Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize - The Civil Rights Movement Today

What would Martin Luther King Junior think about the America if were alive today? Seeing how far the people have come – from segregated classrooms and marches for freedom, to a country that is led by an African American man.

Dr. Martin Luther King, was no doubt a major part of the Civil Rights Movement - his approach to equal rights was highly influencial. “I am convinced the most potent weapon available to oppressed people”, he said, “as they struggle for freedom and justice is the weapon of non-violence.”

After years of non-violent protests were met with violent opposition, the American people were given a challenge. “Now the time has come for this nation to fulfill it's promise”, said John F. Kennedy, “We face, a moral crisis as a country and as a people. It is a time to act in Congress, in your State and local legislative body, and above all, in all of our daily lives.”

But what would Martin Luther King Jr., or JFK say about Civil Rights if they were here today? “In 2010, discrimination persists—both blatant discrimination and the dangerously subtle kind—in so many of our institutions, showing up in our schools, in our workplaces, in our health care system, in our financial system”, says Thomas Perez, U.S. Attorney General for Civil Rights, “These are the challenges that face us each day in the Civil Rights Division.We know that the landmark civil rights laws already on the books have holes yet to be filled, and we are working to pursue policies that protect the rights of all individuals.” There is still tension amoung whites and non-whites, men and women, or between heterosexuals and homosexuals. Everyday people are discriminated against and kept from freely living in the United States because of their race, religion, or sexuality.

Perez said in a speech he delivered at the annual AFL – CIO King Day Celebration, that “Together, we can continue our great progress. We must continue to work collaboratively for our common goals.” And as Dr. King once said, “Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for freedom.”

Gordon Alumni Offer Advice to Current Students

It’s easy as a college student to get caught up in classes, homework, part time jobs, and trying to balance all of that while maintaining a healthy social life. However, many before, have come and gone, and experienced very similar situations – both wonderful and stressful. A few have offered their advice.

“I always try to learn something new with every story I write,” Jon Phelps, says. Phelps, who graduated in 2008, works as a Journalist for the Eagle Tribune, a career he would have never realized his passion for if not for taking the class at Gordon. He says to keep in mind that “no story is too small” - advice that seems journalistic, but is important for all students or graduates.

Marywin Light felt Gordon very much prepared her for life in the real world. Light graduated in 2009 and is currently working towards her Master's degree in Intelligence and National Security at the University of Texas at El Paso. “Gordon prepared me for this very different life”, she says, “they're pretty good at producing revolutionaries.”

Heather Lobe would agree. The day after graduation, Lobe, a member of the class of 2010, moved to New York City. “I was challenged daily, and had to learn that I couldn't do this on my own. I couldn't have made it without the strength of the Lord,” she says, “I definitely feel like my time at Gordon strengthened me as a person and prepared me for my time in NYC.” Just like John and Marywin, Lobe says, “My time at Gordon taught me about myself, the world, and my limits.”