'Magnitude of King's greatness' recalled

Winston Wilkinson, director of the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, delivered the keynote address Saturday at a banquet commemorating the 40th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Wilkinson, a Sandy resident and former Salt Lake County councilman, eulogized King's life and accomplishments and reminded the audience that his message is still powerful and relevant.

"Dr. King was a compassionate, honest, warm and wise individual with a clear sense of purpose, self-definition and balance," Wilkinson said. "Even today we're able to appreciate the magnitude of his greatness."

Wilkinson said he was just one of many people whose lives changed in the summer of 1963. At that time he was part of the military security personnel keeping watch over a civil-rights gathering in Washington, D.C.

"History has shown that the 1963 march on Washington was a turning point in our nation's history," Wilkinson said. "The people who attended the march heard King's appeal for a better America ... an America they could only dream about.

"That America exists today."

Betty Sawyer is president of the Ogden branch of the NAACP, the group hosting the banquet. She said that the world is a much different place than 40 years ago and the realm of civil rights has changed dramatically for the better — though she wouldn't say that King's goals have been entirely reached.

"I heard Tom Brokaw report that there are more black males in prison than in college," Sawyer said. "So ... are we doing better? In some areas, we're doing worse."

The disparity in wealth and the opportunities that come with it are some of the most pronounced problems to be addressed, Sawyer said. Health care, education, crime and many of the maladies of society track back to a lack of balance.

"Eliminating the disparity ... eliminating poverty in our country, and all that grows from poverty ... that should be our goal," Sawyer said.

Sawyer noted that access to health care is one of her group's top priorities and hopes a change in presidential administration will be a first step in a positive direction — if campaign pledges can make the leap to real policy.

"One of the things we all have to be cautious about is rhetoric," Sawyer said. "Hopefully, at the end of the process we'll get something meaningful that will have a positive impact on everybody's lives, including those who are disadvantaged and at the most risk."

Though she is taking a wait-and-see approach on change at the federal level, Sawyer is cautiously hopeful on efforts in Utah.

"We've had some positive things happening on the health-care scene here in Utah," Sawyer said. She was especially glad to see funding come through the past legislative session to help community-level outreach programs.

"There's always more to be done, but there's a rainbow of hope," Sawyer said.

Her group also took time to honor long-serving members of the Ogden branch and to recognize community leaders for involvement.

Honorees included Edith "Fern" Heath, Jim Kirkham, Frank Satterwhite and Dr. Forrest Crawford.

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E-mail: araymond@desnews.com