And share this speech with your social network. My daughter tells me this is something called live tweeting. [laughter] i know social change and revolutions have been brought on by tweets or facebook posts. As agents of change, i want you to inspire your network of friends. And when you feel inspired and moved by anything that happened today. I want to thank the organization ethnic fairness in the courts for the 25th anniversary. This is work that has been going on for a long while. Four years ago, i was invited as a brp guest four years ago i was invited as a be i. P. To sit on the steps of the capitol and witness the first swearing in of president obama. Any of you who are not from washington, i have seen so many old friends, we could possibly have the next lunch in the supermarket and be able to stay close to one another. On that day four years ago, my mind drifted back to a hot august afternoon in i, as a 1963. Recent College Graduate from michigan state, was here with thousands of others. Stood in solidarity with all those gathered for the march on washington. I listened, hanging on every eloquent and poignant word dripping from dr. Kings mouth, soaked it up like a sponge, absorbing every drop of change conveyed in his speech. I moved when he said, now i say to you today my friends even though we face difficulties of today and tomorrow, i have a dream deeply rooted in the american dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be selfevident that all men are , created equal. ,nd here i was 45 years later as i would sit there and see in that change fully formed and embodied in front of me on an inauguration day. The son of a School Teacher and a kenyan businessman. President obama personifies the hope and aspirations of many named and unnamed ancestors who were stripped from the bosom of their homeland and who endured and survived the middle passage. Who not only held on, but never gave up on their dream of freedom and the desire and the triumph against insurmountable odds. These brave men and women whose tears, prayers, hopes and dreams, created the environment for hope that allowed president obama to take the oath of the presidency. We cannot all be president. But we all can be agents of change. Becoming an agent of change is what i would like to talk about today. Agent of change is each of us in this room. It is every person in this room. Agents of change come generations before you. And i will exist generations after you. Agents of change is a singular individual with a dream of a better tomorrow, be it for themselves, for future generations to come, or for all mankind. Its that person that feels the slow burning embers to make a difference every single morning they wake up. Those embers are stoked with every person they meet, every moment they live, every fiber of their being nudges those embers to burn brighter. Because those embers turn to a fire and that fire turns into an inferno. And that inferno powers them. Every great man or woman, be it a Nobel Prize Winner with hopes of changing the way we understand the universe, to the garbageman that wakes up every morning before the sunrise hoping that his work will provide the means to open doors for his family, they all share something in common. As dr. King once said, if a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as michelangelo painted or beethoven composed music, as shakespeare composed poetry. He should sweep streets so well, that all the hosts of heaven and earth, will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well. I submit to you today there are at least five characteristics i feel every agent of change shares. When faced with an obstacle or a challenge, they ask themselves, why not . I was a junior in high school in little rock. A love of jazz. A student leader. My secret was i had a love of science. I saw myself in the future coming up with the newest scientific breakthrough, being handed the nobel prize. In those days segregation was , the law of the day. And separate but equal was the face it hid behind. As i looked around horse man horace man, there was a stark reality facing me. The facilities were not equal. Nor were they adequate for a future world renowned physicist. I asked myself why we had the hand me down books, the older equipment. Why we seemed to be out of the loop compared to Central High School which had a National Reputation for excellence. And was one of the best equipped schools in the region. I wondered why separate but equal seemed far from its term and why the brandnew schools were not opened to me. I knew that they had the equipment that i needed to make my dreams come true, and they were closer to my familys home. So when the opportunity presented itself, i asked, why not . Why not go to central . Why not challenge conventional wisdom and challenge segregation . Why not prove to myself, my neighbors, my city and my country, that change is possible and that a little thing like segregation could not stand in the way of opening the world . During the summer break in 57 a notice went around asking for africanamerican students who were interested in attending central in the fall. Central high school was selected to be one of the first test cases for brown v. Board. Little rock was chosen by the naacp because it was considered a moderate southern city. They had already integrated the university of arkansas. Both med school and law School Several Years earlier without incident. However as the summer wore on , the governor faced a tough conservative