Well, we are finally getting a taste of winter. This weekend’s ice fest comes as a bit of shock to my system. It’s a bit of a contrast to last weekend, when Harriet and I visited some old friends in the Tampa area. It was pretty chilly there, with temperatures barely breaking 60 degrees, except on our day of departure when it got up to 70 or so. One of those friends is a colleague from my days in Philadelphia, and we are embarking on a collaboration that connects my work on functional genomics with his in evolutionary biology and cancer signaling. So, work was leavened with fun (or perhaps it was the other way around?). In fact, I got to play some golf. As always, golf won.
We got back last Sunday, and the next day experienced what will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the year for me. We were invited to attend Georgetown’s Martin Luther King Day celebration at the Kennedy Center. The reception was lovely, but the actual 90-minute event turned out to be incredible and deeply moving. You can watch it on the Kennedy Center website.
The audience had to be seated early because the event was attended by President and Mrs. Obama, who occupied their usual seats in the balcony. I have never seen so many cell phone cameras and flashes go off in such a short period of time. The event opened up with a performance by the “Let Freedom Ring” choir, led by the Rev. Nolan Williams, and the choir, with its guest soloists, was truly remarkable. Then, Jack DeGioia introduced John Thompson III and the recipient of this year’s John Thompson III Legacy of a Dream award, Clarence B. Jones.
This remarkable man, born in Philadelphia to domestic servants, graduated from Columbia University and then Boston University Law School, and became a central figure in the Civil Rights movement, serving as an advisor, friend, speechwriter and lawyer for the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. In fact, Mr. Jones smuggled the famous Letter to Birmingham for Dr. King, who was then imprisoned in that city. He also helped edit the “I Have a Dream” speech.
I was deeply moved when Mr. Jones led off his inspiring and speech by telling us a story. He was a 10-year old boy, “down the shore” one summer (Philly lingo for being at one of the New Jersey beaches) because his parents’ employers were vacationing there. While playing outside a group of boys began to chase him, calling him names and using racial slurs. He ran into the house, crying, and asked his mother why that had happened. Instead of comforting him, his mother dragged him in front of a mirror and asked him what he saw. He didn’t understand, and said he saw himself and his mother, and kept crying. She then repeated the question, with the same response. Finally, she told him that she saw a man who could be and do anything her wanted in his life.
It was an evocative and powerful reminder of how far we have come in this country over the past 70 years, and how much dignity, strength and resolve was required to accomplish those gains. At the end of his talk, I found myself murmuring “thank you” to this remarkable man. His life stands as a testament to the central importance of social justice to our society, and to the greatness of this country.
The entertainment continued with a performance by the spectacular Bobby McFerrin, who must be heard to be believed. I didn’t know this before, but he is the son of two opera singers; his father was the first African American member of the Metropolitan Opera company, and actually provided the voice for Sidney Poitier in the the film version of Porgy and Bess. Then, there were several ensemble pieces that included all of the performers.
Each piece was more fabulous than the one preceding it. As I have chronicled before, I come from a family that is deeply connected to the stage, and have had the privilege to witness many wonderful shows and performances. But, this evening moved to the top of the heap. I’ll never forget it.