If you've never heard the speech that Martin Luther King Jr. gave on August 28, 1963, I urge you to listen to it. The words and the work that he did set in motion a change in American history that resulted in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the creation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
His last speech is equally illuminating--and while there may be a great deal of controversy regarding the man and his methods, his ideas were integral in creating the spark of change within our country. And the flames created by that spark burn still.
Some of you may remember Nichelle Nichols of Star Trek fame, and part of the reason she remained with the show was due in part to a conversation that she had with Dr. King.
During the first year of the series, Nichols was tempted to leave the show, as she wanted to pursue a Broadway career; however, a conversation with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., changed her mind. She has said that King personally encouraged her to stay on the show, telling her that he was a big fan of the series. He said she "could not give up" because she was playing a vital role model for black children and young women across the country, as well as for other children who would see blacks appearing as equals. [9][1][2][10] It is also often reported that Dr. King added that "Once that door is opened by someone, no one else can close it again." (taken from her Wikipedia page)While this is just one example of a life changed by Dr. King's ideas and encouragement, every one of our lives, in some way, has been changed because of him.
So today on the day when we celebrate the man--his life's work and his accomplishments, I hope you will take a moment to reflect upon the great change that his ideas have given to us and the legacy of that change in our lives and the lives of others.
Here are some other sites you might want to consider visiting to learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Wikipedia Page
Teaching With Documents: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
James Earl Ray's Wikipedia Page
There is one last thing I want to say about everything I listened to and read today: no matter what you may think of the Civil Rights Movement; no matter what you believe about the man, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; and no matter whether you believe what has happened since then has been a success or a failure--the idea that we should treat people with fairness--that a person's character should matter more than how they look or what they believe, and that there should be equal opportunities given to all people--is important. No one wants to be excluded, made fun of, left out, or discriminated against. No on wants to suffer indignities because someone else wants to pretend they don't exist--or they don't matter. So consider that the next time you're making a decision that will affect other people. The world will be a better place for it.
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