On this day that we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr day, we also celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama into a second term in office. The courage of Dr. King and his efforts to abolish racial prejudice is something I am thankful for, especially on this day when I watched a black man being sworn into office as President of the most powerful country on earth.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.”
His dream is not yet a reality for people of color today but change will come. Although we still face many challenges, what Dr. King fought for so passionately made President Obama's inauguration a reality today.
Using peaceful protests, Dr. King proved to the world that action without violence can be effective.
"Non-violence means avoiding not only external physical violence, but internal violence of spirit. You not only don't shoot a man, you avoid hating him."
Dr. King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" reminds us about how we've lost our sense of common good. This especially rings relevant in the world we live in where news of mass shootings, mob justice and other grave injustices on humanity are regular occurrences. Dr. King's messages were not only about racial justice and equality but respect for all humanity.
Thank you for leaving a legacy of hope and inspiration, Dr. King.
