The Observer, January 28, 2005
Volume XXXVII, Issue 15
Childhood friends tell story of hope, commemorate MLK day
The temperature dipped below freezing last Thursday, but that didn't keep people from filling Amasa Stone Chapel for Case's annual Martin Luther King, Jr. program. This year's keynote speakers were the Three Doctors, three friends who made a pact to stay together, attend college, and become doctors.
"They have a remarkable bond of friendship, a remarkable commitment to community," said mistress of ceremonies Kathryn Hall as she introduced Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, and Rameck Hunt.
Davis, an emergency room doctor, began by asking "What is the big hoopla [about the Three Doctors]? What is the big story?" He answered his own question, saying "What it comes down to is humanity."
The Three Doctors described their childhoods growing up poor in Newark, N.J. Davis reminded the audience of the similarities between his hometown and Cleveland, noting that Newark is the second poorest large city in the country and Cleveland is No. 1. They talked about the dilapidation and despair that surrounded them as children. Davis told the audience he thought he had three options growing up: "death, jail, or bad health."
"Temptation loomed every day," Davis said.
Jenkins told the audience that as a child he noticed that "dreams dissipated" as everyone grew and started to realize what was going on in their community.
Hunt said that in his neighborhood "going to jail is like a rite of passage."
The doctors then spoke of how they survived their childhoods and made it to high school, where the three of them met. "The three of us had the basic instinct to do well," Davis said; they applied to college and were all accepted to Seton Hall, where they became biology majors. Successful in their endeavors, medical and dental school came next for the three friends. Now they tour the country sharing their story, hoping to provide inspiration to those who have lost hope for the future.
The overarching message of the doctors' speech was that everyone must be educated and above all have faith. They noted that they were not provided with many signs of inspiration as children, but with the support of friends, family, and certain teachers they managed to get to where they are today.
Jenkins stressed the importance of education. "You're going to have to use education, whether you like it or not," he said. Jenkins also encouraged students to aim for good grades in order to "be an example to young people behind you."
Davis drew applause from the audience with his remarks on education. "It's tough to dream. But Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream," Davis said. "I have a dream too … that college will be the norm and not the exception."
The program featured several musical selections in addition to the keynote speakers. Awards were also presented to the winners of the 2005 Martin Luther King, Jr. essay contest. In the student category, Eric Hammond received first place, Joung Hyun Park second place, and Alex Wan Voorhees third place. For the staff, Dorothy Oluonye received first place, Claudette Maggit second, and Bernadette Clemens third.
