Tricia Rose on ‘hoping in the context of hopelessness’

We honor the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. every year in the United States with a national holiday. Do we rest on his laurels, when the dream he envisioned is so far from realization?

In this talk, Professor Tricia Rose reflects: “There is no absolute triumph. To end Jim Crow did not mean to end racism. You win and you are losing at the same time. How do you live with that?”

Rose is the Chancellor’s Professor of Africana Studies and the Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University. She gave this keynote address at the 47th Annual Community Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

“I have chosen to teach, write, think and engage in dialogue because the world in which we live requires -- more than ever -- that we contribute, however we are best suited, to the interminable struggle for social justice, creativity and growth. We must face the world we have created and dream the worlds we want into existence.” -Professor Tricia Rose

Washington Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan gave opening remarks. The event, presented by Seattle Colleges, took place at Mount Zion Baptist Church on January 17. KUOW’s Sonya Harris provided our recording.