Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Beloved Community
This month marks another celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Each year we take time on Martin Luther King Day to reflect on his great vision for America, wondering if Dr. King were alive today, if he see America any closer to resembling the Beloved Community he envisioned, where people of all races, colors and creeds could live together in a non-violent and equitable society. The year 2010 also marks the 19th year since the Portland Housing Center was born out of a jarring realization of the inequities regarding homeownership that existed in our own community, even decades after Dr. King's important strides for human rights and equality.
Dr. King believed that as a nation, the vision of a Beloved Community could be realized, where wealth would be shared by all members of the community, and poverty and homelessness would be prevented based on the laws of human decency. Providing all with access to homeownership and other assets are an important step in helping to realize this dream. In helping to realize this vision, I encourage you to access the services of the Portland Housing Center and to familiarize yourself and your clients with a unique comprehensive public website of home ownership programs, tools, and answers to commonly asked questions about home ownership. HOWNW.com, launched by the Portland Metropolitan Association of Realtors® in June 2008, contains valuable information about home buying fairs, types of mortgages, and even about how to avoid foreclosure.
While many are concerned about the current state of the economy and the real estate market, Dr. King's legacy also encourages us to embrace challenges and adversity. In Dr. King's final speech before his assassination, he stated that given the opportunity to live during any point in history, he would have chosen that very time. Dr. King's remarks could as easily speak to our current situation, and he went on to say "...Now that's a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. Trouble is in the land. Confusion all around...[Dr. King knew], somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can [one] see the stars."
This year, let us commemorate Dr. King's birthday with a renewed commitment to his vision for America and renewed dedication to continue his important work toward providing equality and access for all. Let's direct new efforts in our own community to provide access to homeownership and asset building for all in our community. Finally, like Dr. King, let us see our challenges as an opportunity to see new solutions on the road toward creating his Beloved Community.
