Dr. King’s Speechwriter Ties His Legacy To Today

Inklings writer and Staples High School senior Caitlin was on the scene yesterday, for the standing room only Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at the Westport Library. She writes:

Dr. Clarence Jones’ inspiring remarks offered an emotional, behind-the-scenes look at the civil rights movement. But they also highlighted events in today’s headlines.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speechwriter and personal attorney spoke  about interfaith groups, especially the Jewish community, and how King’s “I Have a Dream” speech has evolved.

Other notable speakers included Senator Richard Blumenthal and Congressman Ritchie Torres. The conversation was moderated by NBC host Craig Melvin.

Educated at both Columbia, Jones — now 93 years old — is widely known for writing the first 8 paragraphs of the “I Have a Dream Speech,” along with the metaphor about how America had given black people a “bad check.” Jones claims that this was the most meaningful speech, as it spoke to the time he was forcibly given a promissory note without any prior notice.

“When I was drafting the speech, there was nobody to come in and say ‘paid full.’” Jones said. “So I wanted to put Martin in the power of speaking to the nation.” 

Fr0m left: Congressman Ritchie Torres, Craig Melvin, Dr. Clarence Jones. (Photo/Caitlin Jacob)

Discussing injustice, Jones pointedly included the allyship between the Black and Jewish communities. 

He believes that moments such as the Israel-Palestine conflict have loosened the ties between the 2 groups. He says this relationship is important to him, given that many Jewish leaders had “wept” during the time of the “I Have a Dream Speech.”

“I have not once been worried that the relationship between [Jews and Blacks] has been more threatened than it is today,” Jones said.

Other highlights of the speech included Jones’s response to King’s legacy, claiming that his own legacy is due to the work of King. Jones also believes that without the work of King, much of the racial justice progress within the United States would not be possible.

“With the exception of Abraham Lincoln, and the Emancipation Proclamation, Martin Luther King, Jr. may have done more to achieve racial, economic and political justice than any other person in the past 400 years in the history of the United States,” Jones said.

Dr. Clarence Jones greets well-wishers after yesterday’s event. (Photo/Matthew Slossberg)

Beyond Jones’s words, Melvin — the NBC host and Westport resident — cited the importance of having someone such as Jones to speak to the way King’s speeches legacy has evolved. 

“My children only know the legacy of King and the monumental success it had,” Melvin said. “You, on the other hand, know what it was like to give such a speech at the time.”

Ritchie Torres, the Bronx congressman and a friend of Jones, explained the effect King’s speech had on people such as him, and discussed the value having a confidant such as Jones provides in a contemporary world.

“Dr. Jones said earlier that he’s here in person,” Torres said. “And that’s not something that we take for granted. This is a moment that each of us are going to cherish for the rest of our lives.”

The conversation with Jones comes at a time when Westport — and the nation — grapples with issues of diversity. Senator Blumenthal stressed the importance of hearing about diverse experiences. Jones, he said, has affected and inspired the entire state of Connecticut in various ways.

(The 18^th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration was a partnership between the Library, TEAM Westport, and the Westport Country Playhouse, as well as the Westport/Weston Interfaith Clergy and Council — the 2 groups that hosted the inaugural celebration in 2006.)