Wilmington High School - Hourglass Yearbook (Wilmington, MA)

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Eulogy Delivered For r. Marlin Luther ing, r. April 9, 1968 Mr. Bernard P. McMahon Today we pause to honor the memory of' Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr. In retrospect the words of President Johnson on March 3lst come to mind. United we stand. divided we fall, which makes one wonder when will the division end? When will the forces of bigotry. intolerance, prejudice, bias, ig- norance and insanity cease? The twentieth century has witnessed more medical. scientific and technological advances since the beginning of time. Yet the social progress is ever so slow. practically motionless. The needless perse- cution ofi minority groups such as the millions of Russians unnecessarily slaughtered in the mid 30's through Stalin's purges. The millions of' Jews exterminated in the gas ovens of Hitler. Violence begets violence. and Dr. King deplored violence. and violence caused his death. The American Negro was not an emigrant to America. He was forcibly brought here by Yankee sea captains who seized on the fast buck. He was sold into slavery and became the cheap commodity of the southern planter, All family ties, all roots were viciously plucked from his way of life. He ceased to be part of humanity. This was supposed to have ended one hundred years ago. The Negro is sup- posed to be tree. Legally he is. Socially and economically he is not. Yet there is a decided color blindness in the United States today. Some men can see a blue sky. green grass, yellow bananas. purple mountains. golden sunshine, red sunseteeven a flag ol' red, white and blue. but fail to see a black man. Some say. Sure the Negro should have a job, if it isn't in my firm. These people are entitled to decent housing. but not in my neighborhood. Certainly I believe in desegrated schools. however l wouldn't want colored youngsters in the school my children attend. lt is this duplicity and hypocrisy that Dr. King deplored and dedicated his life Linder the banner of' non-violence. Never did he cry. Let's get Whitey! or Burn. baby. burn! He loved his fellow man, and this love had its price. Dr. King is dead. but his work will not die with him. His eyes are closed-pray millions will be opened. His ears will hear no moreeniay the former deaf' hear his plea. His voice is silentemay the multitudes plead his cause. His heart is stillfmay the hearts ol' those who still make up America, free from malice and hate. beat with love for their fellow man. Yes. Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr. is dead. lor he was but a mortal man: but what he represented. though sometimes hidden and obscure. will live forever because of' immortality. love. fiair play, free- dom. dignity. justice and peace. You were a credit to your race. Dr. King. the one true race-the race that creates greatnesse the human race. 16

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John J. Fullerton in service to his country. In Memoriam Lester H. Smith in service to the school. 17