Suburban event honors values, legacy of King

While celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, John Burgess spoke about the impact that the economy has had on blacks.

Burgess broke out statistics showing higher unemployment rates for blacks in comparison to other races. While the King-led civil rights movement narrowed the gap, the journey toward ridding systemic racism continues, stressed Burgess, who is white.

"While most everyone feels the effects of this economic downturn, minorities are in danger of losing many of the economic gains that they have made in the previous four decades," said Burgess, managing director of the International Profit Associates in Buffalo Grove.

The remarks came at the ninth annual Remembrance and Celebration of Dr. King, hosted by the Illinois Commission on Diversity and Human Relations. This year's event celebrated King's 81st birthday. Numerous local mayors attended, but a planned visit from Gov. Pat Quinn never happened. The federal holiday falls this year on Jan. 18 as King's birthday is on Friday, Jan. 15.

The event itself was a victim of the economy, as it was originally planned to be in Arlington Heights at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest which shuttered on Dec. 28. The commission scrambled before Hoffman Estates officials found them a new home at their Chicago Marriott Northwest.

Many speakers once again alluded to last year's election of President Barack Obama as a shining example that conditions can improve. The Rev. Clyde Brooks said Obama should inspire young blacks.

"Yes, we were born and have a heritage of slavery, but I'm not a victim any longer," Brooks said. "I am God's child, I can be whatever I want to be if I work and study and obey God."

Brooks, the commission's president, said those living in the suburbs must learn to empathize with urban Chicago residents who experience violence, pointing out the rash of murders of Chicago Public School students.

Bill Hybels, senior pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, delivered the innovation. Hybels said, to his embarrassment, that he was a late comer when it came to racial reconciliation. The church's efforts toward racial reconciliation were a focus in Time magazine last week.

"There's been only a few times in history that someone like a Dr. King was born on this planet and had the impact of his voice and his heart," Hybels said. "It's a very important thing that we do once a year to honor his values, to honor his legacy, to honor his convictions and his too early death."