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>> 1964, A MOMENT OF HISTORY OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY HISTORIANS
AS DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
DELIVERED THE COMMENCEMENT SPEECH.
MARTIN LUTHER KING'S VISIT TO SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE OCCURRED AT
A REMARKABLE TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
IT WAS RIGHT IN THE SWEET SPOT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
THIS WAS JUST A FEW MONTHS OUT FROM MARCH ON WASHINGTON, THE I
HAVE A DREAM SPEECH.
IT WAS A FEW MONTHS BEFORE KING RECEIVED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.
I THINK HE REALLY ARRIVED HERE AT THE ABSOLUTE APEX OF HIS
FAME.
>> THE COLLEGE WAS NOT A VERY DIVERSE PLACE AT THE TIME OF
DR.
KING'S VISIT AND MANY WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF HAVING A CIVIL
RIGHTS ACTIVIST ON CAMPUS.
>> THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO GET THE COLLEGE PRESIDENT TO RENEGE
ON THIS INVITATION.
AN EFFORT THAT CAME FROM A NUMBER OF PLACES, MOST NOTABLY
THE F.B.I.
THIS BECAME I THINK A REAL MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR THE COLLEGE
PRESIDENT, GLENN OLS.
HE WAIVERED SOME, BUT ULTIMATELY DID THE RIGHT THING.
IN THE THREE DAYS BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT, KING WAS ARRESTED
ON JUNE 11 FOR HAVING THE AUDACITY TO FOOD IN A
WHITES-ONLY ESTABLISHMENT.
HE WAS IN JAIL ON THE 11, 12, AND 13.
IT WAS TOUCH AND GO AS TO OWHETHER HE WOULD MAKE --
WHETHER HE WOULD MAKE IT HERE ON THE 14TH.
HE DID.
>> BARRY BROOKS WAS A MEMBER OF THE CLASS OF 1964.
HE WAS THRILLED THE END OF HIS COLLEGE CAREER WOULD BE
HIGHLIGHTED BY DR.
KING'S SPEECH.
>> JUST EXCITEMENT BECAUSE HE WAS ONE OF OUR NATIONAL HEROES,
A VERY SPECIAL PERSON.
FOR HIM TO COME TO SPRINGFIELD, THE YEAR THAT I HAPPENED TO BE
GRADUATING, SEEMED LIKE A BIG DEAL.
THERE WASN'T A LOT OF DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS IN OUR TIME.
SOME, BUT IT SEEMED LIKE A SPECIAL GIFT TO US THAT OUR
FAVORITE PERSON, OUR HERO, WAS GOING TO BE THE SPEAKER.
AND THAT WAS A WONDERFUL WAY TO CLOSE OUR CAREER.
>> CAME UP TO CAMPUS, THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE.
THE GRADUATION ITSELF WAS IN THE OLD FIELD HOUSE, WHICH WAS A HUT
THAT HAS BEEN TORN DOWN.
BUT HE WAS INTRODUCED BY GLENN OLS.
IT WAS QUITE A MEMORABLE SPEECH AND A VERY PROUD MOMENT, I
THINK, FOR THIS INSTITUTION.
>> SCIENTIFIC AND VIEWS, NOW MORAL AND ETHICAL COMMITMENT, WE
MUST PICK UP THE BROTHERHOOD, WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE TOGETHER OR
WE WILL ALL PERISH TOGETHER AS FOOLS.
>> FOUR SHORT YEARS FROM THE TIME THAT DR.
KING DELIVERED THE COMMENCEMENT SPEECH AT
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE HE WOULD BE ASSASSINATED ON APRIL 14, 1968.
>> TREMENDOUS SADNESS, SHOCK, SOME ANGER BECAUSE HE WAS OUR
NUMBER ONE HERO AT THE TIME.
AND HE SEEMED DETERMINED AND BOUND TO CHANGE THINGS IN THE
COUNTRY IN TERMS OF HOW PEOPLE WERE TREATED.
AND SOME LEVEL EQUITY AND FAIRNESS.
TO HAVE HIM TAKEN AWAY LIKE THAT BY VIOLENCE WAS VERY UNSETTLING
AND ANGERING.
YOU JUST CRY, YOU'RE ANGRY, ALL THE EMOTIONS.
>> I FIND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST
HOPEFUL AND INSPIRING PERIODS OF AMERICAN HISTORY.
IT'S ONE THAT I HOPE CAN ENERGIZE YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY TO
HELP PUSH FOR POSITIVE CHANGE THAT I THINK WE STILL NEED AS WE
EVOLVE TO HOPEFULLY BECOME WHAT OUR FOUNDING FATHERS AND GREAT
PATRIOTS LIKE DR.
KING ENVISIONED THAT WE COULD BE.