When I was young, my uncle had a small part in a movie called "The Boy King". (1986). I asked my parents what that meant, and who was it about? What boy was a King? They told me, and I watched that movie when it first aired. We recorded in our VCR and watched it later as well at times. I was fascinated b/c MLK was from Atlanta, (I was born downtown and 1st lived in College Park), and he was a preacher (my dad was a preacher). I was around kids of different skin colors and backgrounds, but until that movie, I had no idea that black people were persecuted by white people like that for so many years. I couldn't believe people would do that to other people b/c of the way they looked. It shocked me, saddened me, and angered me all at once. From then on, I was always interested in Dr. King. I met people who had met him - or knew others who knew him, his family, etc. I asked questions, but didn't want to be rude. Later on, I studied the Civil Rights Movement, did reports/papers on it in college, and even got to meet people who marched and worked with Dr. King in that time. I heard the good and bad, and was struck by his courage and resolve and leadership. I once was given time with someone who had never given an interview to any media - and only met with me since I was a student and would keep his name out of it. It was always fascinating.
When in high school, I got very sick at the end of my Sophomore year - so sick I had to miss the last 2 weeks of school and had to take final exams that teachers crafted for me so my grades wouldn't drop (we didn't have online back then). My History teacher had me study Ghandi and write a report. I became fascinated by him as well, for many of the same reasons - and realized how many similarities there were with both men. Both fought against injustices, both were men of faith, both were adamantly non-violent - yet ironically both were murdered by gunshots - and that's just the surface.
I often wonder what our world would look like if MLK was here today - what would he say, and would we listen? What white people did in America was disgusting, atrocious, ugly, and all the words - and it is still not too terribly long ago. I feel like today we all still face hate (whether it's racism, bullying, etc) in somewhat different (maybe advanced) forms. It still saddens me. I on one hand celebrate this day and the memory of Dr. King, but it is still somber the way in which he died, and how some of the things he fought against - we still face today - and we will likely continue to face. We have come a long way, but still have a long way to go if we are all honest. We all fail, we all make mistakes, we all (oftentimes unknowingly) offend others at some point - even those we love the most. It's how we respond that matters. MLK was far from perfect. He had his flaws just like all of us do. Below is I believe one of the most poignant quotes from MLK.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, JR.
Sorry if this is inappropriate - just thought I'd share. I'll stand at the front of the line of imperfection, but also have a heart that at the end we can all not judge or treat people different b/c of what they look like or where they come from - and we can forgive and be forgiven so we can learn and grow together.
When in high school, I got very sick at the end of my Sophomore year - so sick I had to miss the last 2 weeks of school and had to take final exams that teachers crafted for me so my grades wouldn't drop (we didn't have online back then). My History teacher had me study Ghandi and write a report. I became fascinated by him as well, for many of the same reasons - and realized how many similarities there were with both men. Both fought against injustices, both were men of faith, both were adamantly non-violent - yet ironically both were murdered by gunshots - and that's just the surface.
I often wonder what our world would look like if MLK was here today - what would he say, and would we listen? What white people did in America was disgusting, atrocious, ugly, and all the words - and it is still not too terribly long ago. I feel like today we all still face hate (whether it's racism, bullying, etc) in somewhat different (maybe advanced) forms. It still saddens me. I on one hand celebrate this day and the memory of Dr. King, but it is still somber the way in which he died, and how some of the things he fought against - we still face today - and we will likely continue to face. We have come a long way, but still have a long way to go if we are all honest. We all fail, we all make mistakes, we all (oftentimes unknowingly) offend others at some point - even those we love the most. It's how we respond that matters. MLK was far from perfect. He had his flaws just like all of us do. Below is I believe one of the most poignant quotes from MLK.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, JR.
Sorry if this is inappropriate - just thought I'd share. I'll stand at the front of the line of imperfection, but also have a heart that at the end we can all not judge or treat people different b/c of what they look like or where they come from - and we can forgive and be forgiven so we can learn and grow together.
