REMARKS BY RUBY Y. KELLY, CHAIRPERSON OF THE WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH MLK, JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

Because I have spent the last 35 years in the educational field, I have had the opportunity to see and work with a wide variety of young people, and, believe me – I have seen them all – the good, the bad and the ugly, and I’m not talking about their physical features. I’m talking about what’s on the inside, their character, personality and their spirit.

Right here in Springfield, we have twelfth grade boys and girls that are functionally illiterate. We have students in our schools who think success is measured by Rock-awear and Fubu pants, gold and silver (bling-bling) chains, $150.00 Air Jordans with no laces and Lou-E Vaton bags to carry textbooks that they cannot read.

Our children have not been our priority and they know it. They know that we’ve relinquished control of our families, of our communities and our schools. Our children feel they are not our priority because they are not safe in their homes or on their streets. We have allowed drugs and the violence and disintegration that follow in their wake to overtake our communities.

Our children believe they are not our priority each time they enter decaying public school buildings where there aren’t enough seats or books for them and where indifferent teachers remain.

Our children know they are not our priority because we have allowed sex and violence to become their major entertainment. Our children study condescending, demeaning lyrics more eagerly than reading, writing and arithmetic.

So where do we go from here? I’m asking you what I’m asking myself. What’s up with us? Just who are we and what is our purpose? Schools and institutions cannot and should not be expected to do it all. It is the midnight hour, but it is not too late to turn on the light.

Those of us who have high ideals and who dream beautiful dreams do not always succeed in realizing our goals, but we do have the satisfaction of knowing that we tried, that we did make an effort.

I’d like to share portions of an article I recently read. An Ashanti proverb says, “The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.” Is your house in order? We must create room for disagreement and discussion without slaying each other. We must make every effort to communicate with love and clarity, without bitterness or anger. The challenge is to maintain a living center no matter how someone else behaves.

Each of us is at a different point in self-awareness and understanding of life. We must try to love one another as God loves us, with a Divine Love. Our time on earth is but a moment in our larger history. I want to get my moment right. How about you?(Reprinted with the permission of the author) n