On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Junior gave the historical “I Have a Dream” speech that inspired the young, invigorated the old, and gave strength to everyone in between. A strong, nonviolent figure attempting to patch up the holes in a nation torn apart by hatred, ignorance and bigotry, Martin Luther King Junior left behind a legacy that will forever be woven into the fabric of American history.
56 years later, Martin Luther King Junior’s dream lives on, right here on Colorado Mesa University’s (CMU’s) campus. On August 28, 2019, speaker Stephen Ferguson gave the same “I Have a Dream” speech at the Moss Performing Arts center as a part of The Dream Lives event. The hour-and-a-half long event brought music, poetry and public speaking together to honor Martin Luther King Junior’s contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and American history. It also helped examine the significance his words have for our culture and society today.
The Dream Lives event absolutely blew me away. From the cello solo “Draw the Circle Closer” by Adolphus Hailstork, beautifully performed by Kristen Yeon-Ji Yun, to the addresses made by speakers David Combs and Pastor Amani Bullock, it was a spellbinding performance. The special reading by CMU students Amara Hobbs and Brooklynn was so sincere and genuine, it brought tears to my eyes. The rendition of U2’s ‘Pride’ (In the Name of Love) performed by Brooklyn Buhre and accompanied by Doug Morrow was technically flawless and emotionally mesmerizing.
Ferguson’s speech capture Martin Luther King Junior’s essence completely, and the passion and vigor he brought to the stage was nothing short of breathtaking. All of the performers brought their heart and soul to the stage, and the audience was silent and still, clearly captivated.
I walked away from The Dream Lives event filled with hope. That says something, especially because of how bleak our political climate has been recently. It’s easy to see our country as broken beyond repair and it’s hard to consistently muster up the strength to attempt to right what’s wrong. Ferguson brought a burning light to Grand Junction, a light that warmed the hearts of an audience of many different ages, races, religions and backgrounds. He inspired the young, invigorated the old and gave strength to everyone in between.
But this event is so much more than a “feel-good” moment. It’s so much more than an opportunity to be filled with hope for the future. It’s a call to action and a plea for change, just as it was so many years ago. It’s a reminder for all of us, a reminder for us to reexamine the way we live our lives and to remember that we need to have love for each other always, regardless of anything that might set us apart. It’s an insistent reminder that we need to break down our barriers and stand together as an unbreakable family.
The music and the speeches were amazing, but the love that the performers emitted is something that I will never forget. Just as Martin Luther King Junior taught, love transcends everything, and I want to give a sincere thank you to the speakers and performers, as well as to the CMU Civic forum, for bringing that love to the center of the stage.
