Altered forever. That an old order is dying in a new one is being born. That moment comes sooner for some, and for others it comes later. For some, the moment arrives when a deed of a new dimension sets are apart. For others, when familiar words are spoken more sharply. Later, but still suddenly it seems, men are saying things in doing things that have never said or done before. Then we know we are experiencing a revolution. But we cannot say, although historians will try when it began. We know that autumn does not begin with the turning up the leaves, but earlier on some forgotten after news when a shadow passes over the field and its no longer summer. So this American Revolution of 63 began this year in birmingham or on 1955 in montgomery . Or did it began in 1954 with the Supreme Court decision, or an 1863 with the president ial proclamation. Some of its worst reach back to 1776 to an independent revolution, even back to the 50 to win the apostle paul said god has made of one of us
Today we do it again. I am pleased that we have one again three republicans, three democrats to take part in this historic reading. And at this point, as we get to that letter, id like to yield the floor to my friend from south carolina, senator scott, for a special introduction to this important reading. I yield the floor, madam president. Mr. Scott thank you, madam president. The presiding officer the senator from south carolina. Mr. Scott thank you, maam. Madam president , we are at a critical time in our nations history. I think we can all sense the opportunity that is before us. Through the challenges of covid and the death of george floyd and its aftermath, we can affect real lasting change. Perhaps the most famous line from dr. Kings letter from birmingham jail is injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Let me say that one more time. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere where. More than at any time i can remember, people of all ages and races are st
Want to thaideading t jones foreign rinsomething new the thesepen mind. And an ope heart. Ck t the time. Stthe rmjigioib0 should sta l zs 2v elow their environment. The other jesus christ was an extremist for love. Truth and goodness. And thereby rose above his environment. Perhaps the nation and the world are in dire need of creative extremists. Senator from utah. I continue reading a letter from birmingham jail but doctor Martin Luther king junior. I had hoped the white moderates would see this need. Perhaps i was too optimistic. Perhaps i expected too much. I suppose i shouldve realized that with few members of the oppressor race can understand deep row race. And still fewer had been division to see the injustice must be rooted out by strong persistent and determined action. Im thankful however some are White Brothers in the south have grasped the meaning of the social revolution committed themselves to it. They are two in quantity, beginning quality some such as ralph Mcgill Willia
Luther king jr. Was arrested in my hometown of birmingham, alabama. His crime, leading a peaceful march to protest the indignity suffered by the black community and the jim crow era. He had violated the ban on public demonstrations which targeted the growing resistance of africanamericans to the injustices they were insuffering. While in solitary confinement in birmingham, dr. King wrote what became known as the letter from the birmingham jail, a stinging response to a group of white clergy in alabama who had denounced his tactics and questioned the wisdom and timing of his arrival in birmingham. They insisted he was an outside agitator coming to alabama to instigate trouble. Dr. King responded famously. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. In his letter he rejected the idea that africanamericans should be more patient for change in the face of the daily indignities inflicted by segregation, in the face of threats of violation. There comes a time, he wrote, when the cu
And i just want to say that this book, americas black capital, is a really profound new way of looking at the history of atlanta. And so its only fitting that his first author talk in atlanta, be here at the Atlanta History Center are many of you all already have read the book, but some of you all might not might not be aware of his background. But professor ober is, a professor of history, and hes also the founding director of the center for the study popular music at the university of and he received his ph. D. From indiana university, bloomington and he received his undergraduate degree a bachelor of art in history from, Morehouse College and. Hes previously two books. His first book was black power radical politics and he wrote hip hop revolution. The culture and politics of rap. So this is his third book. And having read his first book, it was a great book. But this book broke new ground. And without further ado, i want to welcome to the stage dr. Jeffrey oji obaa. Good everyone t