DuPage MLK Day speaker: 'Be a difference maker'

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

On Monday, the Rev. Tracy Malone urged everyone to pull on that arc, to bring more love, equity and justice into the world.

"It does not bend on its own," she said. "It bends because each of us puts our hands on the arc and we play our own part. I challenge you to bend the arc. Let it bend toward equality and opportunity for all. Let it bend toward hope."

Malone, superintendent of the Chicago southern district of United Methodist churches, was the keynote speaker at the 26th annual DuPage County Martin Luther King Jr. celebration. The event, which was started by leaders of Second Baptist Church in Wheaton and DuPage African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lisle, drew in more than 350 people of different ages, races and religions from across the county.

Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton, where the event was held this year, was full of energy, happiness and hope as several groups performed, including two choirs, the Waubonsie Valley High School Diamond Steppers and praise dancers from Second Baptist.

There was a spirit of fellowship in the church as attendees spoke in one voice during a prayer, affirming King's love for others, dreams of equality for all people and beliefs in dignity, grace and love.

Bible readings and religious songs reflected on how God could lead the faithful on the right path to continue King's work.

Malone's emotional speech took a more fiery approach, by calling everyone to action. Waiting for someone else to fight for justice, thinking time will make things change or relying on prayer alone, she said, is not enough.

"I've heard it be said, 'If we only had another Martin Luther King.' But I say tonight, we have each of us. We are the Martins! We are the beloved community and what we do matters and how we do what we do matters," she said to applause. "We are called to be a people of conviction, not conformity, of moral mobility, not social respectability. As people of faith we are called to live differently."

Malone said 2016 can be a year of difference, transformation and change if more people can admit "we have a societal problem" when it comes to race.

"We would want to believe that because we no longer have blatant signs at the food counter, because we no longer have blatant signs at the drinking fountains or in the schools that we live in a post-racial America," she said.

"Truth be told, we know that race and racism continues to play a role in American society and race continues to define who we are as Americans," she said.

She stressed that excuses have to stop being made for bigotry and reminded the audience that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Above all, she urged everyone to "be a difference maker in the world" and to love one another.

"We are intrinsically and existentially connected," she said. "Whether we like it or not, you are my brother and my sister."

Paul Bischoff, of Wheaton, said Malone's words "challenges us in our own values, our own sense of security and all the things we think are important."

"We need to hear that message," he said. "The suburbs are something of an escape and a denial of the very issues she talked about."