLE AND OPENED THE CONCERT THAT SHOOK THE ESTABLISHMENT WITH THESE WORDS. THIS WAS A WATERSHED MOMENT THAT CREATED QUITE A STIR COMING FROM THIS DIGNIFIED, ELEGANT, HUMBLE ARTIST, WHO HAD BECOME AN INTERNATIONALLY-KNOWN STAR, PERFORMING EXTENSIVELY IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES, BUT WHO HAD BEEN DENIED ACCESS TO CONSTITUTION HALL, AN AUDITORIUM OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, FOR THIS, HER CAPITAL RECITAL. MISS ANDERSON, WHOSE VOICE WAS HERALDED AS ONE THAT COMES AROUND ONCE IN A HUNDRED YEARS USED HER MOMENT. ALTHOUGH PAINED BY INJUSTICE, SHE USED HER DEFINING MOMENT AS HER PLATFORM TO STAND FOR JUSTICE. AND THROUGH HER SINGING CONFRONTED INJUSTICE WITH CLOSED EYES, SHE LOOKED AMERICA STRAIGHT IN THE EYE WITH HER VOICE. AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY DISARMED A NATION. SHE MADE AMERICA SEE HER HUMANITY. SHE ITERATED HER CITIZENSHIP BY TAKING ARTISTIC LICENSE AS SHE SANG "TO THEY WE SING" RATHER THAN THE WRITTEN TEXT, "OF THEE I SING." SHE WAS IMPLYING COMMUNITY AND GROUP RESPONSIBILITY, RECALLING THE SITUATION IN 1939, MISS ANDERSON LATER WROTE, I COULD NOT RUN AWAY FROM THIS SITUATION. IF I HAD ANYTHING TO OFFER, I WOULD HAVE TO DO IT NOW. WE ALL HAVE MOMENTS, DEFINING MOMENTS. MY MOMENT BEGAN AS A LITTLE BLACK GIRL FROM THE COAL FIELDS OF WEST VIRGINIA. RAISED IN A FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLD WHO GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE WITH HONORS. MY MOMENT CONTINUED AT ILLINOIS WHEN I JOINED THE FACULTY, FIRST AS A GRADUATE STUDENT AND, AS AN ASIDE, I HAD TWO OF MADISON'S FINEST AS STUDENTS. BOTH REVEREND LLOYD BITLE AND MRS. BITTELL AS STUDENTS. THEN AS A VISITING PROPER, ON TO ASSISTANT, ASSOCIATE AND FULL PROFESSOR AND NOW AS UNIVERSITY SCHOLAR, PROVOST AND DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR. I SHARE THIS NOT TO BOAST, BUT TO BUILD HOPE IN ANY YOUNG PERSON LISTENING AND TRACE FOR YOU A STUBBORN COMMITMENT TO A SERIES OF MOMENTS ALONG MY JOURNEY THAT I, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, MAX SA MICED. MAXIMIZED. MISS ANDERSON USED HER MOMENT BECAUSE SHE WAS PRESENT, ACCOUNTED FOR AND ATTENTIVE. HER MOMENT WAS OF MONUMENTAL CONSEQUENCE. FOR, YOU SEE, A TEN-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS INFLUENCED BY THIS RECITAL. AT AGE 15 HE WOULD WIN A SPEAKING CONTEST AT HIS ATLANTIC HIGH SCHOOL USING THE TOPIC THE NEGRO AND THE CONSTITUTION. HE WOULD STAND AT THESE VERY SAME STEPS IN WASHINGTON IN 1963 AND WITH MISS ANDERSON AS ONE OF THE PERFORMERS, HE WOULD INVOKE THE WORDS OF AMERICA WHILE DELIVERING HIS MONUMENTAL "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH. DR. KING SAID "THIS WILL BE THE DAY WHEN ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN WILL BE ABLE TO SING WITH NEW MEANING MY COUNTRY 'TIS OF THEE, SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY, OF THEE I SING. LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED, LAND OF THE PILGRIMS' PRIDE. FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE, LET FREEDOM RING. MARIAN ANDERSON IS A MAJOR FIGURE IN THE STAND FOR JUSTICE, JOINED BY OTHER WOMEN, ELLA BAKER, DIANE NASH, ROSA PARKS, CORETTA SCOTT KING, MERRILY EVERS, MOTHER ALBERTA KING AND MANY, MANY MORE, TOO NUMEROUS TO NAME. AND I MUST MENTION THE MUSIC OF BLACK AMERICA, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT CHARACTER IN THE MOVEMENT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND HAS PROVIDED THE SOUNDTRACK FOR THIS REVOLUTION. I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY IN THIS STRENGTH AND TO GIVE THESE FORERUNNERS THE RECOGNITION AND THE HONOR THEY DESERVE. AND I DON'T STAND ALONE. YOU SEE, I'M PACKING DEEP TODAY. I'M HERE ALONG WITH TWO OF MY DAUGHTERS, ASHLEY M. DAVIS AND CHARITY C. DAVIS, AND TWO OF MY GRANDCHILDREN, CHARLIE EDWARD DATES II AND CLAIRE ELIZABETH DATES. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME.