challenger, conservative and racist, for his reelection. The rhetoric grew to a fever pitch. If any of this sounds familiar , it is the same story. As the rhetoric increased the , number of potential students dwindled from over 125 to 10 to 9. And by the start of the school year, a moment that sticks out in my mind was a few weeks into the fall semester, a neighbor confronted me on the street. An older africanamerican gentleman called me over and said, and i was expecting him to congratulate me on my intentions to attend central, and perhaps ask a few questions about the experience. Instead, he said, why do you kids have to go and do all of this . Youre just getting the white folks upset, making it harder for the rest of us. You are all going to leave, go off to college and well be stuck with the problems. Obviously this man could only see the whys in what was happening at central. Why do the kids have to do this . Why dont they know the problems they will cause for the rest of us . Why do they want to do this anyway . Little rock was not like much most southern places. But he should have asked a bigger question. Why not . Why not change things for the better . Why not challenge separate but equal . Why not prove that all men and women truly are created equal and deserve the same opportunities . I knew i could meet the challenge because i thought of those who asked why not . When obstacles come in their way. Why couldnt a black woman be treated the same as any other passenger on a bus . She worked as hard as anyone else. December 1, 1955, was the day to incite change and why not allow that day to go down in history . Rosa parks didnt intend to get arrested. She made her way home from work. Little did the 42yearold seamstress know that her act of civil disobedience would spark a fire which would start the modern civil rights movement. Help end segregation laws and make her an emblematic agent of change. Another element that ties the greats together is the understanding that change is constant and how you adopt to it is paramount. Any law student, prelaw student, law enthusiast, or person who has happened across a few episodes of the tv show the good wife, knows one thing about the law. The law is constant, consistent, and solid. But it is forever adapting to the times. In the 50s, and you know the story well. Thurgood marshall was a lawyer practicing during a time when the law was constantly being challenged. Young thurgoods father William Marshall instilled in him from a youth an appreciation for the u. S. Constitution and the rule of law. In 1930, thurgood applied to the university of Maryland Law School but was denied admission because he was black. This event haunted him and directed his future professional life. He went on to attend Howard University law school and one of Thurgood Marshalls professors, Charles Hamilton houston, constantly spoke of the need to overturn the 1898 Supreme Court ruling, plessy versus ferguson, that established the legal doctrine called separate but equal. Marshalls first major court case came in 1933 when he successfully sued the university of maryland to admit an africanamerican graduate student. Later as chief counsel for the naacp, he amassed an impressive record. Supreme Court Challenges of statesponsored discrimination including the landmark brown v. , board. Thurgood marshall and Wiley Branton were the attorneys for the little rock nine. Justice marshall spent a great deal of time in little rock. He even spent nights at my family home because Justice Marshall wasnt staying in the holiday inn or the marriott at that point in time. The law at that time was being used as a weapon to oppress and disenfranchise individuals. Thurgood marshall instinctively knew that you had to adapt to change. Amendments were added. Understanding of equality grew , and slowly the law adapted to americas understanding of civil rights. Justice marshall went on to be the first black Supreme Court justice. Here he was sitting in the ultimate seat of adaptability. He had the opportunity to change and help to adapt laws to everchanging times. Justice marshall was quoted as saying todays constitution is a realistic document of freedom only because of several corrective amendments. These amendments speak to a sense of decency and fairness that i and other blacks cherish. Wiley branton later became the head of the Voter Registration project which concentrated on the former confederate states. He Voter Education project allowed for the registration and the catalyst allowing the africanamerican vote. That changed politics resulting in the election of black state, local, and national officials. Ultimately this opened the door , for all minorities to participate in the voting process. I submit that the v. E. P. Is the forerunner that made the election of president obama possible. Thats why we must fight the voter i. D. Laws. The only way we can move into the future is if we make sure we dont go back to the mistakes of the past. Today change is a slightly foreign concept to a teenager and to my young friends over here. Daily life seems relatively routine and constant to a teenager. Neither i nor the other members of the little rock nine were fully prepared for how quickly wed have to adapt to the new circumstances and environment. What was normal before was flipped on its head. What we would consider normal by the end of the year was a far cry from where we started. We knew there would be opposition and people wouldnt like what we were doing. But we