Black History

COMMENTARY: Sen. Lamar Alexander on Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday

NASHVILLE PRIDE — The struggle for civil rights is not a snapshot. It is a panorama.

Published

7 years ago

January 28, 2019

By Senator Lamar Alexander

As a summer intern at the U.S. Department of Justice in 1963, I stood at the back of a huge crowd on the Washington Mall and listened as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of his dream that one day, his children would be judged “not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

At the time, I’m not sure I realized the significance of witnessing this historic moment, but I do now.

Another important speech Dr. King delivered came in 1968, and this time, it was in Tennessee. African American sanitation workers in Memphis had faced years of hazardous working conditions and discrimination in pay and benefits. In response, 1,300 of the workers decided to begin a strike that would become a historical event in the civil rights movement.

During the strike, Dr. King addressed a large crowd of the workers, residents, members of the clergy, and union members at Mason Temple—the Memphis headquarters of the Church of God in Christ.

His speech included the lines “I have been to the mountain top,” and “I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the Promised Land.”

The next day, Dr. King was assassinated as he stood on the balcony at the Lorraine Motel.

Just days later, 42,000 people marched in Memphis, and shortly after, the strike was resolved. Dr. King and the striking sanitation workers took a stand for freedom, and they displayed courage in their pursuit of equality.

The United States Senate last year passed a resolution I introduced to recognize the 50th anniversary of this historical event. The Senate also passed, and President Trump signed into law, legislation I introduced to create the U.S. Civil Rights Network. The Lorraine Motel is a site within the network.

The struggle for civil rights is not a snapshot. It is a panorama. I remember very well what Rev. Ben Hooks from Memphis, who was head of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), used to say: “You need to remember that America is a work in progress.”

I was in Memphis not long ago, and I looked around a room of African American leaders and asked, “If this meeting were held 50 years ago, how many of the positions you hold would be represented at this table today by African Americans?” And the answer very quickly was not one. While we celebrate that our country has come a long way, we also know that we have a long way still to go.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday gives us a chance to reflect on the life and sacrifices one man made to help ensure equality for all Americans.

We must also understand the importance of fulfilling Dr. King’s dream by working to improve schools in every neighborhood and creating an environment that gives hope for every American to have the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

This article originally appeared in the Nashville Pride.

Sen. Lamar Alexander

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Activism

Mayor Barbara Lee Proclaims April 9 as ‘100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day’

“Today, the 100th day of the year, I proclaim 100 Black Men Day,” said Mayor Barbara Lee standing with newly appointed Oakland Port Commissioner Derek Mohammad, a 100 Black Men member. “Whereas the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area has demonstrated decades of unwavering commitment to uplifting youth and strengthening families and advancing opportunity and access in Oakland and the greater Bay Area with their signature programs…the chapter has impacted thousands of young people and contributed thousands of hours of community service…”

Published

2 days ago

April 19, 2026

Oakland Post

At D. Monaghan’s on the Hill, a resolution declaring April 9 ‘100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day’ was witnessed by (l.-r.) 100 Black Men leaders Maurice Harold, Marco T. Lindsey, Danny Lee Williams, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Oakland City Council President Kevin Jenkins, Port of Oakland Commissioner Derek Mohammad, and Oakland Councilmember Janani Ramachandran. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

When Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee announced that she would proclaim Thursday, April 9, as “100 Black Men of the Bay Area Day,” the organization’s board chairman and owner of D. Monaghan’s on the Hill, Danny Lee Williams knew he wanted to mark the historic moment with fanfare his community could share.

Standing at the podium on the patio of his restaurant in the Oakland Hills, he welcomed about 150 members of the organization and the broader community who gathered to celebrate.

“This is a special day, and we are in the midst of our Economic Empowerment week,” he said. Williams also welcomed four vendors to sell their gifts and accessories during the event free of charge.

Lee shared how as a single parent of two boys, she was grateful to have the organization’s support in mentoring her sons.

“Today, my adult son is a member in Illinois, and I thank the organization for supporting so many Black boys.”

The idea for the proclamation originated with Oakland City Councilmember Kevin Jenkins, who praised the organization for its leadership and contributions to Oakland and the greater Bay Area.

“This work that we do would not be possible without partnerships with organizations like the 100 Black Men,” said Jenkins. “We’re saving lives, restoring communities, and giving people hope and opportunities.”

“This is Oakland,” said Mayor Lee. “This is what we’re about. It’s about new ideas, thinking outside the box and being who we are. It’s about bringing joy. This is our holiday.”

The mayor also thanked the organization for volunteering during Oakland Cleanup days.

Councilmember Janani Ramachandran added that while many complain about problems in the city, “the 100” put in the work.

“It’s hard to be in the community and do the work, but that is exactly what the 100 Black Men does,” she said.

The organization’s economic chair and associate director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at the University of California Berkeley’s Business School, Marco T. Lindsey, shared his enthusiasm for change.

“Today is the culmination of our work and something special is happening in our organization and our city,” he said. “We have a special opportunity to show up for our community now in ways that we haven’t had in the past. We have a mayor that supports us and it’s important that each and every one of us do our part. We all need our fingerprints on whatever we want to see in our city.”

Lindsey also expressed that if underserved youth and their parents had access to the resources needed for success, “Our youth wouldn’t be breaking windows and joining gangs if they had a pathway to earn $75k to $100k a year.”

The 100 Black Men were hosts of an Economic Empowerment Forum at McClymonds High School on April 11 educating students on entrepreneurship and financial literacy. On Sat., April 18, they will hold their fifth annual Career Expo at Contra Costa College 2600 Mission Bell Drive (G225) in San Pablo from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 100 Black Men chapter of the Bay Area was established in 1988, one of the earliest in the nation.

For more information visit 100blackmenba.org