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>> A STANDS FOR JUSTICE IS A HIGH ROAD. IT MAY APPEAR THREATENING. WE MAY BE THREATENED AND WE MAY HAVE TO THE THREAT. DO WE HAVE THE WILL? DO WE HAVE THE COURAGE? THOSE BORN INTO PRIVILEGE, THOSE WHO HOLD POSITION AND THOSE VOTED INTO POWER MUST BE WILLING TO TAKE A STAND, TO STAND FOR JUSTICE. WE MUST REALIZE THAT WE ARE IN THE PLACES WE'RE IN AND WE HOLD THE POSITIONS WE HOLD IN ORDER TO SERVE OUR GENERATION FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS. WE ARE CUSTODIANS OF THE MOVEMENT, AND WE MUST DEVELOP THE WORK THAT DR. KING STARTED. WE MUST USE OUR POWER TO TRANSFORM SOCIETY FOR THE BETTER. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY, JUST AS IN OUR SOCIETY IT'S OUR JOB, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. WE HE MUST STEWARD RESPONSIBLY THIS RESPONSIBILITY. IN ADDITION TO HAVING DEFINING MOMENTS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE. WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US IS STATED PLAINLY IN THE WORDS OF MICAH. NOW, HE'S OFTEN CONSIDERED A MINOR PROPHET, BUT HE DELIVERED A MAJOR MESSAGE. IN CHAPTER 6, VERSE 8, HE SAYS WE ARE TO DO JUSTICE, TO LOVE MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH OUR GOD. AND WE MUST NOT WATER DOWN THIS MESSAGE. IN ORDER TO STAND FOR JUSTICE, WE MUST KNOW WHAT INJUSTICE LOOKS LIKE. WE MUST NAME WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. WE MUST DELIVER A CLEAR MESSAGE. WE MUST RECOGNIZE INJUSTICE, RACIAL INEQUITIES IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND POLICING, DISPARITIES IN EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE, MASS UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT. WE MUST MAKE THE SUFFERING OF THE OPPRESSED VISIBLE TO THE POINT WHERE IT CANNOT BE IGNORED. WE MUST CALL INJUSTICE WHAT IT IS. IN ADDITION TO HAVING --

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>> THANK YOU. IN ADDITION TO HAVING A DEFINING MOMENT AND A CLEAR MESSAGE, WE MUST EMPLOY A CREATOR METHOD. WE MUST RESPOND TO INJUSTICE. WE MUST EMPLOY WHAT DR. KING CALLED CREATIVE TENSION, EXPOSE INJUSTICE IN DRAMATIC WAYS. YOU SEE, INJUSTICE CAN EXIST BENEATH THE VENEER OF NORMALCY AND SINCERITY. WE MUST EXPOSE THE SIN IN SINCERITY. I AM A CREATOR AND I'M A TEACHER. I TEACH PEOPLE. MUSIC IS THE PRINCIPLE SUBJECT MATTER THAT I USE, ALONG WITH SHARING TRANSFERABLE LIFE SKILLS. YOU SEE, I BELIEVE THAT EVERY YOUNG PERSON NEEDS A MATURE, CARING ADULT IN HIS AND HER LIFE WHO WILL CHALLENGE HIM OR HER WITH WISDOM REGARDING CHRIS CAL ISSUES AND DECISIONS IN THEIR LIVES.

