'The time is always right to do what is right': Speakers inspire during MLK Day celebration

Drawing on King’s words and their own life experiences, Communications Division Manager Delon Powell and Veterans Justice Program Coordinator Michelle Watts drew standing ovations after their remarks, which emphasized constantly striving to do what’s right, even in the face of overwhelming odds.

“In life, there will always be challenges,” Powell said, paraphrasing what his grandfather, a preacher, would often say. “Life is not fair; however, life will not give you more than you can bear. You may have to go further than someone else, but that’s OK. Just go.”

Building on the theme, Powell said such a hard and tiring journey would be worth it in the end and equated it to King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” speech, which was the last speech he gave before his assassination.

In the speech, King talks of reaching the promised land. Powell said the speech was meant to inspire hope and purpose.

“If you are striving for something, there will always be hope. But if you don’t strive for something, there is little to no hope,” Powell said. 

In many ways, Powell said, the promised land King spoke of exists today, a time of “technological miracles and opportunities unheard of. What is missing is the hope and a clear vision for a better tomorrow.”

“We must be the ones to incite purpose. We must be the ones to lend a helping hand. We must be the ones dedicated to a cause that is much bigger than you and I can ever dream of. ... We must look to the hills from which comes our strength and to the one that created us, because it's only in that place that you will find your true identity and the purpose for which you were created.

“It is only in that place where we can say, like Dr. King, ‘Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty, I’m free at last’,” Powell said.

Watts iterated the theme of always doing what is right by recalling an incident from her childhood.

Her father had built a merry-go-round in their backyard and invited the neighborhood children to ride on it. This created a long line of children, much to the chagrin of 5-year-old Watts and a relative, who believed they shouldn’t have to wait because the ride was in their yard.

Their grumbling soon caught the ear of Watts’ father, and the girls were taken out of line and told to sit on the steps. After the rides were done, Watts’ father told the girls why they were expelled from the line.

“He said, ‘Don’t you ever mistreat someone because they don’t have what you have,’” Watts said, choking back tears while recalling the memory. “It was a valuable lesson I’ve never forgotten. It was the right thing to do. He had seen something unjust, and he did something about it.”

Watts implored the audience to have open hearts and minds and “learn to listen to understand rather than to listen to respond. It is more important to do right than to be right.”

She quoted King: “The time is always right to do what is right.”

“This quote is simple and powerful. It allows for inclusive participation by everyone,” she said, noting a person’s conscience will tell them when something is right.

And quoting civil rights activist John Lewis, she said, “When you see something that is not right, not fair or not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it, just as my father did with me.”

“What’s more important is to remember who you are when the time is right to do what’s right. … It is imperative that we choose transformational activism, dig deep down inside and go beyond your ego, move out of your way for the good for all humans.

“Doing the right thing is not a hard thing. It’s a heart thing. You and only you are in control of your heart. Now is the time,” Watts said.

The program included an exhilarating dance by Janie Boston of In The Dance Cafe, who performed to Cynthia Erivo’s “Stand Up.” 

Tony Neal, a singer who has performed with Skylight Opera and Florentine Opera, brought the crowd to its feet with his rendition of Marvin Sapp’s “Never Would Have Made it.”

To view the Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance 2025 Flickr album, click here.