whenIfinallyarrivedoncampus,Iwasinforasurprise.Infact,Iwasstunned.Ihadneverbeforeinmylifefeltpoor.Asascholarshipstudent,suddenly,Iwassurroundedbypeoplewhoweresoastoundinglyrich!Iwasalsofascinatedbythisandotherdifferences–differentfaiths,politics,ethnicities,andculture.
Andsure,attimesitwasuncomfortable.ThereweremanymomentsIjustwantedtoturnaroundandgobackhometomymother’swarmembrace–andalsohergreathomecooking!
Andlikeeveryoneofyou…everyoneofyou,Imadethebest,mostimportantchoiceofmylife:Iwouldpickupthethreadsofdifferencestoweavemyselfanewcommunity.
Thiswouldbecomemycause,mymission,myidentity.Ihadfoundmypurpose,rootedinbelovedcommunity.
IwasinspiredbytheworkofDr.MartinLutherKing.Hecalleduponusalltoembraceinclusion,love,andjustice.Hepreachedthesoulforceofnonviolentprotest.
Hewarnedagainsttheperilsoftribalism,ofclingingtothefamiliarandholdingsacredthestatusquo.
Kingfamouslyaddressedhis…goahead…hefamouslyaddressedhis“LetterfromaBirminghamJail”nottohisjailers,buttohis“fellowclergymen.”
Hechallengedthemtorejectthestatusquo.InKing’swords,wefindtheessenceofbelovedcommunity,recognizingthat:“Injusticeanywhereisathreattojusticeeverywhere.”