As the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King is celebrated today, there are many words that can describe this great man. I was a twenty year old college student the day he was assassinated. April 4, 1968 is a day forever etched in my mind and heart.
Commitment is the one word I associate with Dr. King. People who are dedicated and committed to a cause have always been favorites of mine. Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Jesus, William Tyndale are four other people besides Dr. King would sacrificed everthing to improve the lot of others. I know a young woman who has dedicated about fifteen years of her life to helping to create an independent media that addresses the needs of poor and working class people.
Dr. King was threatened, jailed, arrested, and lambasted by racists, and yet he stayed the course. He used non violence to bring about change to the lives of black people in America. He sought to improve the lives of all people, regardless of race.
Committment means sacrifice, work, educating one self, selflessness. It means carrying on the work despite failures, criticism, a lack of resources. Committed people see the bigger picture. Dr. King saw the big picture. He said that if a group of people are oppressed, we are all oppressed. I believe that Dr. King may have referred to transgender people.
Commitment means that we are willing to reach out to people who may not agree with us. Committed people are respected for their efforts though folks may not agree with them. I have seen that throughout much of my life. It's amazing how Dr King's committment to justice brought the civil rights, peace and labor movements together. I sincerely believed that change in this country was within reach. An assassin's bullet ended it.
Dr. King showed all of us that commitment to a cause can and will bring about change. He reached out to people and changed hearts ad minds. I see many who are committed to changing the lot of lgbt people, and transgender people in particular. Transgender people of color make up many of the transgender murder victims.
Dr. King was a voice for oppressed people. He committed his life to changing the lives of all people. When I think about Dr. King, his commitment to justice entices me to do the same.
Genevieve
2 comments:
I agree with Tavis Smiley when he calls Dr. King 'one of the greatest Americans we ever produced'.
But one thing we need to realize is that Dr. King made speeches after August 1963 that challenged this nation as well.
We have much work to be done even with the inauguration of our 'Brother President'
I like the speec coming out against the Vietnam War and the mountan top speech.
Gennee
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