Spotlight: Dallas law firm keeps King's dream alive

What are you doing today?

In a quest to answer one of Dr. King's most famous inquiries, a Dallas law firm is working to keep King's dream alive. For the past 18 years, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP has sponsored the annual MLK Day oratory competition in Dallas and 4 years ago they expanded the competition to Houston. Oratory participants merge Dr. King's message and their hope for the future. Each year, students deliver their speeches, which include their favorite quotes from Dr. King, in front of hundreds of eager listeners. The competition encourages youth to embrace King's dream and to make it their own.  In addition to famous quotes from King, the fourth and fifth grade participants pay homage by captivating the large audience with what his dream means to them.

Tamia Gaines, this year's top winner out of 149 students in Dallas had this to say: "Dr. King once said, 'At the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love.' That quote inspired me to believe that it does not matter what color or race we are, we're still brothers and sisters, and love is what we need in order to change things."

Gaines encouraged adults to become an example to younger generations. "Wake up, grown-ups," she said in her presentation. "You're poisoning the young minds of this world. Dr. King preached nonviolence. If you're fussing and fighting all the time, we fuss and fight. What can you do to help us?"

Check out Tamia's speech, it is truly remarkable to hear such profound words from such a young person.

Another participant, Jasmine Cox, a fifth-grader at S.S. Conner Elementary, said: "One day I dream to help or lead other people in the right direction just like the honorable Dr. King. Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last."

Nina Davis, a fourth-grader at Marsalis Elementary, proclaimed she is King's dream. "His vision was me," she said. "You see, I am the future Dr. King dreamed about, and, because of his achievements and dreams, I can achieve greatness and succeed at anything that I am determined to do or to become."
 
We appreciate the efforts of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP to give King's message eternal life. This year's competition was co-sponsored by the Dallas Independent School District. I commend all of those who forge similar paths to ensure that we never forget what King means to our nation and to the world.

Here is this year's winner from Houston:

Check out videos of previous winners: