"And they said one to another, behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him... and we shall see what will become of his dreams."
These words, based on the account of the visionary Joseph from Genesis 37:20, are inscribed on the plaque affixed to the railing at the Lorraine Motel where the life of one of America’s heroes and dreamers ended. Martin Luther King, Jr. was, indeed, a visionary, whose tragic death at 39 years of age serves as a testimonial to the fact that his dreams live on and his devoted cause was an investment of good and decency that has made our nation much richer.
This young leader of hope, courage, and a commitment to live and pursue the unalienable rights endowed by our Creator, not the government, is memorialized today. Martin Luther King, Jr. provides an example that each American should apply in some way to our own lives as we reflect today on his legacy.
The government had not enforced the “rights” provided in the U.S. Constitution dating back to the 1860’s during the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. Despite this inhumane fact, the rights remained ever-present for those of the black community. It was Martin Luther King, Jr. who, neither through violence nor hateful speech, pierced the heart of humankind with the sword of truth. That truth was that “a just law is a man made code that squares with moral law or law of God.” Dr. King knew that a secular approach to this issue would fail. Rather, contrasting the current law permitting segregation and blatant discrimination in the shadow of the Creator’s law and justice, Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal!’”
King’s message illuminating the truth of equality lit the way for others. One 15 year-old high school student inspired by Dr. King was Claudette Colvin. Hers is a name lost in the pages of history that preceded Rosa Parks in refusing to release her seat on a Montgomery bus by a full nine months. In the arrest report (yes, she was arrested), her charge states: “Colvin, 15 year old black female, arrested for not moving to the rear of the bus when asked to.” The most striking visual in the arrest report is at the bottom of the page that shows Ms. Colvin’s fingerprints. The ink-stained fingers of a young lady inspired to stand for the truth serve to honor the touch of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on her beliefs, her life.
Whose fingerprints are on your life, your legacy? What trace of evidence exists to testify to your stand for truth and that dreams do come true? Each one of us answers these questions daily by the actions of our lives. Thank you, Dr. King.
Robin Smith
thesmithsgroup@yahoo.com