The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) marked the 10th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Advancing the Dream Lecture on Jan. 21 with a call to action centered on equity, history, and the moral urgency of the present moment. Presenting this year’s address was J. Keith Melancon, MD, chief of the Transplant Institute and Division of Transplant Surgery at the GW Medical Faculty Associates, medical director, Ron and Joy Paul Kidney Center, and professor of surgery at GW SMHS.
Hosted by the SMHS Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the theme of this year’s lecture, titled “Advancing the Dream: The Responsibility of Now,” centered on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s address at Riverside Church in New York City on April 4, 1967, one year before his assassination. In that speech, King warned of the dangers of delay, declaring, “We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.”
“As we reflect on what it means to advance Dr. King's dream, we recognize that we cannot afford to wait for an open being in time, or a more comfortable season, or a perfect set of additions,” said Grace Henry, EdD ’12, assistant dean for diversity and inclusion, as she opened the annual event.
“The work of health equity and compassionate care demands action today,” she added. “Our patients are waiting. Our communities are waiting. History is waiting.”
In his remarks, Melancon, a groundbreaking transplant surgeon and tireless advocate for patients with limited access to care, highlighted Dr. King’s warning about the “fierce urgency of now,” adding, “we're at a particular kind of nexus in the world right now, not even just in the United States, but can walk the world, and I think it's a particularly apt time to reflect on the history of [Dr. King].”
Melancon outlined what he described as two major phases of the civil rights movement in the United States. The first followed the Civil War and led to the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1875, though these gains were later eroded by Jim Crow laws and institutionalized segregation. The second, more widely recognized movement of the 1950s and 1960s, was led by figures such as King and relied on nonviolent protest, coalition building, and appeals to the nation’s founding ideals.
Melancon argued that the success of the civil rights movement stemmed from its ability to frame equality as a “common-sense” extension of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, adding civil rights progress has always depended on strategy, patience, and allies, not just moral outrage.
“The two most important documents in the history of this country are the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. And the Constitution starts with the word ‘we.’ ”
“We are the “‘we,’ ” he said. “Sometimes we forget that.”
He cautioned that modern civil rights efforts risk losing momentum when they become overly exclusive or confrontational. Instead, he urged advocates to focus on opportunity, preparation, and what he called “measured grace.” Central to that strategy, Melancon said, is the importance of allies.
He highlighted the importance of unlikely allies, including Abraham Lincoln, Justice John Marshall Harlan, Earl Warren, white clergy, Jewish lawyers, and others who may not have believed in racial equality personally but understood that equality was essential for democracy to survive. Successful movements, he argued, appeal to shared values, not accusations.
Melancon also stressed the importance of understanding existing systems of power and hierarchy to create meaningful change. “You can’t win unless you understand the software of the system that you’re dealing with,” he said, encouraging attendees not to be discouraged by setbacks but to use them as moments to refocus and sharpen purpose.
As the lecture concluded, Melancon called for a renewed commitment to the unfinished work of the civil rights movement, reminding the audience that the responsibility to advance Dr. King’s dream belongs to the present generation. “The challenges we face should not defeat us,” he said. “They should embolden us, refocus us, and narrow our purpose.”
