100 Black Men of America Chairman’s statement on Dedication of The National Memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

WASHINGTON, DC – The 100 Black Men of America’s Chairman Albert E. Dotson Jr. issued a statement on the dedication of The National Memorial of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 2011:

The work, life, and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. have left an indelible mark on the minds and hearts of millions of people around the world. It is only fitting that he now takes his rightful place with an ineffaceable tribute alongside our country’s other greatest leaders memorialized on the National Mall.

It was August 28, 1963 when the world watched as tens of thousands Americans gathered on the National Mall and listened intently to Dr. King speak of his dream for a different America, an America true to its founding creed. On August 28, 2011 the life of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be commemorated with a dedication of The King National Memorial, a tribute not only to a man but to the principles he lived by and the ideals he died for.

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Often times, Dr. King is remembered as the great American dreamer. He was no dreamer; Dr. King was a realist, whose eyes were wide open to the challenges facing our country. Dr. King often said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” He also implored us all to use our lives to affect change for others. He said, “If we are to go forward, we must go back and rediscover those precious values – that all reality hinges on moral foundations and that all reality has spiritual control.” These calls to action are no less important or relevant now than it was 40 years ago.

For the 100 Black Men of America, the dedication of the King National Memorial gives us a permanent reminder of Dr. King’s call to action and our spiritual responsibility for our fellow man. His work is not done and, therefore, neither is ours. The memorial will be a beacon of light for our chapters around the world to remind us of the tasks still ahead. Forever inspired by the will, words, and works of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the 100 Black Men of America, recognizing how far we have come yet how much work there is left to do, proudly share in the task of carrying Dr. King’s torch across the finish line.”

Chairman Albert E. Dotson Jr.