never fathomed what that truly meant. To approach the school on the first day surrounded by screaming and cursing and watching the mob seethe and writhe with anger ever growing, let me just say, we learned to adapt quickly. We learned to lace up our shoes every morning and prepare for battle. We learned that no matter how chaotic things got we had to stay flexible to the changing climate and that was the key to getting through every day. If we have continued to go to central every day expecting it would feel like horace mann i dont think i would have graduated. But id acted to the situation and that allowed me to stay above the noise and continue toward my goal of a high school diploma. Conventional wisdom says you have to go through some things in order to reach your goal. But i challenge that thought here today. If something is in your way of you achieving your dreams, you may have to go around some things instead of through them. Many people will have seen the Iconic Images of the little rock nine being barred from entering central by the armed Arkansas National guard and an angry lynch mob waiting to tear us to bits. Those images of teenagers being blocked by Armed Service members sticks with us and sticks with you. Its a harrowing reminder that hate is strong. Sometimes its backed up by soldiers armed with lethal weapons. After that first day, we sat home for three weeks. The only concern i had was whether all that time out of school was going to keep me from graduating. Like any singular minded high school senior, we could have been forceful. We could have insisted that an angry black mob fight our way into the building. That wouldve been a rash and quick decision that could have put everyones life in jeopardy. However we had been trained in , nonviolent protest. The cornerstone of resistance for that time. And it could be easily summed up as as going around the problem rather than charging head first into all of the insanity. So we patiently studied on our own. We waited for an opportunity to present itself so we could circumvent the angry mobs camped outside the school. I am sure that if we had been going through all of that now, some of our young friend wouldve called us punks for not fighting. Band i bet some did at the time. But we waited patiently for three weeks. Our means of going around the problem came in the form of president david dwight eisenhower. Unintentional consequences that eisenhower know that he got tired of talking to fathers, pointing out that the federal law superceded our admission to central, and there was a line drawn in the sand. Prior to becoming president , eisenhower was a fivestar general who guided the u. S. In the defeat of the germans and the liberation of europe. I can only surmise his chagrin when a small Southern State governor defied his order. On september 22, 1957, on my 17th birthday eisenhower , interrupted Television Programs to announce that he was sending 10,000 paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division of screaming eagles to little rock, to enforce federal law to escort us into school. Im glad we waited, because the same paratroopers that helped liberate europe, the screaming eagles, helped a boy from pulaski street enter high school. I dont know about you, but thats one heck of a way to show going around the problem is sweeter than being bull headed and charging through it. [laughter] [applause] next day i remember riding in the convoy that led us, army jeep, paratroopers Standing Shoulder to shoulder for blocks, bayonets at the ready, and i turned to my colleague and said , well, i guess were going to get into school today. [laughter] to my young friends here, going around the problem isnt about avoiding a situation, its about finding an alternative that is conducive to the mission. It is about waiting for the right moment to present itself, rather than trying to force things to happen in your time. It took patience and faith to finally get into central and get us through the tumultuous days of the school year. As the school year wore on, our mission would be complete. There was tremendous tension regarding my graduation, rumors circulated i would be assassinated if i attended. I was informed by the principal that i could opt out of graduation and my diploma would be mailed to my house. And, of course, you know, i refused that. So, the day of my graduation, antisniper patrols were on the rooftops, overlooking the football field, helicopters swirled overhead, bombsniffing dogs were dispatched. The audience was frisked as they entered, and i must say my classmates kept a healthy distance from me. [laughter] but as it would happen, a little known at that time southern preacher named Martin Luther king junior happened to , be in pine bluff, arkansas, speaking at the college. He called my mother regarding attending my graduation. Dr. King and i sat my grandfathers sedan and i guess he sensed the trepidation i was feeling. He turned to me and said, son, just remember the words of that old hymn, god wouldnt bring you this far to leave you now. So, when later came time to receive my diploma, as i walked across the stage to a sound of deafening silence, everyone holding their breath, i knew that the moral art of justice had bent freedom and things would never be the same again. Now, no matter how big the obstacles may appear, you cannot let it stop you. It doesnt matter whether they are big or small obstacles. Sometimes your greatest obstacles are a setup for a great triumph, or as many young