Young's message inspires crowd

Duke audience hears message about making 'our dreams come true'

Cathy Johnson admits to her limited knowledge of Andrew Young, but that didn't stop her from taking in his message inside a packed Duke Chapel on Sunday.

Johnson, 19, nodded in agreement with Young's views on nonviolence. She applauded his thoughts on the importance of education and having a global perspective on things. She hopes others can also learn from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s credo of progressive change instigated by nonviolent protest.

"It's just amazing that with peaceful means he was able to accomplish so much," said Johnson, a Duke University sophomore from Durham. "I hope we can learn from that and apply it to all the problems we have today."

Keynote speaker for Duke University's 18th annual King celebration, Young was executive vice-president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference under King. He's currently chairman of the consulting firm GoodWorks International and co-chair of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation.

King never said he wanted to get rid of racism, poverty or war, Young said, referring to them as society's "triple evils." What King wanted was to reduce those barriers that hinder peace and equality, he said. People should question their own anger and resentment instead of blaming it on others, he said.

Economics is the vehicle for peace, Young said, since technology has taken society's ills to a global stage. Because of technology, people are better prepared today to make a difference, he said.

"We are a part of a generation that believes that we can change the world, and never [before] in human history has there been the commitment, the resources, the courage, the money and the technology to make our dreams come true," Young said. "And so we shall overcome not some day, but we can overcome today. It's your decision."

That point stuck in Sweta Saxena's mind, who along with everyone else, gave Young a standing ovation.

"I thought [Young's message] was very penetrating and just very touching because I'm a big believer in education and I agree that you should take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way," said Saxena, 19, a sophomore from Durham. "I agree with how we have come a long way, but we can still go farther."

Others who associated with King also have visited Durham recently. Samuel Kyles, a former King colleague who was present when King was assassinated, and Bernice King, King's youngest daughter, both spoke at N.C. Central University on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.

Just as Kyles talked about the importance of keeping personal dreams alive, Young recalled watching Jesse Owens win four gold medals in the 1936 Olympics as an example of change through positive means.

"You see, this is how you deal with white supremacy," Young said, quoting his father. "You don't get angry about it; it's a sickness. You have the power in your own life. ... And you don't get angry with sick people, you help them."

Young's talk was preceded by remarks from Duke president Richard Brodhead, who said people must work together to change things, and Durham Mayor Bill Bell, who mostly talked about the Duke lacrosse sexual assault case.

Bell said Brodhead "made the right decisions at the right time given the information he had to work with," that the case should be handled through the judicial process. Durham's strength is its diversity, he said.