On this
Martin Luther King Day 2017, I pause and reflect on some of Dr. King’s words
that have inspired and motivated me, during the past four decades, to do the
work that I do to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities,
locally, nationally, and internationally.
“In a real sense, all life is
inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied
in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all
indirectly.” Those
words provide a rationale for action. The inability of any one person in our
society to achieve good health and prosperity detracts from the health and
well-being of all. The words also exhort us to recognize that progress on
social issues requires changes in the habits, customs, systems, and activities
of all of us, with the ultimate consequence of a better life for everyone.
“There is a type of constructive
nonviolent tension that is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it
was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise
from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative
analysis and objective appraisal, we must see the need of having nonviolent
gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men to rise
from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of
understanding and brotherhood.”
Research creates nonviolent tension, shattering myths and supplanting old
paradigms and ways of thought with new understanding. The prominent publication
of “creative analysis and objective appraisal” of information on the condition
of our community’s residents – in some cases revealing disparities – constitutes
a “nonviolent gadfly”. This underlies the nonpartisan, but strongly
values-based, approach of Wilder Research to promote societal improvement.
“Intelligence plus character – that
is the goal of true education.” I
like to borrow that thought to suggest that our character (our values, ideals,
aspirations) motivates us to act to improve our communities; social research
offers collective intelligence (information, insight) to make that action as
effective as possible.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
only light can do that.” It sometimes seems that spins, half-truths, and false news dominate public
discourse; in that context, credible, reliable, nonpartisan, objective resources, such as Wilder
Research and other independent research organizations, seem more important than
ever.
“For social scientists, the
opportunity to serve in a life-giving purpose is a humanist challenge of rare
distinction.” This
statement, to the American Psychological Association, identifies the noble
intent of the social sciences.
"The time is always right to
do what is right,"
Dr. King said in a speech to Oberlin students in the early 1960s – a time when major
riots took place across the U.S., civil rights workers were murdered or harassed,
people lawfully exercising their rights to free speech faced persecution and prosecution. Good people have tried to do what’s right at that time, our
present time, and the time in between. Our duty at Wilder Research persists to join
them, playing our distinctive role to shine light, helping to illuminate a
better path for all, in a collaborative “search
for the truth and a willingness to admit the truth when we discover it.”
I hope that you have some time today to reflect on Dr. King's inspiration in your life.
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