The Power of Thought

America has changed much since that day in December 1955 when African Americans in Alabama formed the Montgomery Improvement Association and elected Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. its president. In assuming that post, the kernel of a dream was planted in Dr. King, and his leadership and oratory helped to nurture that dream. The Power of Thought honors the powerful oratory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and underscores the importance of his legacy, particularly for youth today. During the tyranny of segregation, many African Americans could point to the "system" as the reason for the evil treatment they experienced. Today it is problematic to simply blame the system, drop into a defensive mode, become self-serving, and narrowly define our own spheres of competence. As a product of the Civil Rights era, author Dr. Wright Lassiter Jr. has been a student of the life and legacy of Dr. King. Given the decline of racial segregation and overt discrimination, he believes it is now more important than ever for black youth in particular to know and understand the full compass of their past, its triumphs and tragedies, its values and lessons. More than ever we and our youth must appreciate our history and the heroic contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to avoid self-imposed barriers.