January 2008

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed...A Day On!

One of IMPACT's resolutions for this year is to be more active and engaged in community activities. While we have not reached all of our goals, we also understand that we won't reach them without giving back with our finances, time, and talents. W.E.B. DuBois said it best, “Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year. It is today that we fit ourselves for the greater usefulness of tomorrow. Today is the seed time, now are the hours of work, and tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime.”

Many of us know far too well the economic dichotomy that splits communities of colors in two parts. In spite of this well known fact, we fail to do our part to unite our community. While Dr. King's dream has been realized in many ways, American has also fallen short. He once said, “The problem of racism, the problem of economic exploitation, and the problem of war are all tied together. These are the triple evils that are interrelated.” And we still find that racism, economic exploitation, and war continue to afflict American society, which make King’s historic speeches in the articles below so much more powerful. So, in observation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., IMPACT invites you to start making the dream a reality by serving your community.

In this newsletter, you will read about a phenomenal IMPACT Leader, Phillip Agnew, who is the former head of Student Coalition for Justice. The coalition is made up of students from FAMU, FSU, TCC. The coalition organized to protest the murder of Martin Lee Anderson by guards in the Florida bootcamp.

You will also find Dr. King’s thoughts on war and economics—in his own words.

Phillip B. Agnew is a senior business administration student at Florida A&M University. He is the immediate past Student Body President/ University Trustee. He is also a member of numerous civic and service organizations. Phillip was born on June 22, 1985 in Blue Island, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His parents instilled him an unwavering sense of morality and work ethic and strived to cultivate a sound sense of determination and tenacity in Phillip at a young age. Phillip is dedicated to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and all Historical Black Colleges and Universities. He feels that he is enormously blessed and that his work for the University is not in vain. He is a strong believer in the principle of Sankofa and feels that each one of us embodies the legacy of our great institution and it is our duty to never leave it lacking. Phillip is passionate about FAMU and believes that the preservation of our national treasure will be decided by our unwavering dedication to its survival.

While most people are aware of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s tireless efforts to fight for equality during the Civil Right’s era, fewer realize that Dr. King was an advocate of a guaranteed income. When taking a closer look at Dr. King’s legacy on economic development, it is evident that Dr. King viewed guaranteed income as a way to abolish poverty. King expands on this concept in his last book entitled, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?

Near the book’s end, in a chapter titled "Where We Are Going," King states his support for the guaranteed income policy, and exclaims that if properly funded ( regardless of earned income) and properly distributed to all people, it transcends policy and becomes a fundamental instrument of economic justice.

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 1967, one year before his premature physical departure, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave one of his most provocative speeches, “Why I am Opposed to the War in Vietnam,” speaking truth to the powerful U.S. government and his fellow citizens. In this speech, Dr. King discusses in depth why it is necessary to oppose the war in Vietnam and chastises the U.S. government and the mainstream media for its deceitful portrayal and perpetuation of the war. As he connects domestic struggles for self-determination with the struggles experienced by the Vietnamese, he implores U.S. citizens to not only oppose the war but to engage in word and action to help bring about its end.