Today, around the nation, most of us are recognizing the Federal holiday observing the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To some, this means much. To others, it means little. But even those unmoved by this remarkable man would be naive without acknowledging the fact that Dr. King will always be one of those figures throughout history who made amazing impacts in the lives of others.
Dr. King was a celebrated pastor, an excellent orator, a determined scholar, a social reformer, an activist for the wronged, a steward for the poor, a confidant for those seeking counsel, negotiator to those tired of injustice, and an organizer for those determined to stand up for what they believed was right. He was not a perfect man by any means, and his naysayers like to point out negative characteristics of the man rather than focus on the example that his life became.
Few people dedicate the time, effort, or energy to causes that they believe in with the same fervor and selflessness shown by Dr. King. Few people dare to face the criticisms and daily threats that he endured. Few people are willing to, in a sense, become a martyr for what you believe in, in order for that dream to live on.
But Dr. King was more than simply some martyr. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by Black people who actually marched with Dr. King, who endured the same tortures that are written in the history books I read as a child, and who selflessly fought so that their shared dream could be a reality for my generation and those to follow after. To these people, Dr. King was the catalyst that the movement needed. He was intelligent, well spoken, charismatic, and had the backing of some of the nation's most powerful Black organizations. More importantly, he was entirely committed to the cause.
I remember when I was younger, proud of the vigor with which children my age, who couldn't really begin to understand the magnitude of the struggles that Dr. King and others endured, were trying to learn more about the man, the times, and his legacy.
I also think that while it is very important to commemorate his life, I feel that in celebrating that life, we must look at his death. It saddens me that a man who stood for nonviolence was gunned down in such a violent manner. It angers me that we may never know the real story of what happened that day. It motivates me that, in the wake of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech we have seen the election of a Black president. But it confuses me when some people immediately assume that the dream has been envisioned. We still have a long way to go in an America that still has people persecuted because of race, gender, creed, beliefs, etc. I hope as we celebrate the legacy of a remarkable man, we realize how far we've come while understanding how far we have to go.
While the speech that I mentioned earlier is by far Dr. King's most famous, I am more inclined to include the following one. To me, it fully embodies not only who he was, but explains what motivated him, and why he was willing to die for the cause.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. --- I've Been to the Mountaintop
I hope to live to see the day that, not only this great nation but, every nation can witness this promised land Dr. King speaks of. Continue to be a service to others, therefore being a service to yourself. Dr. King's memory continues to live on because he stood for something far greater than himself. He was a man who believed that no one should suffer injustice, that no one should endure hate, and that one day we all could live together, in harmony, peace, and love. We must continue to live towards achieving these things.
Remember the Dream
Marcus Jamison, the Rare Poet
