CNN analyst Roland Martin coordinated humor, hope and inspiration into his speech at UD's Diversity Lecture Series on Jan. 19 in the Kennedy Union Ballroom.

Martin connected with college students in his presentation by examining the role of American youth in executing change.

"It was the young people that said, 'We are going to put our personal issues aside because there is something bigger than us that we have to be involved in,'" Martin said. "It was the energy of young Americans that really drove the [racial equality] movement."

Throughout his talk, held at the 23rd Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast, Martin encouraged the racially diverse audience of UD students, faculty and Dayton citizens sitting, eating, talking and praying together to examine their daily actions and whether those actions work toward goals for racial diversity and equality.

"Is your home dinner table as diverse as the tables in this room?" Martin asked. "What other parts of your life look like this room?"

At UD, 3.3 percent of undergraduates are African-Americans. This can make it difficult for cultures to intermix, and some see a need for change to do a better job of implementing this task.

"I think one thing that students can do is begin to join the activities that black students have," said Vernellia Randall, professor of law and race expert. "I can recall on this campus a number of times that black students have had activities that are advertised to the entire student body on campus and very few white students would come."

This week the Student Government Association hosted a Unity Week which included the MLK breakfast as well as a town hall meeting, lunch, free stickers and a social event. The Unity Lunch in combination with the town hall meeting took place Tuesday afternoon.

"This week we [SGA] are having a Unity Week to get all the members of campus to come together and talk about different things," said Brittany Cordes, SGA director of diversity and unity.

Martin emphasized that UD students should let their voice be heard in support of racial equality, and believes conversation could be the key to making a difference.

"We have to challenge our family, our friends and our church members about their racial feelings and say 'that is not where we should be,'" he said. "But if we're silent we are in essence allowing them to continue [having racially biased feelings]."

Martin's words Tuesday spurred UD community members to examine the status of racism and racial equality on campus. Aside from students' lack of participation in multiracial events, Randall also expects her colleagues to recognize diversity in order to improve the environment for minorities on campus.

"I think that faculty members have to start integrating diversity issues into their courses in general," Randall said. "If you don't say the color of the person you're talking about people presume they're white and I think faculty members have to make a point of integrating the contributions of people of color."

Although the population of black students on campus is by no means a critical mass, Cordes does not believe she and her fellow African-American students receive any different treatment.

"[African-American students are] treated the same," Cordes said. "I don't see as many faces that look like me, and I don't have as many faces to identify with."

Martin also spoke Monday night at the Presidential Banquet held at the Dayton Convention Center. Earlier that day was a march and rally at courthouse square. He again called upon the 600 Americans in that room to quit talking about what they are going to do and instead take action.

"We sit here and we talk about problems that exist in our community and all we end up doing is having another meeting; I can't stand all those meetings," Martin said in his speech Monday night. "Call me when we have some results to announce."

In a banquet hall full of predominately African-Americans, including community leaders, politicians and pastors, Martin targeted those specific groups and asked them to make changes in the way they govern, lead and serve. Martin also critiqued the family structure of many African-Americans in today's society and emphasized the importance of keeping families together as well as the importance of education.

"A great home requires somebody in the house saying 'this is how we are going to operate in this house,'" he said.

Martin scrutinized the tendency of individuals to set unrealistic goals for themselves in his speech Monday, as well as on Tuesday.

"We have folks trying to build five, 10 different walls and they never get one done," Martin said at the Presidential Banquet. "All I can do is all I can do."

At both the Presidential Banquet and the Prayer Breakfast, he asked his audience to write one goal for the next year on their program.

Martin's influential words reached thousands of Dayton community members in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. He is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith and Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America." Martin appears on a variety of CNN programs including Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull; The Situation Room; Anderson Cooper 360; and Lou Dobbs Tonight. He writes a bi-monthly column for Essence Magazine and speaks every morning on The Tom Joyner Morning Show as a senior analyst. He was a crucial part of the media coverage of the 2008 Presidential Election and has won many awards for his journalistic excellence.

Martin's political involvement as well as his advocacy for change stems from how he grew up and from the compassion he feels for making a difference.

"I saw my parents and people in my neighborhood want to see a change. After 10 years they got all that stuff [changes] because they gave a damn. We can change if we are willing, if we want to," Martin said.

Martin's message of hope and inspiration is a call to action for people to step up and change the world one small step at a time.

"Stop waiting for something to happen," he said. "Stop waiting for an organization to come along, stop waiting for a politician. Stop waiting. Start from where you are with what you have."