Torrey Washington, a student at IUPUI and volunteer with the campaign, joined Nels on a recent trip to Lawrence County to celebrate the life of Martin Luther King. He shares his thoughtful reflections on that experience.

As we prepared to walk into the Bedford courthouse on the Sunday before MLK day I was unsure what to expect. I thought to myself, “How did a town with very few people of color gather for the past 19 years to honor a man of color?” As a member of the post Civil Rights generation, all the opportunities I am afforded are sometimes taken for granted, and the trials and tribulations of those who came before me are over looked. However, in small town Indiana, Dr. King’s dream was a reality.
When the celebration started, and the citizens of Bedford stood together, I realized these people were not simply honoring a man of color, they were honoring an American hero! That day old, young, black and white, stood together, embracing two things they all had in common: their unwavering faith in God and their proud citizenship. It was truly a remarkable moment! After an inspirational prayer, we went outside and did something that only 50 years ago would have put us in violation of the law - we marched together!

Driving home I realized what I had just witnessed, Americans united by the things they had in common, rather than divided by the things that made them different. To some that may seem small and should go without saying but I disagree. For too long this country has been divided by class, race, religion and politics. It is not often we put those things aside and unite under a common cause.

On that Sunday, in Bedford IN, I saw Americans of different races, ages, and beliefs united and standing together. I saw the America Dr. King dreamed about, in small town Indiana.

Torrey R. Washington