Determination, hard work still needed to address social justice challenges

Editor’s Note: The following is the text of a speech delivered last Dec. 14 by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle at the 55th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance Dinner in Palatine.

Good evening, everyone.

Thank you for that warm introduction and thank you all for being here tonight at this Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Remembrance Dinner.

As we gather to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy, I am reminded of what a tremendous leader he was. Dr. King was not only a visionary but also a tireless organizer. And organizing — as anyone who has done it will tell you — requires patience, grit and steady determination.

The Civil Rights Movement depended on an entire generation of leaders. Some of their names are etched in our history books, but many remain unsung.

These were men and women who added their voices to the debate and their bodies to the fight. They marched, they sat in, they stood firm, they organized and they mobilized. It is their persistence and dedication that helped bring about changes that once seemed impossible.

And while African Americans were the overwhelming majority in the Civil Rights Movement, we must remember that we were blessed with the support of people from all walks of life — particularly those of different faiths. Dr. King would be the first to remind us that the struggle for justice was not his alone. He understood that the fight for civil rights transcended race, religion and geography.

One of the most powerful aspects of Dr. King’s legacy is that he was like all of us. He faced fears, doubts and challenges. And yet, he persisted. His story continues to inspire because it reminds us that change is possible if we refuse to give up.

Personally, I’ve always believed that if you have a vision of what you want and are willing to work hard, you can make it a reality.

The challenges ahead of us — ensuring the safety of our communities, rebuilding our economy, moving beyond the pandemic and supporting the next generation — require sustained, unified effort.

Tackling these challenges calls for the same persistence and determination that Dr. King and so many others demonstrated during the Civil Rights Movement.

I’ve often said that casting your vote is just the first obligation of citizenship. But it doesn’t stop there. Good citizens must contribute their time and energy to the causes and candidates they believe in. That’s the only way to keep our democracy strong. It takes countless people working together to make a vision a reality.

We still need people willing to fight for social justice, knowing they may not see the change they seek in their own lifetimes. The abolition of slavery and the fight for gender equality spanned generations. None of this happens overnight.

But if we continue to work hard — and if we work together — our shared commitment to justice and reform can transform our communities and our country.

Dr. King once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” So let us have faith. Let us continue to climb, step by step, toward the vision of justice and equality he dreamed of.

Thank you.

• Toni Preckwinkle, a Chicago Democrat, is president of the Cook County Board.