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>> THANK YOU. I SHOW UP, I STAND UP, AND SOMETIMES I SHOW OUT. WHETHER AS A PERFORMING ARTIST TEACHING FROM THE STAGE OR AS A TEACHER IN THE STUDIO AND REHEARSAL SPACE, I INTENTIONALLY DELIVER AN INSPIRING PERFORMANCE. WE MUST REMEDY INJUSTICE. AS HAS BEEN STATED BEFORE, INJUSTICE ANYWHERE THREATENS FREEDOM AND JUSTICE EVERYWHERE, BECAUSE INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION ARE DAMAGING TO BOTH THE OPPRESSED AS WELL AS THE OPPRESSORS. AND WE, WISCONSIN, WE MUST RESCUE BOTH. OUR STAND FOR JUSTICE MIGHT BE A STRUCTURAL RESPONSE. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY FORWARD. WE MUST HOLD OURSELVES AND OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE. SO I ISSUE A CALL TODAY THAT RESTRUCTURING THE ARCHITECTURE THAT MAKES FOR AN UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD IS NECESSARY. WE MUST HONESTLY ASK OURSELVES WHAT IS IT ABOUT OUR INSTITUTIONS THAT PROTECT INJUSTICE? WHAT IS IT ABOUT INJUSTICE THAT IS SO APPEALING AND SO SEDUCTIVE? WE MUST HAVE A MISSION, AND THE MISSION IS TO STAND FOR JUSTICE. LET US AFFIRM THE FUNDAMENTALLINGFUNDAMENTALDIGNITY OF HUMAN LIFE AS PEOPLE MADE IN THE IMAGE OF LIFE AND OPPOSE PRACTICES THAT DENY THIS. A STAND FOR JUSTICE REPLACES FEELINGS OF SUPERIOR TOWARDS THE DISENFRANCHISED WITH MERCY COMPASSION FOR THE DISENFRANCHISED. THESE ARE OUR BROTHERS. THESE ARE OUR SISTERS. AND WE ARE THEIR KEEPERS. THE ONE IN FRONT OF US WHO IS EXPERIENCING INJUSTICE NEEDS AN ADVOCATE. SHE IS OUR NEIGHBOR. HE IS THE ONE WHO HAS THE IT'S THE POOR. IT'S THE ORPHAN. IT'S THE WIDOW. IT'S THE IMMIGRANT AMONG US. THESE ARE OUR BROTHERS. THESE ARE OUR SISTERS. AND WE ARE THEIR KEEPERS. IN HIS OPEN LETTER, LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL, REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. NOTED I AM COGNIZANT OF THE INTERRELATED OF ALL STATES. INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE. WE ARE CAUGHT IN A NETWORKING WITH OF MUTUALITY, TIED IN A GARMENT OF DESTINY. WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY. THIS RECOGNITION OF A NETWORK OF MUTUALITY IS INTEGRAL TO JUSTICE OUTCOMES. SEE, JUSTICE IS THE CORNERSTONE VALUE IN THE ARCHITECTURE OF A PREEMINENT SOCIETY. IT RECOGNIZES THE STRENGTH AND THE BENEFIT OF INTERDEPENDENT HARMONY THAT IS DERIVED BY WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS A DESIRED GOAL. TO RALLY HIS SECRETARIES AROUND THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, DR. KING FASTED AND HE PRAYED. AND HE CHALLENGED THEM WITH THESE WORDS. HE SAID, WE HAVE TO DO IT, FOR OUR OWN SENSE OF DIGNITY, OUR OWN SELF-WAS, SELF-RESPECT, FOR OUR OWN DETERMINATION. BUT WE CAN'T DO IT IF WE DON'T GIVE OUR ALL TO IT. SO IT IS WITH US AS WE TAKE A STAND FOR JUSTICE. WE DON'T WANT TO BE LESS THAN WE'RE CALLED TO BE. THAT WOULD BE DEFEAT. NOR DO WE WANT TO BE MORE THAN WE'RE CALLED TO BE. THAT WOULD BE CONCEIT. WE WANT TO BE ALL THAT WE ARE CALLED TO BE AND THAT IS TO BE COMPLETE.

