Throughout his life, the Rev. Gerald Hudson has touched others through words – whether as a pastor, consultant or motivational speaker.

    Among the Meridian native’s most passionate deliverences is that of another pastor, consultant and motivational speaker: the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hudson has recited King’s “I Have a Dream” speech more than 300 times, as well as several other of the civil rights leader’s famous presentations.

    Hudson’s first presentation of the “I Have a Dream” speech was at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va., before a predominately white audience of 1,500.

    “I was asked to recite the speech by Dr. Ken Nafzinger, director of the university’s music department, who was putting on a Black History Program. He’s white and the university was/is 95 percent white,” he said.

    To his surprise, Hudson received a standing ovation for the presentation. From there on, requests continued for his rendition of “I Have a Dream,” as well as King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” and “Drum Major Instinct.” Of the three, the “Dream” speech is Hudson’s favorite.

     “I love the entire speech. It is a masterful use of language to create a mental picture, a metaphorical vision of what our nation, our world could and should be,” he said.

    Hudson said trying to identify his favorite parts of the speech are like choosing favorite parts of scriptures — all of it is valuable and meaningful.

    “Dr. King was a wordsmith, whose choice of words and phraseology were transformative,” he said. “I do appreciate his use of the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 40:4:  ‘Ever valley shall be exalted, every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall be see it together.’ For me, this part of the speech captures the essence of what King’s speech was communicating, and not even his most ardent critics can argue with its perfection. Although for me, every word is a portrait of perfection.”

    Hudson began hearing, reading and studying the life of King while he was a student at Wechsler Elementary School.

    “Dr. King was one of the few positive, visible African-Americans males during my childhood. Racism was, as it is today, ubiquitous. Yet, Dr. King found a way to get a handle on it and attack it in a direct action, nonviolent way,” he said. “For me, I ‘hate’ racism in all of its overt and covert forms. Dr. King saw racism and segregation as inherently evil, and refused to compromise his demand for justice. As former South Africa President Nelson Mandela so eloquently put it, ‘The struggle was his life’!”

    Asked if he thought King would be disappointed in the world if he were alive today, Hudson said he thinks the civil rights leader would be both proud and disappointed in his nation.

    “With an African-American in the White House, with achievements of people of color on all levels some would deem it an injustice to say that ‘things haven’t gotten better.’    

    But I would also like to utilize an often used phrase from the African-American church: ‘We’ve come a long way, but still have a long way to go!’ “

    Hudson believes King would advise today’s youth to be willing to work hard, and to put sweat equity into their dreams.

    “Mountaintop aspirations and valley work ethics translate into do-nothingism! In other words: You’ve got to fight for everything you get,” he said.

    As people around the country gather today for programs, parades and other special events to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Hudson offers the following words of his own.

    “There comes a time in life when the doors swing open wide and lets in the future. Will ours be a future of ‘have and have-nots?’ Dr. King said, ‘Either we learn to live together as sisters and brothers, or we will perish together as fools.’       

    “I still have a dream!”