Part of our mission at the Kentucky 4-H Foundation is to “encourage and support youth leadership development and education.” Thus, it is timely to focus on one of our nation’s greatest leaders, Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday our nation will celebrate next Monday, January 21. King’s notable “I have a dream” speech is less than 18 minutes and worth watching.
Although this speech on August 28, 1963, highlights one of the most famous moments in King’s life, prior to this time, this courageous leader had traveled some “not so famous” roads. His journey was treacherous, tumultuous, and trying. In the 11-year period between 1957 and 1968, King traveled more than six million miles and spoke more than 2,500 times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and action. He also found time to write five books, as well as numerous articles and essays.
During these years, he led a massive civil rights protest in Birmingham, Ala., that caught the attention of the entire world; he was arrested more than 20 times and assaulted at least four times; he was awarded five honorary degrees; he was named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963; and he became not only the symbolic leader of African Americans but also became known as a world figure.
At the age of 35, King was the youngest man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. When notified of his selection, he announced that he would turn over the $54,123 in prize money to further the civil rights movement.
On that now infamous evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tenn., where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with that city’s striking garbage workers, he was assassinated.
King is the epitome of a true leader, who led the civil rights movement forward despite criticism, challenges, and threats to his life and that of his family. He demonstrated that all the stops along your journey are brushstrokes on the canvas of your life — creating a picture that encapsulates your vision, your dream, and your calling.
At the 4-H Foundation, our members donate their time, treasure, and talent to help our youth achieve their own dreams. In this month when we recognize one the greatest leaders in our lifetime, and his famous “I have a dream” speech, please consider the multiple ways you, too, can contribute to our society and support the future leaders in our state — and our country — by supporting Kentucky 4-H and the Kentucky 4-H Foundation.
Remember, you can support the 4-H Foundation on your own journeys in your own vehicles, whether those journeys are on ribbons of black asphalt or dusty farm roads. Every year, farmers are required to renew our farm vehicle tags, and when you do so, you can support our organization.
Please consider joining me, Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer, and thousands of other Kentucky drivers who are making a difference by donating $10 when they renew their tags. The proceeds from the Kentucky Farm License Plate Voluntary Donation Program are divided equally among Kentucky 4-H, FFA, and Kentucky Proud. Please consider taking the lead and giving in March when you go to renew your farm tag.
For more information, please visit our website at www.kentucky4hfoundation.org, like us on Facebook, or follow our Twitter feed to become part of the Kentucky 4-H Foundation.
