On Dr. Martin Luther King Day 2024, WRVB Chairman and Principal Victor Cardwell was a keynote speaker at the Sold Out MLK Lynchburg Community Council’s (MLKLCC) 26th Annual MLK Breakfast Celebration. Cardwell’s remarks focused on the theme of this year’s event, “Justice for All.” This concluding phrase of the Pledge of Allegiance was a frequent subject of Dr. King’s sermons and writing. Cardwell led a meaningful conversation on the life and legacy of Dr. King.
Cardwell, a Lynchburg native, underscored his family ties to the local community. Cardwell grew up in large family (5 children total) and his brother, Kevin, was in attendance. Many of his family friends and Lynchburg High School-Heritage friends also were in attendance.
Cardwell offered a deep dive on the meaning of “Justice for All” and how MLK’s “Dream Continues.” “We’ve gotten far, but there is a lot of work still to do. Our system is not perfect. The dream continues, but there is work to be done.” To illustrate the work left to be done, Cardwell shared some daunting statistics on minority healthcare, maternal mortality, pay disparity, educational disparity, food insecurity, environmental racism, and property ownership.
“With clarity and passion,” Cardwell noted, “we must find our way to work within the system and change the system from within. [We must] peacefully adjust and adopt new ways to approach the system. Action will always beat inaction.”
At the conclusion of his remarks, Cardwell was honored as a recipient of the inaugural Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lynchburg Community Council ‘Keeping the Dream Alive’ Award. The unexpected tribute left Cardwell speechless. The peak-shaped award is symbolic of the work left to be done.
Click here to view the live presentation on MLKLCC’s Facebook page (starts at 1:13). Additionally, click here for an article published in the WSLS and click here for the January 16 publication of The News & Advance.