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>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WHEN I WAS IN THE 7TH GRADE, MY MOTHER ENROLLED ME IN A TYPING CLASS. THERE WAS A SENTENCE THAT WE PRACTICED EVERY DAY. PERHAPS YOU HAD THIS SAME PRACTICE SENTENCE." NOW IS. "NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR COUNTRY." DOES IT SOUND FAMILIAR TO ANYBODY? I KNOW I'M DATING MYSELF. BUT I PRACTICED THAT SENTENCE DAY IN AND DAY OUT. KING REMINDS US THAT HUMAN PROGRESS NEVER ROLLS IN ON WHEELS OF INEVITABILITY. IT COMES THROUGH THE TIRELESS EFFORT OF MEN WILLING TO BE CO-WORKERS WITH GOD, AND WITHOUT THIS HARD WORK, TIME ITSELF BECOMES AN ALLY OF THE FORCES OF SOCIAL STAGNATION. YOU SEE, THE CONDITIONS SURROUNDING US INTRODUCE US TO OURSELVES. AND THE PERSISTENCE WITH WHICH WE ENGAGE THE RESISTANCE AND DIFFICULTY WE EXPERIENCE WHEN STRIVING TO ADDRESS THOSE CONDITIONS FORM WHO WE BECOME. LET ME EXPLAIN THAT. CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING DR. KING INTRODUCED HIM TO HIMSELF. HE HAD HAD TO BECOME, HE HAD TO BECOME THE REVEREND DR. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE, HE HAD TO BECOME THE DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE THROUGH REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING. HIS LEGACY IS SECURED BY WHAT HE SUFFERED AND HOW HE SERVED. HE HAD HAD TO GROW AND DEVELOP INTO THE MAN WHO LOOKED LIKE SOMETHING IMPORTANT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN WHEN HE ENTERED A ROOM. AND WHO SPOKE LOUDLY BY JUST LISTENING AND BEING PRESENT. HE HAD TO BE INTRODUCED TO HIMSELF. AS HE HEEDED THE CALL ON HIS LIFE, HE TAUGHT US IN THE PROCESS. HE TAUGHT US THAT THERE ARE WOUNDS TO BE HAD. HE TAUGHT US THERE IS SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING FOR. LET ME ASK YOU NOW, HAVE YOU BEEN INTRODUCED TO YOURSELF? HAVE YOU COME TO REALIZE THE ROLE YOU ARE TO PLAY IN SERVING YOUR GENERATION? WHEN YOU MEET YOURSELF, WHEN YOU SEE YOUR PRIVILEGE IN LIGHT OF YOUR NEIGHBOR'S PLIGHT, THIS INTRODUCTION WILL MOVE YOU TO ACTION. YOU'VE HEARD IT SAID THAT SO AND SO IS WALKING THE TALK AND THAT WE MUST WALK THE TALK? CAN I GET A WITNESS? >> AMEN. >> ALL RIGHT.

