Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day—a day we remember and celebrate the work and person of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was an important civil rights leader in the 1950’s and ‘60’s. He inspired thousands of people to join him in the fight for equality in this country. He was instrumental in getting the American Civil Rights Act passed. This law makes it illegal for anyone to discriminate against someone else based on their race, color, religion, gender or national origin. For example, a person who is qualified for a job—she has the education and experience needed to do the work—that person cannot be turned down for the job simply because of her skin color, or because she’s a woman, or because she is Muslim. It didn’t used to be that way. People could be refused jobs, or houses, or apartments, or seats at a lunch counter, on a bus or in a theater simply because the boss didn’t like the way you looked. King was a gifted speaker and writer, and a firm believer in nonviolent protest as a means of bringing about change. But I’m sure you learned all these things in school. Here’s are a few things about Dr. King that maybe you didn’t know:
1. When
he was born, his parents named him Michael King, Jr. Five years later, King’s father took a trip
to Germany, where he was inspired by the Protestant Reformation leader, Martin
Luther. King, Sr., renamed himself and
his son.
2. King
was a gifted student. He skipped his
freshman and senior years of high school and entered Morehouse College when he
was 15 years old.
3. Brother
Martin was jailed 29 times, sometimes on civil disobedience charges, and
sometimes on trumped-up charges. Once he
was arrested for going 5 miles over the speed limit.
4. Martin
Luther King, Jr.’s work was driven by his faith. He knew that the world he lived in was not
the world God wanted, and he felt called to do all he could to bring about
change.
Dr. King’s work was successful in many ways. He lived to see positive changes in the world, but his work—God’s work—is not finished yet. I hope that as we celebrate MLK Day tomorrow, we will all take a good, long look at the world in which we live, and at ourselves. What are the good things we see? Where is change still needed so that all people have equal access to a rich and fulfilling life? What can I do to help realize Dr. King’s dream of a free and equal world?
Let's pray. God of all, we thank-you for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We give thanks that he listened to and answered your call to work for equality and justice, even at the cost of his own life. Help us to continue his work until the dream of an equal society might become a reality for everyone. Amen.
