Martin Luther King - I Have a Dream Speech

Having been born in Santa Monica, CA, raised in Westwood Hills, CA and grown up in the Southern California area, I lived and worked around many influential people, creative entrepreneurs and, of course, entertainers.  Over the years, I have met the movers and shakers of our country from both sides of the political spectrum, which in itself has been an experience for my own reality show in the first person. LOL!

Burt Lancaster

One movie star and his family I knew very well was Burt Lancaster. In fact, my mother was very active in the local Parent Teachers Association, PTA, with Norma Lancaster, Burt's wife, for over ten years. I went to High School with one son, worked at a local grocery store with another son, another daughter was best friends of my sister and she had many sleep-overs at our house. Our family was invited to watch full cinema screen movies at their home with their family over those years. (Before the advent of the electronic technology today, they had a studio projectionist come out and run movies. How decadent!) 

Burt Lancaster was an early supporter of the ACLU, former President of the ACLU, and proud of it too. When it came to politics, religion and opinions he was not bashful. I used to sit back and observe him as he spoke his passion about civil rights and not always agreeing either, but respectfully listened to his views. Still, his ACLU ideas were radical then and I still think they are now.

In 1957, the Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas started school busing that became the flash point for the nation's debate over civil rights and segregation.   

At the Bellagio Road Elementary School, my Alma mater, located in the heart of Bel Air, an affluent and exclusive area of Los Angeles, Norma Lancaster started the "Bus-A-Child" program in 1960.  It bussed black kids from downtown Los Angeles to that school because it had empty school classrooms due to the older demographics of the local kids aging out and up into middle school and beyond.  

It was a worthy program because it utilized existing public school facilities, but some public outcry was very negative. After all, many were up in arms about school bus desegregation going on throughout the country. This program, thankfully, was totally supported by private contributions and therefore less public pressure. My parents still supported that program while the country was evolving radically into a racial transformation. 

Now, the 1950's ideas were just getting behind us and the 1960's were still ahead.

In June 1963, I graduated High School.

In August 1963, I heard Burt Lancaster speak at a Washington rally and saw as  he stood next to Martin Luther King during his "I have a Dream" speech. Who really knew then how pivotal that speech was at the time?

Actor Ossie Davis introduces Burt Lancaster at the Washington, DC Rally.
 

In November 1963, President Kennedy is assassinated. 

In June 1964, the Civil Rights Act is passed.

In February 1967, I sat in the Bel Air Living room of Norma Lancaster, who was a registrar of voters and registered me as a Republican voter at the age of 21 years old. Jokingly, Norma asked if I was sure it was not for a Democrat registration.

In April 1968, Martin Luther King is assassinated.

In April 1969, Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated. 

In 1969, Norma divorced Burt Lancaster.

It was only like yesterday, only 47 years ago.  LOL!