A Message of Hope Through a New Lens

They were all dressed alike; they swayed from side to side, and sang like angels to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”. The crowd gave a standing ovation, some in tears, some feeling inspired, and others in awe at the awesome talent just displayed. Ron Clark makes his way back onto the stage and gives his final remarks, “The only way to end discrimination is to lift up our kids. If you don’t learn anything else from today, I hope you take that”. As the keynote speaker for the 25th Annual Holmes/ Hunter Lecture on Friday at the Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall, Ron Clark followed in the ranks of people like Jesse L. Jackson, Vernon Jordan, and Nikki Giovanni, who have been selected to give this lecture in honor of Hamilton E. Holmes and Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first two African American students to enroll at the University of Georgia. The Holmes/Hunter Lecture series is given by a distinguished scholar or public figure and focuses on race relations, aspects of higher education with implications for race relations or black history. For Ron Clark, being chosen to give the lecture was a humbling experience, “I don’t feel like I’m worthy of being here” he said to an audience of about 200 people who filled the bottom level of the hall and overflowed into the balcony. During the lecture, Clark focused more on his students than himself and his own accomplishments. As he spoke, he jumped and ran about the stage as audience members laughed and shouted “yes” at points he made throughout his speech. In the front rows were a group of his students, dressed in khaki pants, blue button down shirts with ties, and blue sweaters. Often during the lecture he would acknowledge them by name to tell of their accomplishments to the audience.
To the center of the stage he brought out two projects, one a blue tri-fold board with few pictures and writing. He asked the audience, “What grade would you give this?” Audience yelled out answers that ranged from 50 to 100. “I gave this a 27” he responded.”We are not being realistic with our kids. We can’t accept trash”. He then brings to center stage a pyramid heavily decorated with Egyptian designs. Then he pulled down the flaps of the pyramid and the audience gasped in amazement at the detailed artifacts that were displayed inside. The project that was designed to follow a timeline of Egyptian history was made by one of his students who put together each artifact from objects within her house. “When you have high expectations, you get high results”. Clark said as he brought the young girl to the stage and proudly stood behind her as the crowd applauded. It was this intense passion and intense energy that spilled all from one fair-skinned, tall, lanky man from the Deep South.
“I never thought I would be a teacher” Clark said. It was there that he began telling the audience of his journey to the Ron Clark Academy. Clark, known as “America’s Educator”, is the 2000 Disney American Teacher of the Year, a New York Times bestselling author, the subject of a television movie and the founder of The Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. Clark first caught America’s eye as the teacher in Harlem who helped turn low achieving students into high excelling students by the end of the year. As Clark spoke of why he packed up and moved from North Carolina to Harlem, he said, “If you feel something in your heart, just go for it”. It was in Harlem that other teachers laughed at him and his methods, and he was told that he would never change the students. But it was to this Clark said, “In life people are always trying to tell you, you can’t do it.” He fought these negative notions when he came to Atlanta and turned a 100 year old factory into a school that is protected by the community. The rest is history. “I don’t wanna be old and look back and have regrets” Clark said. And it is with this notion Clark has changed the hearts and minds of those he comes in contact with.
Lines of students, teachers, and parents lined up after the lecture to take pictures and have Clark sign his autograph in books or pieces of paper. One eager student in line, Jenna Causey beamed from ear to ear, “I’m pretty sure I want to be an educator after being here”. For twenty five years there have been speakers who have sparked hope in others through their lectures and it was on Friday, Ron Clark, took a deserving place in this list.