Today I had the honor and opportunity to accompany civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young as he gave a landmark speech on the occasion of Dr. King’s national holiday in the Washington, D.C. area.
Young served as chief aide, and was a dear friend to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the civil rights movement, or what some consider to be the second American revolution.
Ambassador Young is also my personal hero, mentor, and HOPE’s global spokesman. He is also the chairman of Goodworks International, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, appointed by then U.S. President Bill Clinton as chairman of the $100 million Southern Africa Development Fund, he served as mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. congressman and a member of the House Banking Committee, UN ambassador for the United States, co-chair of the Atlanta Olympic Games, and has received 100 honorary doctorate degrees.
Speaking before the Inter-Alumni Council of the United Negro College Fund and a breakfast capacity crowd of over 1,200 people, Young outlined his vision for America, as well as for the world. Covering civil rights history, American history, our connection to Africa and the world, Dr. King’s history through his eyes, their intimate friendship (he and King), Dr. King’s pain and sacrifices over the course of time, ultimately paying the final price with his life, as well as Dr. King’s final focus on poverty and economic empowerment.
Listen here to literally one of the most amazing speeches Ambassador Andrew Young has ever given. I believe that Dr. King would be proud.
Download civil_rights_icon_andrew_young_speak.m4a
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Onward with HOPE
John Hope Bryant