by Sue Austreng
Staff writer

Beryl Sang, a seventh-grade student at Northdale Middle School, hopes to be a neurosurgeon someday.

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Beryl Sang took home first place in the seventh grade category of the 2009 Essay/Poster Contest for an essay she wrote articulating her ideas about the contest’s theme, “Education: American Dream or Public Crisis.” Inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to learning, Beryl hopes someday to work as a neurosurgeon. Her contest prize included a laptop computer and a certificate of recognition. (Photo by Sue Austreng) Martin Luther King Jr.: Why We Honor Him by Beryl Sang        Grade seven, Northdale Middle School Martin Luther King Junior is my hero. He has tremendously changed civil rights in America. He firmly stood on what he believed in, and moved a great nation. King was doubted many times and people never looked past his “colored” skin. He devoted and sacrificed his life for the freedom of the many blacks in the United States. His name remains “unblemished and justifiably so.” “We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. That quote in his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech, says that we should walk together and never turn back. King had a dream that “his four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of the skin, but by the content of their character.” That is one of my favorite quotes because it says that he had a dream that his kids would not always be judged because they were colored people but would judge them by their deeds, actions, or how they present themselves. He took the risk of standing up for what he believed and forever changed the lives of many. We honor him because he “took the risk” as world renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson says in his book “Take the Risk.” Carson also asks in his book, “By avoiding the risk, are you also avoiding the full potential of your life?” Martin Luther was an everyday man in his time but he must have thought, if I avoid fighting for black people’s rights, am I also  not realizing the possibility that it could have a high potential? And as King took the risk, he “challenge[d] us to reaffirm that our lives have great purpose, and that risking wisely is the gateway to dreams fulfilled and a legacy of influence in the world around us.” (a quote from Carson’s book) King made a way for me, as a person of color, to live a life with equality between blacks and whites in America. Martin Luther’s philosophy is celebrated every Jan. 21 ever since it was declared a holiday in 1986. His personality is an inspiration to those who dare to take the risk to challenge the status quo.  In conclusion, Luther’s speech “I Have a Dream” delivered 45 years ago rings quite true now than then. How happy King must have been to know that we are “free at last!”

She works hard in school and consistently finishes at the top of her class.

She diligently researches subjects of interest and writes with a passion.

She sings and plays basketball, she has performed in the school musical and she’d like to write books one day.

Beryl’s life is full of adventure and learning, goal-setting and exploration.

A key source of inspiration for the young achiever, whose family hails from Kenya, are the legendary words and remarkable life of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

At the invitation of Benoni Grimes, Northdale Middle School’s Student Learning Advocate, Beryl put pen to paper, recording her thoughts regarding King’s legacy, the high value he placed on education and how he had influenced her life.

To write the essay, Beryl research King’s life by reading articles about him and found writing the essay “kind of easy,” she said.

Writing is something she enjoys and last year she attended a young authors conference, according to Beryl.

She has been inspired to write by her father, Jackson, who Beryl says is a good writer.

When she entered her essay in the 2009 Essay/Poster Contest organized by the Governor’s Commission on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration and the Council on Black Minnesotans, Beryl won first place in the seventh grade category in the statewide contest.

She found out she had won when a phone call came to her home. But she was sleeping and her mother, Florence, had to wake up her to tell her, Beryl said.

“I was really excited,” she said. “It will encourage me to do even better next time.”

Beryl was presented with her first-place award, a certificate, at the 2009 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday celebration put on Jan. 19 by the Governor’s Commission on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration and the Council on Black Minnesotans at St. Paul Central High School and Concordia University, St. Paul.

Taking part in the day-long event, which included marching in a parade from St. Paul Central High School to Concordia University was “cool,” according to Beryl 

“We are really proud of her,” said Grimes.

In addition to the certificate, Beryl also won a laptop computer - her previous laptop had broken, Beryl said - which she was presented with this week.

And it won her a deeper understanding of King’s mission to more deeply unify the United States of America.

Beryl knows that, without the bold and courageous moves made by King, she would not be able to enjoy the freedoms and exercise the choices she does today.

And she knows those freedoms were not easily gained.

“Martin Luther King inspires me because he knew he could be killed any minute, any second, but he still spoke out for all colored people,” Beryl said.

“It’s because of what he did, how he fought and took risks that I can be whatever I want to be,” she said, noting King’s youth and persistence.

“He was a young person and he fought for all black people. He had a great deal of courage. He didn’t let anything stop him.

“Every time I feel I need to do something, I think of his courage and I do it.”

In addition to Martin Luther King Jr., Beryl counts neurosurgeon Ben Carson among her greatest heroes.

“He’s a world-renowned neurosurgeon,” she said. “He came from the ghetto, he was poor and look what he’s done.”

Beryl has read all three of Carson’s books and her admiration of him grew as each page was turned.

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