Column: Thanks for Listening

February is Black History Month, and with that in mind I urge everyone to be the person that Martin Luther King Jr. thought of when he spoke these great words: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

This simple statement sounds easy enough to do, but, oh, how people had to fight. And still do.

I cannot imagine history without the great achievements of the following performers:

Jesse Owens: American track-and-field athlete, who set a world record in the running broad jump (also called long jump) that stood for 25 years and who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.

Hank Aaron: He holds many of baseball’s most distinguished records, including runs batted in (2,297), extra base hits (1,477), total bases (6,856) and most years with 30 or more home runs (15). He is also in the top five for career hits and runs. Aaron also has (to me) the record for most career home runs (755). I do not count Barry Bonds as having the record because of steroids.

Two great poems by Langston Hughes:

“Democracy”

Democracy will not come

Today, this year

Nor ever

Through compromise and fear.

I have as much right

As the other fellow has

To stand

On my two feet

And own the land.

I tire so of hearing people say

Let things take their course.

Tomorrow is another day.

I do not need my freedom when I’m dead.

I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread.

Freedom

Is a strong seed

Planted

In a great need.

I live here, too.

I want freedom

Just as you.

“Helen Keller”

She,

In the dark,

Found light

Brighter than many ever see.

She,

Within herself,

Found loveliness,

Through the soul’s own mastery.

And now the world receives

From her dower:

The message of the strength

Of inner power.

Two of my favorite quotes:

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

“The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.”

Both are by Muhammad Ali, boxer and humanitarian.

Satchel Paige: One of my favorite players ever. I love the fact that his age was always in question. Paige is known for his extraordinary pitching ability. He became legendary while barnstorming in the Negro baseball leagues prior to the integration of the major leagues. He played in as many as 2,500 games and is credited with more than 50 no-hitters. In 1948, at the age of 42, he joined the Cleveland Indians of the American League. He pitched for six seasons in the majors and was the first star of the Negro leagues to be inducted (1971) into the Baseball Hall of fame.

Please stop and remember Black History Month not just in February, but every month.

Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.