NORMAL - The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led a civil rights movement was against overtly illegal discrimination, but today's discrimination is more subtle, said Samuel Betances.

Betances, a high school dropout of "blended race" who graduated from Harvard University, spoke to about 650 people Saturday at the 33rd annual King awards luncheon.

Today, discrimination isn't so "outright," he said, explaining that the new battle is against "legal discrimination," he said. For example, an employer may arrange to give a job to a preferred candidate by writing a job description in a way to exclude some categories of people.

Betances encouraged the Bloomington-Normal community to work on its "diversity competencies" in the work force. People need to consider such diversity factors as vegetarianism and days of worship, he said.

Not accepting such differences is an "informal way" we keep people down, he said.

The work is never done, he said. Once change advocated for one group is achieved, activists may need to change their goals, he said.

People need a "universal vision" regardless of whether they are campaigning for improving conditions for women, Hispanics, gays, Asians or blacks, Betances said.

Betances also talked on Saturday about his role in the civil rights movement.

"The reason I'm standing here today is the legacy of Dr. King," he said.

When Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley needed people "to talk across racial lines" in 1960s riots, Betance said he was there.

Born in Harlem, he had a black father and white mother and looked Arab to some. He spoke Spanish and was educated by "elite white people."

Betance was abused as a child and dropped out of high school. His life changed when he met people who were not of the same class, race, or education who encouraged him.

That put him on the path toward an Ivy League education and a doctorate.

His varied life experiences led him to a career as a diversity consultant for a variety of organizations.

He is a former university teacher who has written several books and now leads workshops.

Others recognized at the event expanded on Betances' themes.

Mike Matejka, legislative affairs director for the Great Plains Laborers District Council, and Brandon Caffey, principal of Greeley Alternative Safe School in Peoria, are recipients of the 2009 Human Relations Awards.

Caffey of Normal said he came from a background different from Betances'. He was raised in a middle-class home with high expectations for his education.

"My parents set a role model for me," he said. That included being active in the community doing things for others.

Matejka of Bloomington spoke of the need for a long-term view.

"We might not see the results of our actions; there is a cumulative effect," he said, noting that good things don't happen overnight. "Sometimes it takes generations."

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Recipients of the 2009 King awards

Human Relations Awards

The humans relations commissions for Bloomington and Normal each choose an adult to receive awards each year in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The 2009 recipients are:

Mike Matejka, legislative affairs director for the Great Plains Laborers' District Council, a former Bloomington alderman, founding member of the Central Illinois Organizing Project and the Central Illinois Foodbank and organizer of the Christmas Party for Unemployed Families and Operation Porch Light.

Brandon Caffey, principal of Greeley Alternative Safe School in Peoria, recipient of the 2008 Robert G. Gibson Award for community service work in Illinois and Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal's 2007 Citizen of the Year.

"I Have A Dream" Awards

Four Twin City high school students are the 2009 recipients of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have A Dream" awards presented by the Bloomington and Normal human relations commissions. They are:

Julian Glover of Bloomington, son of Joyce and Reuel Glover, recipient of the Harry Hightower Youth Community Service Award from the Bloomington-Normal branch of the NAACP, captain of the Bloomington High School speech team, and an accomplished cellist.

Mani Pujitha Kallakuri of Bloomington, daughter of Suresh and Uma Kallakuri, volunteer at The Salvation Army and Home Sweet Home Ministries, founding member of the Normal Community High School Interact Club, and active member of the McLean County India Association.

Darshan Thakkar of Bloomington, son of Rita and Raj Thakkar, co-president of the NCHS Students Embracing Diversity Club, leader in the OxFam Hunger Banquet and co-organizer of the NCHS Mix It Up at Lunch Day.

Jessica Rardin of Normal, daughter of David Rardin and Judi Sevel, co-president of the NCHS Students Embracing Diversity Club, co-organizer of the OxFam Hunger Banquet, Mix It Up at Lunch Day and Jewish Response to Hunger Dinner.