people say today, let your haters be your motivators. [laughter] even now in current times we see agents of change, faith was faced with seemingly impossible odds. Malala yousafzai, a young girl from pakistan, likely never imagined that fighting for equal education would conversely involve her fighting for her life. Her blog advocating womens education caught the attention of the taliban. They chose violent means to try and silence her voice. But when there are greater things meant for you, there is no weapon that can stop an agent of change. Malala continues to fight, attending school in london, continuing her crusade. Lastly, remember youre not alone. Its easy to see footage of civil rights leaders in archival footage, listening to dr. Kings stirring speeches or view the stark black and white images of him deep in thought, and forget no man is born wise and with all of the answers. In reality, dr. King used his many interactions and experiences with people from all different works, walks, to inform his world view. From forming bonds with the family of gandhi, to understanding the principles of nonviolence, to softening his message out of respect to president kennedy, dr. King demonstrated how one can use these connections and learn from them for future goals. Although dr. King is remembered as a shining star of the 60s civil rights movement, he was never alone in this struggle. There were many named and unnamed heros who stood for freedom, justice, and equality. Deep down, everyone has a desire to make an indelible mark on the world. Every single individual can help clear the path for change, whether they realize it or not. I frequently urge my children, adam, jessica, and mckenzie not to only take advantage of their personal networks, but to reach out to those outside their normal sphere of friends. You never know, my young friends, when the person sitting next to you will be the next steve jobs, oprah winfrey, warren buffett, or even barack obama. And get out of your comfort zone and befriend those beyond your normal group. You cannot be an agent of change on your own. Youre going to need others to transverse the road with you. Theres something my mother taught me, remember where you came from and respect those that came before you. In this moment, if youre sitting here listening to me, know that you are a product of generations prior who hoped for more, for better, for greatness within their families. They are ancestors you dont even know, whose blood, sweat, and tears flowed so you can be here now. No man or woman is an island, so dont be afraid to reach out to those around you and reflect on the work of the past and forge into the future. In closing this out, i want to quote a. Philip randolph, who was chairman of the march on washington that we will celebrate 50 years this summer. Mr. Randolph said, at the banquet table of life, there are no reserved seats. You get what you can take and you keep what you can hold. And you cant take anything you wont get anything. And you cant take anything without organization. You are organized when we become an agent of change, then the spirit of the little rock nine becomes 900, 9,000, 9 million, and we will not go back. Thank you very much. [applause] we have a facebook question from peter. Anyays, are there Historical Resources on the people who died in detroit . You could be featured during our program. Join the conversation on facebook. And on twitter. American history tv is on cspan3 every weekend, featuring museum tours, archival films, and programs on the presidency, the civil war, and more. Here is a clip from a recent program. East of saigon at a small village near the coast, these men have gone beyond their basic mission of military action to launch an equally Important Campaign of civic action. Another side of the American Navy in vietnam. To these men, their work on projects which will result in civic achievement is just as important as the work their shipmates do a more conventional label surroundings naval surroundings. To most of us, this is the United States navy. The aircraft carrier, the cruiser, and destroyer. The modern deepwater navy extending americas strength across the oceans of the world. But in vietnam, the American Navy has done an unprecedented variety of different jobs. It has held command responsibility for all support activities. With the army, it has been advisor to the south vietnamese and has sent the marines to help fight the land for. With the air force, it flies the planes which provide airpower. With civilian agencies, it pursues a vigorous program of civic actions. These are the allaround capabilities demonstrated by a modern, versatile naval force in action. The American Navy in vietnam. You can watch this and other American History programs on our website, where all our video is archived. Thats www. Cspan. Org history. Announcer eric draper was chief photographer for president george w. Bush during eight years he served from 2001 to 2009. Up next the oral history , interview with mr. Draper about his experience documenting white house activities, president ial travel, and major events including the 9 11 terrorist attacks. The Briscoe Center at the university of texas recorded the interview and archived his photo along with of those of several other nationally recognized photographers. This is just over 30 minutes. It is february 15, 2013. Im here with eric draper. The reason we are here is because we are celebrating the opening of the exhibit. Eric, we are here to get your