Martin Luther King Junior is one of the greatest civil rights leaders of our time. He was the son of a preacher who became a preacher himself. He lived a modest life practicing non-violence. He was very charismatic, he spoke eloquently to all that would listen. He never forced his beliefs on anyone. Martin Luther King Junior wanted black America to have equality. Now, I have no idea what it was like to grow up in the 1940s thru 1960s. Yes, I am a baby of the civil rights era but as a child, it’s a known fact that you do not remember anything that happen to you before the age of four or five years old. Ask anyone if they remember what is was like to be 1, 2, or 3, aside from a home movie that your parents might have taken and shown you, you have no recollection. Therefore, I did not feel for many years as if I were affected by all that Martin Luther King Junior sacrificed. It was not until I was in my mid-thirties that the history resonated with me. My mother had two photographs that hung in our home. One what of a depiction of Jesus Christ and I say depiction because it’s someone’s interpretation of what Jesus might of looked like but that’s a whole other topic so I’ll just leave that alone. There was a sauce like frame with a picture of Martin Luther King Junior. She never explained the photograph but every home that we ever lived in the photo of him had a prominent place. It was not until I got to my late teen years that I understand the significances or the value that Martin Luther King Junior brought to my life. Still it was not pressed upon me to pay homage or get involved during my youth.
Martin Luther King Junior’s birthday became a national holiday in 1983 when it was signed into law by Ronald Regan. Now, many states still did not give the day recognition for many years, especially in the southern United States. Remember, segregation, isolation, and superiority were prevalent long after it was illegal to discriminate. Hell, if you go to some parts of the south today you would swear that you stepped back in time, the way the citizens behave. But that is neither here nor there because ignorance is bread not born. Now the whole fight for the holiday was because all the sacrifices that was made by one man who just wanted fairness for his family and other black families. Martin Luther King Junior represents peace, equality and good leadership among men. He led the march some fifty years ago on Selma Alabama so that black people could gain their voting rights. I look at the historical videos and documentation. It makes me sad that many black people still do not exercise their right to vote when so many were killed, battered, and humiliated in order for them to have that right. Back during Martin Luther King’s era people were often beaten, hung and disparaged for just trying to stand up for themselves. It’s sad to say that what’s old is new again in certain parts of the United States. There was a black man found hung in Mississippi in the summer of 2014 and of course the story was mysteriously buried in the media, ruled a suicide, I don’t believe it. A memorial for Martin Luther King Junior opened in 2012 in Washington, D.C. in juxtaposition to Abraham Lincoln. I have yet to so see it but I hear that it is a breathtaking sight and move all who have seen it. I will probably take my grandchildren to see it. I do not want to make the mistake that my mother made me or that I made with my own children by not sharing the history. I would like them to own it so that it becomes a part of them. It is my understanding that the King family wanted the day to be spent in service of others. Quite a few people honor that request. Some find charitable way to spend their time. Most of us don’t, it’s a day off to do as we choose. Unfortunately, we do not choose to be helpful or beneficial to others who may need our compassion and assistance. Well, I am going to do something very different this Martin Luther King Holiday.
In the past, I had a standing weekend gambling trip with my mother. Well, up until about eight years ago. In the past two years, I worked a job, as the holiday is not recognized by many corporate businesses. This year for Martin Luther King Day I plan on using my skills to help someone else. I will be giving a periscope on how write, publish and promote a book because I believe that can be an outlet for someone who has anxiety. It can be a release for many people who keep everything bottled-up inside. Some people need to use their creativity but do not know that they can or how to go about unlocking it. I know it does not sound like much of a contribution but the King family says use the day as a day of service, they don’t specify what service that you provide. Don’t judge me. It’s a step in the right direction. What do you do for Martin Luther King Day? Whatever it is, make it meaningful, memorable, and practical that you can look back and be satisfied with your actions. Today is the actual date of birth for Martin Luther King Junior. We honor him this day for all that he has done to make the world a better place for everyone.