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By DANIEL SHELLEY
Back in October, the M.L.K. Celebration Committee asked members of the
Juilliard community to reflect on the sentence from Dr. King's famous speech
delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 that became the theme
for the 2004 M.L.K. Celebration. Daniel Morgan Shelley, a second-year drama
student, wrote the following piece as he contemplated Dr. King's words.
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| The Celebration Gospel Choir grooved to Revolution, music and lyrics by Kirk Franklin.
(Photo by Hiroyuki Ito) |
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We live in a country of independence, freedom, individuality—all valuable
ideals that at times allow us to think that we are omnipotent … that we can
bear the load … that we can do it all by ourselves. And by "it" I mean
whatever goal, task, or journey one wishes to accomplish. Life is not a solo
performance, but an ensemble piece. The theme "We Cannot Walk Alone"
especially rings true for our "independent" society, but also for our artistic
community. Someone has to write the script, someone has to compose the score,
someone has to choreograph the dance, someone has to set up the rehearsal,
someone has to direct, someone has to run the lights, someone has to advertise
the performance, someone has to design the costumes and make-up, and someone
has to perform it. And if you can do all that by yourself, then someone has to
revive you once you've passed out from absolute exhaustion.
Walking seems like a one-person job—but someone supported our crawl, which in
turn supported our stumble, which in turn supported our walk. We may have
developed our own personal walking style, rhythm, and pace, but that
development could not have taken place without some influence from the world
around us. We can take pleasure in the fact that we are walking in a "WE." You
cannot walk alone and neither can I. Even if you don't know me, you need me,
and I need you—and isn't that one of the many aspects of art? Connection of a
part of ourselves with others … needing someone to connect to, share with? We
lie to ourselves when we say, "I need no one!"
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| Trumpeter Brandon Lee and bassist Ivan Taylor were half of a jazz quartet (also featuring pianist Aaron Diehl and percussionist Ulysses Owens) that performed works by Thelonius Monk and Duke Ellington as a prelude to the M.L.K. concert.
(Photo by Hiroyuki Ito) |
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Wherever you are in life, you did not get there by yourself, and wherever you
are going in life, you will not arrive there by yourself. You will not arrive
there without assistance. You will not arrive there without struggle—and the
one who causes conflict for you to struggle against is as much a part of the
journey as the one who assists you. Those who cause struggle teach you what
you are able to prevail against, and therefore help you to walk your walk.
When we as a people—as human beings, as citizens of the planet—take a moment
to give back, to share, to love at least one person in our lifetime, we'll be
a step closer to realizing that we are more alike than we give each other
credit for. No great person got that way on their own, and no great thing was
accomplished by a "single" person. Life is not a single sprint, but a relay
race, and the only way we all win is to do our part. Walking alone is never an
option … and I personally take comfort in that.
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