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>> WELL, JUST ALLOW ME TO EDIT THAT JUST A LITTLE. BEFORE WE WALK THE TALK, WE MUST FIRST TALK THE TALK. PROVERBS 31, VERSES 8 AND 9 GIVES US A PRACTICAL COLLECTIVE. IT SAYS, OPEN YOUR MOUTH FOR THE MUTE, FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL WHO ARE DESTITUTE. OPEN YOUR MOUTH, JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY, DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR AND NEEDY. IN ORDER TO TALK THE TALK, WE HAVE TO OPEN OUR MOUTHS. WE HAVE TO JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY. AND WE HAVE TO DEFEND THE RIGHTS OF THE POOR AND NEEDY AMONG US. NOW, I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO DID JUSTICE. MY BOYFRIEND. MY HUSBAND. THE REVEREND DR. HAROLD DAVIS. SEE, AFTER SEEING THE SUSPENSION STATISTICS IN OUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, HE ENGAGED. BY MENTORING AND THEN WRITING A CURRICULUM FOR OTHERS TO DO THE SAME, HE TOOK A STAND FOR JUSTICE. HE DID NOT PASSIVELY SIT BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE WALKED THE TALK.

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>> AMEN.

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>> THANK YOU. AND HE PUT FORTH A SOLUTION TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION. AND THEN HE ENLISTED ME TO WRITE THE FEMALE CURRICULUM. OUR TALKS MENTORING PROGRAM HAS IMPACTED THE LIVES OF MANY AS WE HAVE ENDEAVORED TO TRANSFER A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMATICALLY. HONORING DR. KING'S LEGACY AND LIFE MUST BE MORE THAN A CALENDAR DATE. THE CALL HE ISSUED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 20TH CENTURY IS JUST AS RESOUNDING TO US IN THIS 21ST CENTURY. WE MUST NOT WATER DOWN HIS MESSAGE. IT IS A CALL FOR JUSTICE.

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>> IT IS ROOTED IN THE GOSPEL, FOR YOU KNOW HE WAS A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL WHO LOVED THE CHURCH, WHO WAS NURTURED BY THE CHURCH, WHO WAS SUSTAINED BY THE CHURCH AND WHO REMAINED TRUE TO THE CHURCH. SO LET US PICK UP THE MANTLE AND ADDRESS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM WITH COURAGE AS WE TAKE OUR STAND FOR JUSTICE. MY SON-IN-LAW, THE REVEREND DR. CHARLIE DATES, ADMONISHED US AT THE FRONT OF THIS YEAR BY SAYING DON'T JUDGE PROGRESS BY WHAT YOU THINK YOU OUGHT TO BE OR HOW SUCCESSFUL YOU THINK YOU SHOULD BE. VIEW YOUR PROGRESS BY THE MERCY AND FAITHFULNESS OF GOD. AND LET ME ADD, LET THIS VANTAGE POINT SUSTAIN YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO YOUR CALLING. FOR 40 YEARS, DR. OVERBY AND YOUR STAFF AND COMMUNITY AND THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAVE SUSTAINED A CEREMONY OF TRIBUTE AND CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE PREACHER, THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. I COMMEND YOU FOR THIS COMMITMENT. YOU MUST BE CAREFUL.

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>> THANK YOU.

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>> YOU MUST BE CAREFUL TO CELEBRATE WHAT GOD HAS MERCIFULLY ALLOWED YOU TO DO. YOU MAY FEEL AS IF PUTTING ON THE STATEWIDE CEREMONY AFTER 40 YEARS SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE SUPPORT, MORE ENTHUSIASM AND MORE RESOURCES. BUT LET ME HASTEN TO SAY THAT THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD HAS ALLOWED YOUR PLANNING, YOUR PREPARATION AND THIS PRESENTATION TO BE EXACTLY AS IT OUGHT TO BE. THE MORAL ARC OF THE UNIVERSE IS LONG, BUT IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE, CORDING TO ACCORDING TO OUR HONOREE TODAY. SO LET'S KEEP MOVING. THOSE STANDING FOR JUSTICE STAND WITH MORE POWER THAN ANY OPPOSITION BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT EVIL CANNOT CONCEIVE A PERFECT PLAN. A TRIBUTE WAS GIVEN TO DR. KING AT HIS GRAVESITE. IT WAS SAID THE CEMETERY IS TOO SMALL FOR HIS SPIRIT. THE GRAVE IS TOO NARROW FOR HIS SOUL. WE COMMEND HIS LEGACY OF COURAGE AND LOVE TO OURSELVES, OUR CHILDREN AND OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN. WE COMMEND HIS LIFE TO THE UNIVERSE. IT HAS BEEN MY PRIVILEGE TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND SPEAK WELL OF HIM, TO ASSURE ALL WHO ARE PRESENT THAT HIS LIVING WAS NOT IN VAIN, TO URGE OUR COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP HIS WORK AND TO SHARE THE PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDED HIS LIFE AND MINE. THANK YOU.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> DR. OLLIE WATTS DAVIS!

