Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

He was a Baptist minister and a social rights activist in the 1950s and 1960s. His power lay in nonviolent resistance and while others were advocating freedom by “any means necessary,” he pushed for protests, grassroots organizations and civil disobedience to achieve impossible goals.

As one of the key leaders of the civil rights movement, he helped to overturn racist laws that segregated public spaces. He helped to shine the spotlight on Black Americans and their plight of being treated as second-class citizens and he was the mighty force behind the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington. He was a voice for the voiceless and when he spoke, the world stopped and took notice. He also helped to bring about the Civil Rights Act legislation and the Voting Rights Act. In 1964, he received the Nobel Peace Prize and he helped to shape American history.

On August 28, 1963 he climbed the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and delivered his, “I Have a Dream,” speech. It will go down in the annals of history as one of the most famous speeches of all time.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.”

Even though that speech resonated around the world, the changes took a long time coming.

In 2020, John R. Allen wrote in his article, “Systemic Racism in America Today,” that the Civil Rights Movement struck a mighty blow against racism – and our souls soared when Dr. King told us he had a dream. But we were and still are far from the “promised land.”

Furthermore, he added, “that the most hateful remnants of slavery persist in the U.S. today in the form of systemic racism baked into nearly every aspect of our society and who we are as a people.”

The man who preached non-violence was shot dead in 1968 while standing on a balcony outside his hotel room. Hate took his life but his dream lives on.

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” MLK

Many years after that historic speech was made, I would hear it. I remember it was a hot summer’s evening and I was far away from America and living a life of privilege where racism was something experienced by “others.” My life was safe from such ugliness. I heard that strong deep voice come resonating out of an open window and I stopped what I was doing and listened. Something struck a chord within me and it changed my life. I am a social rights activist and I speak out for social injustice everywhere. As Dr. King said,

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

My pen is my weapon and I have written about social injustice throughout my life. Most recently about the “killings” of Black men by law enforcement. His dream lives on within me. Racism is a scourge on society. It must be stamped out at any cost. Unfortunately, the racism of today is much more subtle from that of yesterday. It thrives unseen but its ugliness is felt everywhere and it still has the power to oppress and destroy. 

“Freedom is never given voluntarily by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” MLK

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law. The third Monday in January is designated as a federal holiday. This year it falls on January 15th which would have been King’s 95th birthday.

The man was a giant silenced by a gunshot but his voice and his dream lives on.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” MLK