The View from the Mountaintop: What Would Dr. King Have to Say Today?

By Dr. T. Leon Williams and Maria Dykema

For nearly two decades, Dr. T. Leon Williams has been visiting college campuses, sharing his unique perspective of the historical relevance of the nations progress through monologues of the beloved Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In The View from the Mountaintop, Williams charts the course for the advancement of human relations from chance to change. Drawing from his personal and professional experiences, Williams attempts to make meaning of the lived experiences from childhood to adulthood that has shaped his attitude and perspective of America. Through scholarly, personal narratives and for the first time in Williams travels, he shares his essays with the public. Williams strategically addresses one question, what would Dr. King have to say today? In his most provocative work, Williams shares his perspective of rethinking nonviolence for the twenty-first century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524578916

Dr. T. Leon Williams

Dr. T. Leon Williams is a Baptist licensed minister, educator, and national motivational speaker. He has reached more than 15,000 students in twenty-five different states over a 20-year career in high education. For majority of his professional life, he has served as director of multicultural affairs at Ohio Northern University, Buena Vista University, and Elon University. He is the author of The First-Year College Experience Handbook: Strategies for Academic Success and Character Development and Mentoring College Men to Lead the Next Generation of Young Scholars: The Blueprint for Developing Men of Character. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business management from Ohio Northern University before earning a master's degree from The University of Dayton in education and doctor of ministry at Virginia University of Lynchburg. He lives with his family in Charlotte.

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Copyright © 2017 by Dr. T. Leon Williams.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®). Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

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Rev. date: 06/12/2017

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Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Why i Write

Inner-city Matters

Family Matters

An Introduction to Epistolary Scholarly

Personal Narratives

Rationale for Examining the Life and Legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Personal Manifesto

Prologue

A Note to the Reader

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Epilogue

Notes

This work is designed to provide education and inspiration to the reader. The author and publisher are not offering it as a professional guide to solving human relations. This work is historical fiction. The brief moments in the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement mentioned in this work are the product of the author’s creative imagination and dramatic interpretation of what Dr. King would have to say today.

Each monologue is the sole expression and opinion of the author, and not necessarily that of the publisher. The author and publisher are not responsible for any act of public expression and are not liable for any negative attitudes or behaviors from reading or repeating the information in this book. In other words, you are responsible for your own choices, actions, and results.

Let me reiterate an earlier point, this work is historical fiction. References are provided for information purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any website or other sources.

Dedication

I humbly dedicate this work to God, who is the head of my life. It is only through God’s grace and mercy that I possess the knowledge, courage, strength, expertise, and talent to reflect on the life and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I give God all the praise and glory for allowing me to be a catalyst for change in the United States of America. It is an honor and a privilege to serve this nation for His glory.

I dedicate this work to my indomitable wife, Rochelle Renee Williams, a woman of God who champions our family with the sword of the spirit and shield of faith. Through life’s greatest moments and sorrows there is no greater shoulder to lean on. She is a warrior for Christ and I am a witness to God’s anointing on her life. I thank God for the triangular relationship we share in Him.

I also dedicate this work to my consultant, mentor, and friend, Maria Dykema Erb. Her comprehensive knowledge of scholarly personal narratives has provided tremendous insight and guidance for this work. I am indebted to her for her thoughtful critique and feedback. Most importantly, I appreciate her leadership and support.

I dedicate this work to the trailblazers who left footprints on the path of righteousness for me to follow. I am grateful for your courage because it has allowed me to revisit history without enduring as much pain and suffering of oppression, segregation, and racism. I do not take for granted the freedom and spirit in which I can write without the threat of hurt, harm, or danger. I realize that my writing is rich because of your willingness to serve God as sufferers for a cause.

I dedicate this work to Zabrina Andres, Core Reader, and Zenobia L. Nelson, Second Reader. God has gifted you with treasured talents of making the complex very simple. I thank God for your patience, dedication, commitment, and contribution to this work.

Lastly, I thank God for my children—Sierra (Si Si), Elijah (Boogie), Devante (Dee), and Courtney (Co Co). You are all amazing, and bring me such joy as your father. I am blessed to have you all in my life forever.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank CAMPUSPEAK, Inc. in Aurora, Colorado for providing me with this platform to share my perspective of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his ideology of non-violence.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the many colleges and universities that I have had the privilege of serving. To the students, it has been an honor to share Dr. King’s message of peace, love, and justice with your campuses. It is my hope and prayer that for a moment you felt the presence of Dr. King.

Arizona Western University * Arkansas State University * Babson College * Barry University * Brevard College * Bridgewater State University * California University of Pennsylvania * Chadron State College * College of Mt. St. Joseph * Chattahoochee Technical College * Daniel Webster College * Drake University * Eastern Connecticut University * Georgia Perimeter College * Illinois State University * Indiana Institute of Technology * Iowa State University * Jackson State University * Lander University * Limestone College * Loras College * Lynn University * Marietta College * Mercer University * Minot State University * Missouri Southern State University * New York Institute of Technology * Northeastern Junior College * Northeastern University * Northern Michigan University * Otterbein College * Our Lady of the Lake University * Pennsylvania State University Berks * Pennsylvania State University Erie * Pennsylvania State University York * Pittsburgh State University * Randolph Macon University * Richard Stockton College * Robert Morris University * Rochester Institute of Technology * Rollins College * Rutgers University * Saint Leo University * Shippensburg University * Slippery Rock University * Southeast Missouri State University * State University of New York Oswego * Syracuse University * Texas Tech University * The University of Scranton * Thomas More College * University of California Fresno * University of Connecticut * University of Nebraska Kearney * University of Nebraska Omaha * University of North Carolina Wilmington * University of South Carolina * University of Wisconsin Platteville * Waukesha County Technical College * Washington College * Western Illinois University

Special thanks to all the students, faculty, staff, and community members who participated in the rich question and answer sessions immediately following each monologue. I pray and trust that you enjoyed the discussion as much as I did.

Foreword

On Saturday, June 30, 2012, amidst the din of hungry patrons in Madeira’s Mexican restaurant in Burlington, Vermont, I accepted a job offer as an Associate Director in the Multicultural Center at Elon University. Thank you, Jesus! were the words that I heard on the other end of the phone line from the man who would be my supervisor and mentor, T. Leon Williams. I thought that was an interesting response, given the occasionally confining trend of political correctness in higher education. Who was this man? What was he all about? Nonetheless, I was pleased to learn we shared the same Christian faith background. At the time, I thought I was simply moving to Elon for a new career, but I learned rather quickly that my life’s journey was taking me to North Carolina for a new friend and brother in Christ named Leon.

I honestly cannot recall learning about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. throughout my childhood growing up on a dairy farm in rural Vermont. Whenever we