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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Wow! This is awesome, Thanks for sharing<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Ohio-Communities-of-Faith <ohio-communities-of-faith-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Maggie Stringer via Ohio-Communities-of-Faith<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 1, 2023 8:00 AM<br><b>To:</b> Nfb of Ohio Communities of Faith Mailing List <ohio-communities-of-faith@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Maggie Stringer <ravensfan784@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Ohio-Communities-of-Faith] The Power Of One<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Reposting.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>Recently, I have been researching and reading through hundreds of historic speeches and legendary quotes from civil rights icons including Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, and W.E.B. Du Bois. These powerful leaders along with other inspiring modern figures inspired me to create a montage of their insightful words, historic speeches, and powerful writing, as one.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>I had been asked to share, “The Power of One”, with my federation family. My hope is that all of our members will recognize Black History Month as an opportunity to understand Black histories and will take the time to celebrate Black achievement. I believe it is essential to have a fresh reminder of where systemic racism persists and give visibility to the people and organizations creating change.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Without further ado.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>The Power of One<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>“I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right. The thing about black history is that the truth is so much more complex than anything you could make up. There are still many causes worth sacrificing for, so much history yet to be made. Black History Month must be more than just a month of remembrance; it should be a tribute to our history and reminder of the work that lies in the months and years ahead. Won’t it be wonderful when black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>We have a wonderful history behind us…and it is going to inspire us to greater achievements. A man without knowledge of himself and his heritage is like a tree without roots. If you know whence you came, there is really no limit to where you can go.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>Diversity is not about how we differ. Diversity is about embracing one another’s uniqueness. My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute. If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it. One of the hardest things in life is having words in your heart that you can’t utter. Make a difference about something other than yourselves. Whatever we believe about ourselves and our ability comes true for us.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>“For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations. Life has two rules: number 1, never quit! Number 2, always remember rule number one. Whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you’ll find that when you’re free . . . your true self comes out. Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong. I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying. Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;text-indent:.5in;line-height:106%'>“Have a vision. Be demanding.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>**Every 28 line has been written or spoken by:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Dr. Mae Jemison. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Thurgood Marshall.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Colin Powell.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Susan L. Taylor.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Desmond Tutu.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Langston Hughes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Frederick Douglass.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Booker T. Washington.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Ella Fitzgerald.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Nelson Mandela.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>John R. Lewis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Maya Angelou.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Ola Joseph.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Aretha Franklin.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Michael Jordan.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>James Earl Jones.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Rosa Parks.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Toni Morrison.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Henry Louis.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Marty Meehan.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Tina Turner.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Michelle Obama.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Duke Ellington.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Dick Gregory.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>James Baldwin.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Marcus Garvey.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Carter G. Woodson.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'>Alice Walker.**<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Maggie Stringer</span><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: (443) 750-0070<br>Email: <a href="mailto:ravensfan784@gmail.com" target="_blank">ravensfan784@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CommunityServiceDivision/" target="_blank">Community Service Facebook Page</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra."<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>