As Americans celebrated Martin Luther King (MLK) Day a few weeks ago, it’s hard to look past the social media hype and believe that the many posts are genuine. I’m sure there are good intentions, but to slap an MLK quote on a nice picture of the Reverend and look for “likes,” I believe, are far from what MLK intended with his legacy. Does the social media post gets lived out, or is it another façade of an image one is trying to create? The issue here lies not wholly the external expression, but the internal expression, because what is thought internally will be said externally.
MLK Day should serve as a reflection in the mirror for everyone about how the Civil Rights pioneers lived their life, and how they treated their brothers and sisters of all backgrounds. It shouldn’t serve as a notice that students get the day off from school, but to remind each American of MLK’s great legacy and to live in such a way that would make the Reverend proud. There are many facets to do this with like community service, rereading speeches, and education.
Community service is a great place to start. There are many organizations that could use your helping hands to make a difference in the community that you live in. Whether it’s mentoring at the YMCA, building a home with Habitat for Humanity, or serving meals at the local food kitchen to those less fortunate, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
Rereading MLK’s speeches is a good way to understand what crossroads America was at in the 1960s and to realize that the work is not over. In MLK’s last speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” he addresses many issues that are still relevant today: Unfair wages, misunderstandings of the non-violent protests, and the perspective that all people deserve rights. No one would see that MLK was a humorous, challenging, and inspiring speaker if his speeches weren’t read. Even though MLK delivered them almost 50 years ago and counting, they still hit the heart of many problems we face today with racism, ideological perspectives, and the treatment of other Americans.
Lastly is the education of MLK and his legacy. The very day young Americans need to appreciate the sacrifice that Dr. King and his squad went through, is the same day students have off. I’d like to believe that with the rise of informational pieces on the internet coupled with the ease of access students have, they would be able to learn about MLK, but I’m not banking on it. The same problem arises with Veterans Day (formerly known as Armistice Day). The day students should be growing in knowledge about our lessons from the past, they end up having off. Then the next day at school is back to business as usual. In our schools, it should be shown our good and bad choices and viewpoints from the past, and how we can be better citizens for our future. Not only do these lessons apply to schools, but also to businesses and homes across the country. There should be improved awareness and appreciation for what the Civil Rights movement did for the nation.
In culture and society as people moving forward in the light of MLK, it’s important to not let the haters bog down the process but to keep going in love, nonviolence, and the power of a dream. At the same time to challenge yourself to be more than a social media post and to go out and make a difference where you live.
Thank you, Martin Luther King Jr.
Editor’s Note: Photos of MLK are provided by the Library of Congress.
