Lights dim, the audience silences, his steps creek on the stage, words run through his mind. Stories of the injustices throughout history spill out of freshman Morris Mims’ mouth, as he informs the audience about the inequalities African American children face.

“I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of “interposition” and “nullification” — one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers,” Morris recites at the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on Monday, Jan. 15.

Despite being diagnosed with dyslexia in the third grade, he discovered his talent for public speaking three years later and is now focused on growing as a leader throughout his high school career.

“[I’ve had] to realize that it’s not a disease or an impairment and [I’ve had] to allow myself to get the proper help that I need,” Morris said. “Because for the rest of my life I’m going to have a hard time reading and writing.”

Though language can challenge someone who suffers from dyslexia, Morris has persevered and transformed his disability into an advantage.

“He’s one we would call multi-talented, he can do a lot with pros, poetry, speeches, singing, lyrics and all kinds of things,” speech and debate teacher Sally Squibb said. “He’s a multi dimensional student.”

Growing up in a home with his mother, who is a lawyer and a father who works for the military, Morris gradually learned about the justice system through everyday tasks. For every choice he makes there is always a consequence good or bad, yet he knows that he gets rewarded for good actions.

As the son of a lawyer Morris is passionate about the injustices minority communities face, and he finds it difficult to watch innocent children get targeted for living their normal lives.

“My passion comes from my personal experience of being in a classroom with students or people my age,” Morris said. “[They] aren’t educated with things that are going on around them and [people have] to know that stuff no matter what age [they] are, it makes a difference.”

Following in the footsteps of his sister and continuing the family tradition of speaking for the unheard, Morris strives to create his own voice.

“At the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration where he did his excerpt, I felt that one,” sister and junior Camille Mims said. “Honestly I started crying for real; I had tears in my eyes and then he started singing and I was like ‘Yes, that’s my brother.’”

When Morris presents his speeches, he continues attempting to inspire someone to stand up and make a difference.

“Don’t just sit there and listen and act like you understand, go out and do something about it,” Morris said. “The next time you see injustice happening around you and hear people talking about it, educate them on the truth.”