This week, the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday was observed across the country, and it would have marked Dr. King’s 87th birthday. In an effort to honor Dr. King and his pursuit to make the world a better place, I would like to share my reflections on Dr. King’s legacy and whether his visions have become a reality in today’s world.
Every once in a while, the world is graced with the birth of somebody special, somebody destined to direct society on the right path. I believe Martin Luther King Jr. was one of these extraordinary people. He showed the world what equality means and how to never stop fighting for an honorable cause. His actions taught us that we should be our own best activist and to take advantage of the powerful voices we all have. The legacy he shaped and left behind is one of sacrifice, forgiveness, and perseverance. Dr. King was always willing to be the one to take punishment or blame so that others could prosper. Even in the face of aggression by police, the government, and the rest of society, Dr. King always emphasized nonviolence. In addition to being peaceful, he also knew when forceful action and protest was needed. Very few leaders are able to make the distinction between protesting and being passive, and Dr. King did so beautifully. As a leader, Dr. King inspired his followers and made them better people. Rather than simply persuading his followers to do something, Dr. King changed the way his followers looked at the world.
While treatment of minority groups in today’s society has drastically improved from the state it was in 50 years ago, discrimination of minorities, both explicit and implicit, still exists today. Now, discrimination has expanded beyond just racial or cultural differences to include differences in sexual orientation, gender, and socioeconomic status, among other things. What’s worse is that people aren’t even willing to talk about these issues. When it comes to conversations about race relations, anything that starts with civil discourse often ends in bickering back and forth. What also doesn’t help is when candidates vying to become the next President of the United States dismiss these problems as nonissues. I believe that now more than ever, we need to turn to the exemplary life lead by Dr. King in hopes of finding a solution to the issues we face today. The ideals with which he led his life should be taught in all schools and should be standard against which society measures itself. Only through civilized dialogue and having empathy for each other can we work to overcome the challenges plaguing our society.
Although I have not extensively read about Dr. King’s work, I am very excited and hopeful to learn more about his life during PLA’s spring break Civil Rights Tour trip.
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