Dr. Richard Thigpen Speaks on Martin Luther King, Jr.

1/12/2024

Martin Luther King, Jr. is a name that has become synonymous with words such as dream, social justice, nonviolence, and civil disobedience. Still, words can only retain their meaning if they are put into context. This week, Ensworth parent Dr. Richard Thigpen shared context through his experience living in Chicago and about Martin Luther King Jr.'s influence on his life.

Chicago is still the most segregated city in the world. Growing up in such a place, Dr. Thigpen saw the implications of segregation and the influence great teachers such as King had on the community. Dr. Thigpen was raised by his grandmother, who, he shared, had three pictures of non-family members in her house, and Dr. King was one of them. He discussed the poem “Harlem" by Langston Hughes, encouraging students not to let their dreams be deferred.

“Harlem"

By Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore-- And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over-- like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

We are so grateful for the stories Dr. Thigpen shared with our community and for the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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