The legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. is its most valuable when the nation and our communities seem to be divided.
That was the message delivered by Terry College of Business alumnus Hamilton Holmes Jr. (BBA ’90) as he delivered the keynote address at the 18th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Breakfast on Jan. 15.
“Because timeless truth is what made (King’s ‘I Have a Dream’) speech great, it is still relevant to today’s challenges,” Holmes said. “His speech was not one of a political activist. It was more of a sermon from a pastor, encouraging us to fix what was broken in America…. Martin Luther King Jr. was not just speaking to African Americans in that speech, but to all Americans, because he understood that the country would more easily rise together if it worked together.”
Holmes’ father was one of the first Black students to desegregate the University of Georgia in 1961, along with Charlayne Hunter-Gault, paving the way for Holmes Jr. to earn his bachelor’s degree in marketing from UGA in 1990. Holmes spoke of his father’s legacy on the 60th anniversary of the desegregation of the university and placed those events in the context of Dr. King’s nonviolent struggle for civil and economic rights.
“Because of their courage and pursuit of their dreams of education, my father and Charlayne opened doors for all students to attend UGA regardless of their race,” he said. “The university has become a place where all students now have the opportunity to learn and thrive.”
Holmes reminded listeners that they have a role to play in fulfilling King’s dream and that work should be part of everyday life.
“I challenge each of you to turn the page from 2020, which was undoubtedly one of the most challenging years in our nation’s history for many reasons,” Holmes said. “Turn the page and make your own history starting today.”
Also during the program, Terry College undergraduate Jalen Polk was honored with the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award for his work to put King’s legacy into action.
These awards are given annually to UGA and Clarke County community members who have demonstrated a commitment to the Clarke County School District, the University of Georgia and to Athens-Clarke County through their civic engagement and by utilizing King’s philosophy to resolve conflict and foster goodwill.
Polk, who is from Lithonia and graduated from Woodward Academy in College Park, has committed to serving others during his four years at UGA. He will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a Certificate in Personal and Organizational Leadership.
Polk became active in the Black Male Leadership Society when he came to UGA. A personal note from members of the BMLS was integral to his decision to attend UGA, and he knew from the start that he wanted to be involved. Through that organization, he led a mentorship program at Clarke Middle School called Young Black Kings.
The program aimed to develop the “young men’s sense of self,” Polk said. He and his fellow mentors facilitated discussions with students who were selected by Clarke Middle School teachers and their parents. They talked about the importance of emotional honesty, positive relationships and ambition.
“We were exposing them to a different way of growing up,” Polk said. “We are young men who look like them but we’re doing things a little differently with more experience. We wanted to ignite their desire to be their best self.”
His engagement with these students has positively impacted his academic experience. He plans on writing his senior thesis on the effects of early exposure to vocational training and its impact on the racial achievement gap. After graduation, Polk plans to join PwC as a technology consultant and health economist.
Polk said he’s honored to receive the President’s Fulfilling the Dream Award and sees it closing the circle of his UGA experience and as a reminder that he is valued and belongs in the Bulldog community.
“It feels amazing to have come to UGA and collected mentors along the journey who have empowered me outside of the classroom and have encouraged me to keep being myself,” Polk said. “This recognition feels like it’s a final piece of encouragement from those supporting me before I step toward the next chapter.”