Samuel Betances, internationally known motivational speaker, spoke Wednesday at the Cable Center and kicked off University of Denver’s celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Betances’ message was the same as the message King delivered some 35 years ago, “Be grateful for that which is good.”

He said, “It matters less where we are from. What really matters is where we are going. Accept our diversity. Embrace it. Make it work for you. Harness the rainbow.”

The evening started with a dinner for alumni, faculty and Black Student Alliance members that was sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs in the Iliff School of Theology. Here, Betances gave a brief overview of his speech and pointed out that King wanted people to love one another and learn from their differences.

“He spoke to everyone, everywhere, that there ever was,” said Betances about the civil rights leader.

Following the brief speech, there was a reading from the Koran.

Prior to his speech at the Cable Center, Betances read a poem titled “We are one” about the Sept. 11 attacks. He said the poem served as a reminder that no matter what gender, race, culture, religion or sexual orientation we fit into, “We are all human and we are all equal.”

Through his speech, Betances quoted from King’s speeches and works, reminding the audience that King believed that “we have to love our enemies for the good in them.”

Betances said that, “just like a rainbow, God does not know how to make people just one color.”

“It is not in our color but in our context we succeed,” said Betances.

He said that King had a dream that “America might live up to its creed.”

Betances received a standing ovation. Then, audience members were asked to spend 10 minutes giving each other feedback and answering two questions: 1) What would Martin Luther King Jr. say about race relations in the new century? and 2) What is the current climate at DU regarding race relations?

To reach Dr. Betances or hear more about his messages, visit www.betances.com.