Leaning into Meaning: Where Do We Go from Here?

Come join in a reading and discussion of a speech by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that has come to be known by the title “Where Do We Go from Here?”

The speech was delivered in 1967 and formed the backbone of Dr. King’s last book.  In it, Dr. King explores love and power, Black power and pride, and faith. He critiques both communism and capitalism and recommits to nonviolence, saying “I have decided to stick to love…”.

You can find the full text of the speech here. Dr. King begins with a description of the work that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference has done. We will focus on the latter part of the speech with the paragraph that begins: “Now, in order to answer the question…” We will read through this part of the speech together, pausing now and then for moments of silence, reflection, and perhaps even debate.

Join in at 5:30, Wednesday, January 8, in person in the King Room or online via zoom here.

Some quotes from the speech:

• This is where we are. Where do we go from here? First, we must massively assert our dignity and worth. We must stand up amidst a system that still oppresses us and develop an unassailable and majestic sense of values. We must no longer be ashamed of being black.
• There is nothing wrong with power if power is used correctly. You see, what happened is that some of our philosophers got off base. And one of the great problems of history is that the concepts of love and power have usually been contrasted as opposites—polar opposites—so that love is identified with a resignation of power, and power with a denial of love.
• What is needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.
• We must develop a program that will drive the nation to a guaranteed annual income.
• Darkness cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that.
• What I am saying today is that we must go [out] and say, “America, you must be born again!”
• I must confess, my friends, the road ahead will not always be smooth. There will be still rocky places of frustration and meandering points of bewilderment. There will be inevitable setbacks here and there. There will be those moments when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the fatigue of despair. Our dreams will sometimes be shattered and our ethereal hopes blasted. […] Difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.

About Leaning Into Meaning

Leaning Into Meaning is a monthly religious exploration opportunity to dig into how we make sense of life and living.  It’s an opportunity to grow our skills for engaging with fundamental questions and growing our horizons.  Each month we will lean into a topic, issue, or event, focusing on growing our experience and understanding of that topic theologically and spiritually. The group is facilitated by our Minister, Rev. Joe, and meets on the first Wednesday of the month.

In this group, we have the opportunity to learn about UU theology and history, an opportunity to explore our monthly themes in more depth and variety, and more. Participating affords an opportunity to reflect, to share, and to learn together.  Unitarian Universalism has real gifts to offer, and this group is an opportunity to better understand what those gifts can be and how they might support living lives of whole-heartedness.