Most Americans get excited about MLK day because of the extra day off from school or work. While it is reasonable to be excited about that, people are missing the essential elements of the day — peace, love, understanding and compassion for thy neighbor.
MLK day is a reminder that people have to be the change they want to see in the world. Change is slow and scary, but it is often needed in a world like ours, and Dr. King was a beacon of change and hope for many people.
Dr. King inspired all of us with his calmness and refusal to fight hatred with more hatred.
He said, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
This is one of his most memorable and pertinent quotes, not just for his time but also for now when people are still divided and hateful.
Then and now, Dr. King would stand against oppression and hatred.
One of the pivotal moments in his life was when he was just six years old and his best friend, a white boy, told young Martin that they could no longer be friends because Martin was black. This would be the first time that young Martin became aware of the long-existing race issue in America.
At first, that experience filled Martin with anger. While looking back on the moment, he said: “From that moment on, I was determined to hate every white person.”
However, instead of hating all white people, Dr. King decided to love all.
Can you imagine how hard it is, and the kind of man it takes to still choose to love people who hate you?
Dr. King was an intrepid leader that led African Americans in the pursuit of racial justice. He remained unafraid when the Ku Klux Klan burned a cross in his front yard. He remained unafraid when J. Edgar Hoover called him “a communist” and spied on him. He remained unafraid when he was beaten and arrested. He remained unafraid when he got death threats.
Dr. King always persisted and never backed down.
He saw a world where people of all races could come together in peace and unity, and join hands as brothers and sisters. He envisioned an America bereft of segregation and racial injustice.
A lot has changed since Dr. King died in April of 1968.
Black and white boys and girls can go to school together, there is no segregation in the United States, literacy tests and poll taxes have been banned and people of all different races marry, talk to and enjoy each other every day.
However, there is still more work to be done.
The work of uniting this country must not be left to Dr. King’s generation, but our generation must take the torch and keep pushing for unity. We must fight for unity between donkeys and elephants, gay and straight people and people of all backgrounds.
We must see the world as us and them, not us versus them. Life is a team sport, for no man or race is an island.
Dr. King wanted us to see that.
MLK day is a day for all of us to reflect on the amazing progress that all of us can have on this planet if we become the change that we want to see.
It all starts and ends with us.
While most of us will not be the famous revolutionary who will turn the historical tide of hatred, racism, sexism, ableism and all of the other evils that ail the world; if many of us come together and show up for our neighbor and lead by action and not just by mouth, we can all come together to change the world.