A Conversation on Poverty and Segregation

Tuesday, January 17, 2006
A Conversation on Poverty and Segregation

The Center for Civil Rights, the Black Law Student Association and the Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity hosted Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II for an inspiring lecture and subsequent conversation on race and poverty. Rev. Barber encouraged each member of the audience to be "a conscientious objector" on issues such as resegregation, the abandonment of low-income children, and on the vast problems of poverty in this country and in the world. Rev. Barber spoke eloquently and passionately about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., emphasizing the need to organize progressive voices and stand by our constitutional and moral obligations to a society built upon justice. Our honored guest, introduced by Sen. John Edwards, encouraged the students, faculty, community members, and staff in attendance to "object" to being simply comfortable in our environment and to take a stand on issues of poverty and segregation. Through the use of the political system, our voices, our universities, and our passion, Rev. Barber encouraged all of us to not just remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but to live it each and every day.

Listen to his powerful speech.


http://www.law.unc.edu/centers/poverty/events/default.aspx

We’ve got to object; we’ve got to say to our friends all over, “have the courage to do what my other son does.” You heard me tell this, Jack, I’ve got a little baby boy. He’s our inspiration. The reason he’s my inspiration because his motto is “I don’t never give up.” He’s found out that he’s in a house with four other siblings. They’re all older than him. He can’t beat ‘em in strength, so he’s got to beat ‘em in tenacity. So his brothers will pummel him and push him down. He’ll wait until they’re sleep on the couch. He’ll stand up on the edge of the couch real quietly. He’ll raise his elbow in the form of the atomic elbow. He’ll leap off the edge of the couch and as he’s descending from his ascent he’ll holler "I TOLD YOU I DON’T NEVER GIVE UP!"

Well, I stopped by to say somebody oughta take that attitude. Somebody oughta learn from my 4-year-old little boy. And maybe you need to fix it up and make it sound right according to the English language, instead of saying “I don’t never give up” maybe you need to say “I will never give up.” But however you do it, lawyers, keep writing your briefs. Sociologists, keep presenting your data. Politicians, keep leading with conscience and not just convenience. Protesters, keep sounding the alarm. Marchers, keep marching. Prophets and preachers, keep declaring the truth, even if, like Martin, they don’t listen to you at first. Everyday people, keep standing up. Those that know the truth, keep telling it. Those on the inside, keep pushing. Those on the outside, keep raising an objection.

But for God’s sake, don’t ever give up, because some child is depending on you, some family is hoping for a better day, some worker needs a breakthrough, the voiceless still need a voice, the poor still need an advocate, those in the margin still need to be mentioned, people who are down still need to be lifted, the hurt still need to be healed.

USE YOUR LIFE IN THE COURT OF HUMANITY TO SAY "I WILL OBJECT UNTIL JUSTICE ROLLS DOWN LIKE WATERS & RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A MIGHTY STREAM!"


http://www.unc.edu/law/povertycenter/audio/barber.mp3