- January 20, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
Marc Dwyer encourages the African American community to take advantage of every opportunity to achieve higher goals. Photo by Brian McMillan
Marc Dwyer encourages the African American community to take advantage of every opportunity to achieve higher goals. Photo by Brian McMillan
Marc Dwyer encourages the African American community to take advantage of every opportunity to achieve higher goals. Photo by Brian McMillan
To resolve the division in our country, and to make strides in civil rights, we need to start locally and “circle the wagons” by improving our own families and community first.
That was the message of Marc Dwyer, partner with the Dwyer Knight law firm, as the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther Day event, hosted by the New York City Transit Retirees of Florida, Chapter 2, on Jan. 20, at First Baptist Church of Palm Coast.
The event began with remarks by Marie McCray, president of the chapter. Referring to Martin Luther King, she said: “We celebrate not only his life and work but also the strides we continue to make in pursuit of his dream.”
Dwyer’s speech focused on “wagon” as an acronym, highlighting one element to the plan for each letter. But first, he noted that this day was a cause of division for many people in the United States, because the inauguration of President Donald Trump meant that Martin Luther King’s “shine” had to be shared.
“For some, the thought of infringing on the memory of Dr. King is repugnant and perhaps depressing today,” Dwyer said. On the other hand, “for many, it’s a day of rejoicing.”
How did the United States become so divided? And how is it that the country is not making progress in civil rights? What would King think of the way things are going?
Dwyer said that, on the 60th anniversary of the passing of the Voting Rights Act, “a substantial number of our African Americans do not vote, do not show up for primaries.” If candidates aren’t on TikTok, many young people don’t know the candidates.
“We are caught up more in social media than in social engineering,” Dwyer said.
The country is not making progress in civil rates; “we may be regressing.”
“For many of us, we feel we are ushering in an age of an America with which we are not familiar,” he said. “Character, integrity, veracity — all are swept away in landslide.”
Having defined the problem, Dwyer then set out to present a solution, his voice frequently rising in the style of a political preacher, like King, often calling for crowd affirmation: “How many of y’all know what I’m talking about?”
To the members of the crowd, many of whom were also African American, he suggested that making civil right progress was possible if we follow a tradition from the old West: circling the wagons to strengthen the community and defend against dangers.
“Our African American community — we need to circle the wagons.”
WEALTH
Our society has the mistaken impression that wealth is something that happens quickly, Dwyer said. “The reality is that wealth is built slowly, through calculation, through stewardship, and through sacrifice.”
Instead, he said, “We have people driving BMWs and paying rent.”
People are wearing Air Jordans who can’t afford them. “When I was growing up, I never had sneakers with names on them,” he said, “ … but I got a college education.”
“When it comes to wealth and wealth building, it is not a short game,” Dwyer said. “We have to approach it with a long game mentality. There is no reason that anyone should leave this world, and not be able to leave some kind of legacy behind for the next generation to build upon.”
ACHIEVEMENT
Many people in the African American community are not aiming for high enough achievement. Instead, they are trying to make a quick dollar.
While it’s true that college isn’t for everyone, Dwyer said, “If you can do it, then you should go ahead and do it.”
“It is not OK to not give your very best and learn everything you can learn in this information age.”
GOD
Just as the G is in the middle of “wagon,” God should be in the middle of our lives and our community, Dwyer said.
And yet, “In so many of our communities, we have watched God disappear.” He referred to rappers Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar and Lil Nas X, saying that their messages have “led our children away from Godly messages.”
“Did you know that Lil Nas X had a video that he was giving a lap dance to the devil?” Dwyer said. “This is what we think is acceptable? Back in the day, Lil Nas X wouldn’t have to worry about public backlash; he would get some backlash from right at home, the kind of back lash we used to get. Some grandmother, some church sister would have given him some backlash.”
Dwyer continued: “God used to be the bedrock. It was our God who brought us through the toughest times in American history. … We have to stay true to our God.”
OPPORTUNITIES
Affirmative action was recently “dismantled” by the Supreme Court. That was disappointing to many, Dwyer said, but even when affirmative action was in place, “Did we take advantage? No.”
Locally, why aren’t more African American students getting scholarships and getting into gifted programs? “It’s not becuase we’re not gifted,” he said. “It’s because parents aren’t taking the time to maybe get them tutoring … and get them tested.”
He encouraged the crowd to take advantage of every opportunity that exists.
Regarding affirmative action specifically, he said removing it is based on sound principles of not discriminating based on color — but it was instituted to correct a societal wrong that hasn’t yet been corrected.
“So until you cure that one, don’t mess around with this one.”
He encouraged to find all the scholarship opportunities and take advantage.
NUTRITION
African Americans struggle with diabetes and high blood pressure, Dwyer said. “Did you know that just your diet alone can cure some of those diseases?”
Instead of playing video games, we need to be exercising.
“Instead of fried food, we might want to consider gettin an air frier. I’m serious,” he said. “If you don’t have a healthy and strong body, you cannot have a healthy and strong mind.”
WE SHALL OVERCOME
Dwyer ended his remarks with a tone of optimism. Referring to the spiritual, “We Shall Overcome,” he said, “Do you know why I’m so inspired by that song? It says we shall over come. There’s a certainty in that word, ‘shall.’ … It doesn’t we might, it doesn’t say we could, it says we shall overcome. And that is why that song gives me courage.”
Change starts from the bottom, he said. “We have to make our change here, locally. We have to circle our wagons in our community until we have a chance to rebuild and restore.”
