speeches by embassy officials

Political Officer Derek Hogan's Remarks at Martin Luther King Day Commemoration Event (Jan. 20, 2006)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests and Colleagues

My name is Dereck Hogan and I am a First Secretary in the Diplomatic Corps and a member of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Minsk. I am honored and humbled to stand here before you today to share with you the impact Dr. Martin Luther King and his legacy have had on my life as an African-American.

Although I was born several years after Dr. King was assassinated, I feel that Dr. King and his legacy is as much a part of my life as he is to those who grew up in the 1960s.

In order to discuss the impact Dr. King has had on my life, you must first understand a little bit about my life.

My parents offered me a rather unique upbringing. My father's career in hospital administration required us to move almost every three years all over the United States. Thus, I grew up in all types of environments. I've lived in impoverished all-black neighborhoods, wealthy all-white neighborhoods and integrated middle-class neighborhoods. On many occasions I have fallen victim to racist thinking or acts, particularly in my high school years. High school represented a period of my life when I struggled with feelings of frustration, anger, and confusion. I even remember asking myself, "Why did God make me black, when nearly everything and everyone around me suggested that black was ugly?" Anyone who has endured racism or any other sort of discrimination will agree with me that the proverb, "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me," is a lie. Baseless accusations and insidious words do hurt.

Despite the difficulties, I am thankful to be able to tell you that racism did not -- and has not -- overcome me, nor has it controlled my life. I attribute this personal victory in great part to the life and work of Dr. King. My parents, who suffered from much stronger attacks of racism and yet remained firm believers of Dr. King's non-violent movement, taught me to follow Dr. King's approach to confronting racism and racist people.

Specifically, I learned from Dr. King three important lessons. First, King taught me to be proud of my heritage as an African-American. Dr. King used to say that as long as the mind is enslaved, the body can never be free. In other words, until I could look in the mirror and smile, I would always be a slave to racism. Second, I learned from King to focus less on my present circumstances and more on the dream of a more integrated America. The speech by King that we just heard remains one of the most famous speeches in American history mainly because it is filled with hope of a better tomorrow, despite the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. King encouraged me to dream about a time when those in my high school would be more tolerant and respectful of people's differences. Finally, King's life convinced me that one person could be an agent of change. Despite occasional rejection and humiliation, I have always taken the opportunity to develop relationships with those who were not African-American. The more I interact with other races and cultures, the more likely those same people will be more inclined to judge people by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.

In sum, Dr. King has profoundly influenced my life as an African-American, and I am forever indebted to him for his steadfast commitment to a dream of a better America.