Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we celebrate a man who was very instrumental in the civil rights movement which allows us much of the freedom we enjoy today - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I was only two years old when he died so clearly I have no recollection of that time period or the events leading up to his death. However, as I was growing up I was taught by my teachers in school about his life and what his accomplishments meant to us as a race and as a nation. I learned about the many marches he spearheaded - most significantly the march from Salem to Montgomery for the promoting of voting rights for people of color and the civil rights march on Washington to promote desegregation. People came from all over the country to hear him speak because he represented hope. It was at this march that he delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech. From all accounts it was his most noteworthy speech ever.

At a time when the nation was at a great racial divide, Dr. King represented an opportunity for change. His voice was a beacon of hope. His non-violence approach, while viewed as “nonsense” and “ineffective” by some, proved to be very effective and even threatening to others. So much so that many believe it was the effectiveness of his leadership and the threat that he could possible effectively turn the government around that lead to him being assassinated. Whatever the reason, we lost a great leader. While he represented change back then he also promoted unity and togetherness. And while we have overcame so much since those early days there is still so much more that needs to be done. For starters our young people need to understand our struggles as a people. Our young men need to stop underestimating themselves and portray themselves as thugs wearing their pants below their butts.  Our young women need to embrace their true worth and stop feeding into the hype that they are bitches. Black on black crime needs to stop, and we need to unify and come together to find more peaceable ways to mend differences.

Dr. King helped paved the way for us to be able to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama for a second term today. While I feel some pride in this event, I can’t help but wonder what the next four years holds for us as a nation.  The struggle got easier but it is no way over. I’m sure you will agree with me that we are living in times that are a far cry from what Dr. King lived through, but in some ways we are still no better off than we were back then. There are still some underlying cases of racism that plagues us, i.e., the senseless killing of 17-year old Trayvone Martin in Florida; the hit and run of 61-year-old Johnny Lee Butts in Mississippi. Then there are the other events that seem not to be racially charged but are tragedies just the same, i.e., the shooting of 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the shooting at Chicago State University, etc. which have all sparked a lot of conversation. 

America is under the microscope and the world is watching to see how we handle our rash of shootings. We may not be able to change everyone’s opinion of us but we can change the way we view each other. My challenge to you is to vow to do your part to eliminate the struggle all together. What can you do to continue to promote Dr. King’s dream and vision for us as a people, as a nation? I’m just saying – I got issues. What about you?)i(

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