Ervin: Key to MLK's dream is respect for all

Freema Ervin, educator and ordained minister, speaks during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. prayer breakfast at First United Methodist Church in Marshall Monday, Jan. 21. Ervin urged the audience to continue King's work by taking personal responsibility for teaching young people to respect themselves and others. (Eric Crump/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

Ervin, a college educator and third-generation ordained minister from Sedalia, spoke Monday, Jan. 21, at the First United Methodist Church event, about taking King's dream further.

"We've come far," she said, "but we haven't come far enough."

She challenged the audience to form "a committee of one" and take personal responsibility for heeding the wisdom of the elderly and teaching young people proper behavior.

"Jesus is coming back for people who treat each other right," she said. "God is holding us responsible for how we treat each other."

She said people often ignore the elderly, especially older folks with little or no formal education.

"Don't you ever take for granted the wisdom of the elderly," she said. "My five degrees show I'm educated, but wisdom comes with age."

She noted that her grandmother was considered illiterate, but "she taught me lessons I still live by today."

Young people should learn that lesson early, she said, urging parents to teach their children that behaving and dressing well will help them respect themselves and earn the respect of others.

"Pull up these pants," she said, referring to a popular style of wearing sagging jeans. "This is not a color thing. It's for all parents. Tell your children, 'You are representing me when you leave my house.'"

Parents, she said, need to set an example that children can follow.

"If we embrace these simple truths we will produce a better generation to come," she said. "So when they leave the house they can represent us well. We need to wake up and manifest the dream."

Ervin was introduced by the Rev. Mary Williams. Also speaking at the event were the Rev. Dave Huck, pastor of First United Methodist Church, state Sen. Bill Stouffer, state Rep. Joe Aull, Marshall Mayor Connie Latimer, the Rev. Wilbur Conway, Keith Banty and others.

Sandy Napier played piano and lead the singing of "Lift Every Voice." Daren Facen and singers from the church praise band "Testify!" also performed.

Rachel Elmore served as master of ceremonies and read a brief speech noting her aspirations as a young activitist to help continue King's project of securing justice.

"If we wait until we're ready, we're never going to be ready," she said. "You can never overcome evil with evil. You can only overcome evil with God."

Contact Eric Crump at marshalleditor@socket.net