Dr. Yohuru Williams Helps RL Honor Dr. Martin Luther King

“We love to tell young people that they stand on the shoulders of giants,” began Dr. Yohuru Williams in Hall on January 20. “Gentlemen, that’s a lie. You do not stand on the shoulders of giants. You are the giants.” Dr. Williams delivered this year’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Address, as we honored the life, work, and legacy of Dr. King.

Before Dr. Williams took to the lectern, Colin Bradley (I) read “I Dream a World,” a poem by Langston Hughes. Following that, Brayden Gillespie (I) read an excerpt from Martin Luther King’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech.

Dr. Williams spoke about the immense power in the hands of young people gathered in community, like those at Roxbury Latin. This power, though, can be misused if not approached responsibly. “You must learn to wield the incredible force and power that you have in a way that perpetuates our shared humanity,” he stated. “It must be utilized in a way that is anchored in human compassion, and that begins with the idea that the brotherhood of mankind is what we should all be prioritizing.”

Throughout his address, Dr. Williams spoke about the importance of our shared humanity and the need to step out of one’s comfort zone and make intentional choices for the greater good. “Men who live only for themselves—accumulating knowledge, power, and advantage without regard for others—they do not become more fully human. They become less so.” 

“Dr. King will tell you that the revolution will not wait for you to wake up. So let me be clear about what this moment asks of you, asks of me, asks of all of us: It does not ask you to have all the answers. It does not ask you to be perfect. But it does ask you to stay awake, stay engaged.”

Dr. Williams’s influence and impact were felt throughout the day, with many faculty, staff, and students marveling at how engaging and important his speech was, and at how resonant his message of being engaged feels right now.