Dr.
Martin Luther King had a dream that one day human beings would be judged not by
the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
That
dream is not yet a reality. But we can all help bring it closer by giving our
children the tools that will help them grow up as tolerant adults who embrace
and celebrate America's great diversity.
One
of those tools is the Birmingham Pledge, an effort which aims to recognize the
dignity and worth of every individual.
The
pledge is a personal, daily commitment to remove prejudice from our lives, and
to treat all people with respect.
The
pledge states:
I
believe that every person has worth as an individual and is entitled to dignity
and respect, regardless of race or color.
I
believe that every thought and every act of racial prejudice is harmful; if it
is my thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to others.
Therefore,
from this day forward I will strive daily to eliminate racial prejudice from my
thoughts and actions.
I
will discourage racial prejudice by others at every opportunity. I will treat
all people with dignity and respect; and I will strive daily to honor this
pledge, knowing that the world will be a better place because of my effort.
It’s
a pledge we can all make.
