Mary Frances Early Shares a Lesson of Love

Mary Frances Early shares a Lesson of Love

This Valentine’s Day there’s more than roses and boxed chocolates to celebrate, but the power of a dream: Martin Luther King’s dream. 

Mary Frances Early, the first black student to earn a degree from the University of Georgia, spoke at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Breakfast celebrating the university’s 50^th anniversary of desegregation. 

Ms. Early’s speech highlighted the passion and courage of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life. 

“Today we celebrate Valentine’s day,” Early said.  “We celebrate Valentine’s Day which is a day of sentimental or romantic love for our spouses, our significant others, our family and friends. Dr. King’s life however, his entire life in words, were based on another type of love called the Greek Word: Agape which means unconditional or selfless love for others.” 

Early was personally affected by the prominent preacher, teacher and man that Dr. King was.  While attending classes at UGA, she “went home as much as [she] could to hear Dr. King’s sermons.”

“Dr. King’s preaching gave me reassurance, and help and strength when I needed it most,” Early said.  “[His] philosophies and his example changed my life and that of many in this nation and around the world.  Though Dr. King is no longer with us physically, his dream: the American dream… [will be] engraved forever on our consciousness.”

“His dream of justice, equality, tolerance and brotherhood for all should be our dream,” she said.  “We have to complete the work that he so valiantly and courageously did.”

Ms. Early said Martin Luther King lived his life as the ultimate example.  In the words of Mr. King his goal was to “transform the jangling discourse of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” 

As a result, Early said, “We blacks, Whites, Asians, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims, Agnostics, Atheists all of us are the beneficiaries of his legacy.  And it is our challenge, no our responsibility to make that dream become a complete reality.”

Langston Hughes, a black American novelist asked us, “What happens to a dream deferred?  Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun or does it explode?”

Mary Frances Early saw to it that her dream would neither dry up nor explode, but that her dream would become a reality. 

While taking postgraduate courses at the University of Michigan, Ms. Early became fully aware of the escalating civil rights struggle and wanted desperately to participate in the struggle for equality.

A native of Atlanta, she saw the desegregation struggle that was taking Atlanta by storm.  She decided there was something she could do; she would transfer to UGA and support Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter.  They were the first black students at UGA, and had enrolled the year prior.  In Ms. Early’s first two years on campus, she earned a Master of Music Education degree to become the first black student to graduate from the university in 1962.

Early understands that the biggest question for everyone is what can we do now?

In the words of Mr. King we must keep in mind, “life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?”

 Early answers this by encourages us to take action by extending love.  “That’s something we can do everyday” she said.  “If we don’t have financial resources to share we can express love through a genuine smile of acknowledgement, a pat on the back for encouragement, a hug for those who need it, a visit to one who is alone and lonely.”

Dr. King addressed how he’d like to be remembered in his last speech to the garbage workers in Memphis and he said this, “I’d like someone to mention that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others.  I tried to love and serve humanity.  That we all can do, each and every day.”

Like the popular lyrics by Hal David and Burt Bacharach, “What the world needs now is love sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.  What the world needs now is love sweet love, no not just for some but for everyone.”    

    

The power of Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream stands strong among us now.  “Though we as Americans have come a very long way, and here at the University of Georgia we have come a very long way since 1961, we are still not there,” Early said.  “Dr. King’s dream cannot be deferred or it will dry up, and we cannot let that to happen.”  

Mary Frances Early closed with a very powerful statement.

   

“I ask you celebrate Dr. King’s courage and rich legacy by serving and loving others.  In doing so we can all help to make America what it ought to be.  We can make America a better nation.  We can help to bring Dr. King’s dream to fruition because the power of the dream will give us the courage to do so.”