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> ALL RIGHT. YOU MAY BE SEATED. FOR MORE THAN 36 YEARS, THE RENDERS WILLIE BRISCO HAS DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO FIGHT BEING INJUSTICE IN MILWAUKEE, TAKING ON IN EE QUALITIES IN TRANSPORTATION, EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING. WHEN WESTLAWN, THE FEDERAL PUBLIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, WAS INITIALLY BEING REBUILT, HE WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE INJUSTICES IN CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYMENT EXPOSED THROUGH A $300 MILLION PROJECT. HE HELPED TO IDENTIFY HOW AUTHORITIES HAD FAILED TO MEET FEDERAL REGULATIONS FOR HIRING LOW-INCOME WORKERS. HE WORKED FOR 25 YEARS AT THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY HOUSE OF CORRECTION. TODAY, HE IS WORKING WITH WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS AND OTHERS TO REFORM THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM IN WISCONSIN.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE REVEREND WILLIE BRISCO IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE WISCONSIN 2020 MLK HERITAGE AWARD.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK GOD FOR BEING ALIVE FOR THIS DAY.

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

>> I WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR EVERS, DR. OVERBY AND THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR SELECTING ME FOR THIS AWARD. I AM TRULY HOW MANY HUMBLED. I AM TRULY GRATEFUL. I ACCEPT THIS AWARD ON BEHALF OF WISDOM AND THE 11 STATE AFFILIATES THAT WE REPRESENT. I ACCEPT THIS AWARD ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS 17 AFFILIATES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. I TRULY WORK ALONGSIDE SOME DYNAMIC AND DIVERSE PEOPLE. THEY ALLOW ME TO DO THIS WORK, AND THEY ALLOW ME TO WORK ALONGSIDE THEM. SO I THANK GOD FOR THAT.

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>> I ALSO ACCEPT THIS AWARD ON BEHALF OF MY ANCESTORS AND ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, BECAUSE THEY HAVE BOTH DIED, SURVIVED AND LIVED I SOCIETY THAT DIDN'T ALWAYS APPRECIATE THEM. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? WE KEPT ON KEEPING ON AND WE ARE ALIVE TODAY AND THAT'S WHY I TAKE THIS HONOR AND IN THEIR PLACE.

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>> I THANK DR. KING BECAUSE I'M RECEIVING THIS AWARD BECAUSE HE SAID THAT I COULD BE GREAT BECAUSE I COULD SERVE. AND THAT'S WHY I SERVE. AND ON BEHALF OF NEW COVENANT BAPTIST CHURCH, I SAY THIS. MY SOUL IS TRULY HAPPY. MY SOUL IS GRATEFUL. THANK ALL OF YOU, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO WITNESSED THIS TODAY, AND THANK ALL OF YOU WHO PRAYED FOR THIS DAY. AND THANK GOD FOR DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AMEN.

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>> FRIENDS, THAT CONCLUDES WISCONSIN'S 40TH ANNUAL TRIBUTE AND CEREMONY HONORING DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE OF WISCONSIN GOVERNOR TONY EVERS AND THOSE WHO HELPED MAKE THIS PROGRAM POSSIBLE, UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JONATHAN OVERBY. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING, LISTENING AND WATCHING, AND MAY YOUR DAY BE FILLED WITH PEACE AND HARMONY. HAVE A GOOD DAY! THANK YOU.

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