I don’t think he ran the race to win, I think he ran to tryto show 2 million kids like methat weshould never shy awayfrom being inthe human race,and that our faces weren’t forbiddenor a burden orexceptions as we all could be exceptional. I think he ran to hold a doorthat he would not walk throughbut had opened first by Douglass,passed to Phillips,Chisholm,Fauntroy, then to one midwestern resident who was at last called President.

Although he did not run to win,and few assumed he would, he demonstrated to a generationthat we could eventuallypush lines which seemed immobileinchesand then feetas we all yelled “I Am Somebody”down on Sesame Street.

he could not smooth the roads aheadcould not hold back the tideor turn the head of every average Joe with hate insidebut he still ranstill stood his ground with grace, impressivelyto hold a spacefor one of us to finally say“that’s me”.Thank you, Sir, from Somebody, for your example; I…

don’t think you ran the race to win.I think you ran to try